Oct. 5, 2026 — Democratic challenger Lori Childs argued in a WATD forum Monday that Republican Rep. Dave DeCoste has delivered too little for the Fifth Plymouth District in nearly 12 years, while DeCoste faulted state housing mandates and state spending on shelter for noncitizens.
The Full Story
The incumbent’s record
Childs, a Rockland Select Board member who said she previously served on the Finance Committee, opened by questioning what DeCoste has brought home. She said that over the past 10 years “he secured about $686,000 in earmarks” and that “not one earmark funded a road water system or school building in our district.”
Later she said “he’s passed 11 laws in 12 years, and none of them are concerning affordability,” describing most of them as home rule petitions.
“Not true,” DeCoste replied. He cited civil service reform that he said protected veterans’ preference and a housing bill he said encouraged local housing authorities. “I was on the conference committee doing it,” he said.
DeCoste said lawmakers had followed through on promises “to fully fund local aid at the highest level ever” and were funding road repair at a record annual level.
Housing mandates
Asked about the MBTA Communities Act, DeCoste, saying a Hanover planning official had “summed it up,” called it “blackmail plain and simple.” “I think development and policies there are best left to our local communities,” he said, adding, “I think it’s bad policy.”
Childs said she disagreed with how the state handled the law “because it’s punishing towns that don’t sign up for it,” and said participating towns should instead get infrastructure help. “The south shore is bleeding. We need water,” she said.
State law requires covered communities to zone for multifamily housing as of right. A noncompliant community becomes ineligible for four state grant programs, including MassWorks infrastructure grants.
Both candidates backed local housing authorities. DeCoste said they are “underfunded greatly” and said towns should get credit for their mobile home parks.
“I do agree with Dave on that,” Childs said. She pointed to Rockland’s conversion of the former Holy Family School into 27 affordable senior apartments and suggested shipping-container homes on small infill lots for veterans and seniors. DeCoste responded, “I don’t think that’s going to go over well in Norwell and Hanover or Rockland.”
Water and growth
DeCoste questioned the scale of state housing goals, saying he had not met a constituent who wants to see “Rockland go from approximately 17,000 to 34,000.” He said “Rockland has a sewer system, but they’re short of water,” and that connecting to the MWRA would double the cost of water.
Childs said developers, including those at Rockland’s Union Point project, should help pay for infrastructure alongside state and federal money. “I’d pull everybody together so it doesn’t land on the backs of taxpayers,” she said. She said Rockland, working with the state, brought its PFAS levels “down to zero.”
In the lightning round, both named water as the district’s biggest unmet need; Childs added sewer and electric.
Local aid
Childs said the formulas for unrestricted local aid, Chapter 70 school aid and Chapter 90 road money “just don’t keep up with the rate of inflation.” DeCoste agreed and said Republicans propose returning extra revenue through the Chapter 70 formula in supplemental budgets. “And we’re stopped every single time,” he said.
Spending and immigration
Asked where the state spends too much, DeCoste pointed to sheltering noncitizens, putting the cost at “somewhere over $5 billion if you can get the accounting right.” He said he would spend more on vocational-technical schools.
Childs pushed back with Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy estimates of taxes paid by immigrants. “Paying taxes does not settle immigration status, but it refutes the claim that immigrants contribute nothing,” she said. DeCoste answered, “You’re conflating illegal immigration with immigration.”
DeCoste said, “I support ICE to the extent that they’re removing criminals,” and that others here illegally “should be deported, yes.” Childs said “we need to follow the rule of law and be compassionate at the same time,” supported ICE “on criminal cases within the law,” and opposed detaining people “who have never committed a crime in their lives.”
Auditing the Legislature
Asked about the legislative audit that WATD reporter Tom Gorman said voters approved two years ago, DeCoste said Republicans support it and the holdup is “the other side. It’s as simple as that.” Childs said, “I support meaningful access for the state auditor and public reporting of the results with proper privacy protections,” and pledged to publish her own office spending every year.
Closing statements
DeCoste said, “I will continue to favor local control over bureaucratic interference.” Childs said the race comes down to one question: “Are we getting the representation our communities deserve?”
