State Rep Hopefuls Face Off

Zhi Z. Zhou played second fiddle—literally—at the Masonic Hall in Porter Square last night as Republican M. Elizabeth “Libby” Firenze and Democrat William N. Brownsberger ’78, candidates for state representative, faced off in the first of three debates.

Zhou, the noted Harvard Square player of the jinghu, or Chinese opera fiddle, was hired for pre-game entertainment before a debate that was, for the most part, harmonious.

Brownsberger, the associate director of Harvard Medical School’s Division on Addictions, is vying with Firenze to represent the 24th Middlesex, encompassing sections of North Cambridge, all of Belmont, and part of Arlington.

The debate was hosted by The Alewife, a local newspaper, which raffled circus tickets to the audience.

Anna M. Sabasteanski, a Cambridge resident of 25 years, said she attended for the entertainment. “I came because I wanted to see the Republicans get crushed,” she said. “All you have to do is see that one person has a brain and one person has a father-in-law.”

Rumors have swirled that Firenze’s father-in-law, Angelo R. Firenze, a Belmont selectman, forced his daughter-in-law into the race to spite his fellow selectman Brownsberger.

The elder Firenze responded to the claims, saying, “that’s bullshit. Though Will [Brownsberger] and I are on opposite sides of the political spectrum, we’ve found a way to work civilly together. And besides that, if you meet Libby for more than five minutes, you know she doesn’t just do what others tell her to do.”

The debate was moderated by comedian and blogger Baratunde R. Thurston ’99. When asked how she felt that both moderator and opponent were Harvard men, Firenze, a Bentley College grad, responded, “I’m not intimidated.”

Despite audience members’ acrimony, the debate itself lacked much controversy. On the topic of improving local traffic conditions, Firenze responded to Brownsberger’s answer with “ditto.”

Only on the Iraq war and abortion did the candidates differ. Firenze felt that it would be a “bad idea”—and unconstitutional—for the governor to withdraw the state’s National Guard from Iraq. But Brownsberger said, “I support our troops, and think they should come home.” He said the state needs the guard here to protect local gas reserves and to help in the event of a natural disaster.

On abortion, Firenze opposes it in all cases, except for rape and incest. She stressed prevention of unwanted pregnancies through sex education and the morning-after pill. Brownsberger agreed with Firenze on the need to prevent unwanted pregnancies, but asserted that women should have a right to choose.

Firenze, a political neophyte, stumbled at times and seemed glued to her legal pad—in contrast to the more-polished Bronwnsberger, a former prosecutor. “I’m glad it’s over,” Firenze said, “but I’m looking forward to the next one.”