No. 3: Do you favor a women’s right to choose an abortion – yes or no?

Garballey, Thielman and O’Brien said they supported a woman’s right to choose.

Valeri said he does not support that right, but would vote the wishes of his constituents.

Worden ducked a yes-or-no answer. He said it is “inappropriate and unnecessary to have a litmus test.” He said he sees the matter as settled and said a candidate for state representative need not take a position.

No. 4: Do you favor closing corporate tax loopholes and lowering the corporate tax rate?

All generally backed the first effort, but not all addressed both parts of the question. Valeri bucked the tide: “Loopholes were put into effect for a reason. Closing them would be a bad idea …. We need to attract and keep business. Need to give as much incentive as possible.”

Worden would like to end the exemption to phone companies to provide a “small slice” of funds to the town.

Garballey called the issue one of fairness. He said he favors closing loopholes while opposing lowering corporate tax rates.

O’Brien supports helping corporations that “do something for the environment.” But as to both issues, he said, “it depends.”

Thielman said that after a the loss of much state aid earlier this decade, he worked in 2005 with a coalition to arrive at a five-year get fiscal-stability plan for Arlington. He said tax loopholes dating from the 1990s should be closed. He noted he had met with state House Speaker Sal DiMasi. He described DiMasi as “not too keen on closing loopholes,” a comment that drew some laughter.