State representative candidates Claire Naughton and Paul Feeney agree on keeping gay marriage legal, but part company over a proposal to lower the state income tax to 5 percent.

Both said they oppose a proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and would vote against putting it on the ballot as a referendum question.

On the issue of the tax cut, however, Feeney said the state can afford it, while Naughton said the tax revenue is needed to aid cities and towns.

Feeney and Naughton, both of Foxboro, are competitors in the Sept. 19 Democratic primary for a legislative seat being vacated by state Rep. Virginia Coppola.

A third Democrat, Matthew Donovan of Foxboro, did not return telephone calls requesting an interview. The winner of the Democratic primary will take on Republican Jay Barrows in the Nov. 19 general election.

Naughton, a former school teacher, said her position on taxes is that the state should provide more aid to cities and towns so they can reduce property taxes.

The only way the state could afford to do that is by keeping the income tax rate at its current level of 5.3 percent, she said.

Property taxes are more regressive and hurt senior citizens on fixed incomes, she said.

The income tax is more progressive, she said.

Feeney, a technician for Verizon, said he supports the income tax reduction to 5 percent because the state's finances have improved in recent years.

The rate was supposed to be brought down years ago, but the Legislature froze it at 5.3 percent because of budget deficits.

He said the Legislature did the right thing at the time, but now it should honor the decision of voters, who sided with reducing it when it was the subject of a referendum vote.

Feeney said the rate should be brought down gradually with `` circuit-breaker'' provisions that allow the reduction to be stopped if state finances take a fall.

As for gay marriage, both said they consider it a civil rights issue and oppose putting a ban into the constitution. They also said they would vote against even putting the question on the ballot.

`` It's the law of the land now, and I respect that,'' Feeney said. `` I think putting language in the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is wrong.''

Naughton said civil rights issues are often unpopular, and she opposes putting the issue on the ballot.

She said if the voting rights act had been put before Southern voters during the civil rights era, it probably would have been defeated.

JIM HAND can be reached at 508-236-0399 or at jhand@thesunchronicle.com.