A Q & A WITH THE CANDIDATES

The Globe, as part of "The People's Voice" project with WBUR-FMand WBZ-TV, is submitting voter questions directly to the candidatesfor governor and US Senate. The questions this week focus on theeconomy. If you wish to participate, please contact the Globe byphone at 617-474-2510, by Internet at voice(at sign symbol)globe.comor by letter to Bruce Mohl, Political Editor, Boston Globe, P.O. Box2378, Boston, Mass. 02107-2378.

How are you going to provide incentives for business to remain inMassachusetts?Christine Crompton, 23, Rutland, Unenrolled

Gov. William F. Weld, Republican

I will 1) continue to seek tax incentives that encourage employersto expand in Massachusetts, including a phase-out of the capitalgains tax, on top of increases in the research and development andinvestment tax credits that we have already achieved; 2) continue towork on the costs of doing business, such as worker's compensation,unemployment insurance, health insurance, utilities, etc.; 3)continue to promote foreign markets so that Massachusetts can sellabroad; and 4) emphasize job training and school-to-work programs toensure that our workers are ready to fill the jobs new businessesdemand.Sen. Michael Barrett, Democrat, Governor

I'll reverse the Democratic Party's long association with policiesthat are hostile to business and economic growth. I'll lower thelong-term capital gains tax on investments in Massachusetts-basedcompanies. I'll follow a steady state tax policy -- no broad-basedtax hikes, but no broad-based tax cuts, either. I'll rebuild ourtransportation infrastructure by making sure the gas tax is used torepair roads and bridges.George Bachrach, Democrat, Governor

I'll apply what I've learned through eight years in the privatesector to reverse the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs fromMassachusetts.

- Our "Massachusetts First" initiative will give Massachusettsbusinesses priority for projects funded with public dollars, providedthey are within 10% of the lowest bid.

- Expedite permits for new business development to fast trackapprovals and cut government red tape.

- Coordinate state college curriculum with the training needs ofexpanding or new businesses.Rep. Mark Roosevelt, Democrat, Governor

First, I'll adopt a tax credit for companies that create newfull-time jobs with benefits in Massachusetts. Second, I'll make ourregulatory process more user-friendly, less costly and moreexpeditious. Third, I'll focus on improving our schools to preparethe high-skill workers businesses need to compete in the globaleconomy. Fourth, we'll compete and fight for manufacturing jobs --not declare unilateral disarmament.Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat

The first priority is for government and business to workeffectively together to create more jobs and strengthen the economy.Neither government nor business can do the job alone, and not everyproblem can be solved from Washington. But in this time of limitedresources, when additional tax incentives are hard to afford, thefederal government can still do a great deal to cut red tape and makeexisting federal aid more accessible for our ongoing businesses andstart-up firms.John Lakian, Republican, US Senate

There are two raw materials that any business needs to survive;one is capital, the other is skilled labor. If Massachusetts wantsto retain highly skilled, high-paying jobs, it needs to ensure thatits workers are trained and that businesses have the capital theyneed to grow. . . . Now that the cold war is over, we need tosimplify our tax code to conform with peace time requirements. Aflat tax, as is now being discussed in Washington, would flood ourstate with the investment capital it needs. Other improvements tothe way our nation saves and invests its money that I supportinclude: allowing for the expanded use of IRAs and eliminating thecapital gains tax.Mitt Romney, Republican, US Senate

As someone who has spent almost 20 years working with large andsmall companies, helping create 10,000 jobs, I want to use myexperience to help businesses stay and grow here in Massachusetts.I'll work to find capital for expanding employers, open doors togovernment and cut the bureaucratic red tape. I'll also work tobuild the incentives for businesses to stay and get rid of thedisincentives that drive them away. Among the incentives, we needto invest in transportation and information infrastructures, boostworkforce training through employer-based programs and aid in theconversion of our declining industries like defense and fishing.Among the disincentives, I'll fight to fix the MWRA mess and othermandates which penalize doing business in Massachusetts.CROMPTON'S ASSESSMENT

Everyone seems to be focused on the idea of keeping business herein Massachusetts. That's good. I especially liked Weld's focus onkeeping a lid on taxes and his emphasis on job training andschool-to-work programs. From what I know personally, quite a few ofthese programs already exist in school systems but a lot of studentsare not getting involved with them. They don't take advantage of itright now. That's the problem.