Gubernatorial Candidate Charlie Baker Makes a Stop in Winchester

Andrew Anderson was working in his store along Waterfield Road Friday morning. It's been a tough 18 months for the owner of Frame Haven.

He hasn't taken a paycheck in three months, and he has an employee that he can't afford to keep on payroll, but is reluctant to lay him off. But on Friday, Anderson was able to air some of his grievances to Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Charlie Baker.

Baker showed up on Friday in front of the Winchester Cooperative Bank to walk around town and meet some of the small businesses owners in the area.

"I got a chance to speak to (Baker) about jobs and trying to minimize government intrusion into people's lives," Anderson said. "We small businesses are losing a ton of business to New Hampshire, we have to do something to keep everything here."

Baker started over at the bank where he had a private meeting with bank managers John Sullivan and Bill Hickey, from there he met longtime former Winchester politician Sherman "Whip" Saltmarsh.

"I have a lot of experience of what small towns mean to the legislature," said Saltmarsh who served as Winchester's State Representative for 14 years from 1975-1989. "I have ideas of what needs to be done within the state in order for us to get back on track, and that's what we're going to talk about."

Saltmarsh believes Baker is the right candidate to move Massachusetts into the future.

"He brings a fresh approach to the state," Saltmarsh said." His experience in business is critical. We need to build programs to attract businesses here and to get businesses to come here."

Baker was able to speak with Saltmarsh, discussing politics, as the two men walked across Church Street and along the Common. Selectmen Forrest Fontana and Brian O'Connor got a chance to introduce themselves to Baker and discuss Winchester's financial sitation.

"Speaking to (Baker) he new about the town's finances," Fontana said. "He's done his homework. We talked about getting local aid and what the state needs to do better in order to give the towns more tools to deal with economy. Right now there are too many handcuffs placed on towns and cities by the state."

The walk ended in front of D'agostino's Delicatessen where Baker met with a few more residents and business owners, introducing himself and listening to their problems.

"Everywhere I go, to some extent, it's been the same themes," Baker said. "For months we've heard the chatter that the economy is getting better, but I've known the economy has been very flat. Everywhere I go people are telling me about it, and they're trying to do anything possible to keep their employees working.

"What's most important to (small businesses) is for the economy to get better, and most importantly to get customers to walk through their doors. The fact is, we can't keep going to the taxpayers to help balance the budget."

That was all Anderson needed to hear to increase his enthusiasm about Baker's run for the governor's seat.

"Listen, I was going to vote for Baker anyhow, but after (Friday) I've been really impressed with what he's been talking about," Anderson said. "All this stuff effects us small business owners, it's a ripple effect. We just need a break."