After
introductions from Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone and former mayor
and current U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano, Kerry made an opening statement
making the case for changing the industry. He noted that a typical
family could be paying $24,000 a year for health insurance by 2016, and
that the U.S. ranked 37th in healthcare among industrialized countries.

"We cannot continue to be the only developed country in the world that does not cover everybody,' Kerry said.

As
his first public appearance since Sen. Edward Kennedy's funeral on
August 29, Kerry invoked his colleague's push for health care reform
during his 47 years in the Senate and said he would continue the work.

"The
greatest honor of (Kennedy's) life was representing you, the people of
Massachusetts," Kerry said, adding that follow his example would mean,
"taking on these battles in the same way that Teddy would have, and I
pledge to you I will."

The overwhelming majority of the audience
in the school's auditorium, most of whom arrived hours before the doors
opened, appeared in favor of health care reform. The 2,000 who arrived
too late to get in watched the proceedings on a screen in the gym.

Ron
Rego, a 62-year-old cancer survivor from Somerville, was the first
person in line at 3:30 p.m. – four hours before Kerry was scheduled to
arrive.

"I have an oar in the water," Rego said as he waited.
"When I was diagnosed they gave me two months (to live). By the grace
of God, and cutting edge medicine, I'm still kicking."

After
reading the health care overhaul legislation, Rego said he worries a
government-run health insurance program would write him off.

"Under the new plan, the likelihood is I wouldn't get those kinds of drugs," Rego said. "I wouldn't be worth the money."

Fears
about economic feasibility were aired during the forum, alongside
concerns about increasing government bureaucracy, but many more
questioners seemed worried Kerry and other Democrats weren't fighting
hard enough for reform.

Among those was Sara Lennox, a
Somerville resident who has practiced medicine in Cambridge for 25
years, who expressed frustration with insurance companies passing
administrative costs onto patients.

"How will your plan control these rapacious, disgraceful practices?" Lennox asked.

Kerry
responded by saying the insurance reforms would work to lower costs by,
among other ways, banning pre-existing conditions as a reason to deny
coverage and making it easier for doctors to go on home visits.

Maureen
Barillaro, a member of Somerville Climate Action, asked Kerry to
examine how environmental policy could be a part of the discussion as a
form of preventative health care.

Her question referenced the
recent discovery of contaminated soil in areas throughout the city,
including a former industrial site in Union Square that is now a
residential neighborhood.

"We are not healthy because our planet
is not healthy," Barillaro said. "The people in Somerville cannot have
our own gardens, because every inch of the soil is contaminated."

"What
she said is absolutely true," Kerry replied. "If you want to reduce the
cost of health care … we've got to start paying attention to the
quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat."

As
Kerry wrapped up the two-hour question and answer session, he stressed
that people could keep insurance plans they are happy with and that the
government would not interfere with the relationship between patients
and doctors.

"I will not vote for a plan in Washington that does not leave you with a choice," Kerry said.