Craig Pledges Not To Raise Taxes

April 15, 2014

Upton, MA …Today on tax day Shawn Craig, Republican candidate for State Representative and Iraq war veteran, announced that he is pledging to the people to vote against all attempts to raise taxes.

“Residents are already taxed enough.  We should be providing tax relief not raising taxes on the hard working people of Grafton, Northbridge and Upton,” said Craig.

The “No New Taxes” pledge states as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives Craig will oppose efforts to increase taxes.  “It is important that residents know where their next representative stands on the tax issue,” said Craig. 

Craig opposed last year’s tax package that included the tech tax and linking the gas to inflation.

“If the gas tax had been linked to inflation the last time it was raised, drivers would be paying 85 cents per gallon in state taxes.  That would be a killer to our local economy and a hefty burden on workers,” said Craig.

“As someone who advises businesses, I know how our state’s high tax burden can deter economic growth.  We need more accountability of our tax dollars and less tax increases.  By stopping all of the mismanagement, we can find savings and lower our taxes.  It is time to make Massachusetts once again competitive with our bordering states,” said Craig.  “I am the candidate with the business experience who can find savings and ferret out waste.”

Craig is a member of the Upton Finance Committee and is the liaison to the Mendon Upton Regional School District.  He is also the Vice-Chairman of the Mendon-Upton Multi-Board Task Force.  In addition, he is a member of the VFW and Upton Men’s Club. 

Professionally, Craig has 18 years of private sector experience with the majority spent within the financial service industry.  He worked for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) for 8.5 years where he investigated broker-dealers for compliance with federal securities laws and FINRA rules and regulations.  One investigation of which he was the team lead resulted in the discovery of fraud and misrepresentation at a firm located in Braintree, MA.  Craig drafted a referral whereby the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission became engaged along with the FBI.  The firm’s owner was detained October 2, 2012 and sentenced in April 2013 to 17 years in federal prison plus 3 years supervised probation and $9 million in restitution. Craig left FINRA in 2013 to start a consulting business focused on helping small broker-dealers.

Craig earned his B.A. from Roanoke College, where he double majored in International Relations and Business, and an M.S. in Finance from Suffolk University in Boston.

Contact: Holly Robichaud  781-378-1798