 It has been an exciting whirlwind of a first month in office! Read on to see what I have been up to including news and info regarding February's office hours, my Legislative Committee assignments, submitted Legislation and more.
 Last Wednesday, I officially took my seat as a member of the 191st Massachusetts General Court., surrounded by my family and many supporters and friends, I took the oath of office, swearing to uphold the Constitution of the State of Massachusetts and the United States. It was an exciting day as my fellow legislators and I affirmed our collective commitment to improving the lives of all residents of our state.
 As the holiday season is upon us, I wanted to update you on what I've been up to since officially becoming your State Representative-elect for the 15th Middlesex District. Read on to find information about my meetings with future colleagues, my time in Amherst for New Legislator Bootcamp, my new Legislative Aide, and more!
 With just over a month left before I am sworn in to the 191st General Court, I am pleased to host my first office hours as 15th Middlesex Representative-elect. Please join me, retiring Representative Jay Kaufman, Senator Cindy Friedman, and 30th Middlesex Representative-elect Rich Haggerty to ask questions, discuss policy, or talk about issues important to you.
Lexington Monday, December 3rd 8:45-9:45AM Panera Bread 1684 Massachusetts Ave Woburn Monday, December 3rd 10:15-11:15AM Boston King Coffee 186 Cambridge Rd I look forward to seeing you there! Thank you to the thousands of voters of Lexington and Woburn for putting their faith in me. I am deeply grateful for your support at the polls, and to the hundreds of volunteers and interns who generously gave of their time and energy during the past year.  The greatest joy of this campaign has been the personal contact with thousands of residents in the 15th Middlesex District. It has been my honor to hear about the issues that matter most to you, and to earn your vote.
My thanks also goes out to the many friends and colleagues across Massachusetts who cheered me on and lent assistance with our campaign. I promise to serve this great district with tremendous dedication in the years to come and I can't wait to get started!  With the Sept. 4 primary election behind us, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to my supporters - friends, family and the wonderful residents of Lexington and Woburn - for your support throughout the campaign and at the polls.
I believe very deeply in the importance of community. My goal throughout the campaign has been to lead with love, focusing on what good government can do to build strong communities that truly serve the needs of our residents. I love bringing people together to solve problems and improve our collective experiences. I look forward to engaging youth and connecting groups and individuals to collaborate on a shared vision for our future. I can't wait to get started. The greatest joy of this campaign has been the personal contact and warm conversations that I have had with thousands of residents in the district. I am thrilled to hear that so many first-time voters were inspired to be a part of this election. Finally, I have been so humbled and gratified by the outpouring of support during our campaign. Thank you to the hundreds who have reached out with calls, texts and emails with your well-wishes. Again, I am so grateful for the role everyone played in the campaign. It has been my honor to earn your support during this primary. I promise to serve this great district with tremendous dedication!  Can you believe that Election Day is less than one month away? There have been a lot of exciting things happening on the campaign, but I wanted to specifically tell you about one endorsement I'm especially proud of -- the Environmental League of Massachusetts. Massachusetts must be a national leader in combating climate change and promoting environmental sustainability. As Selectman, I've worked on local strategies to make Lexington greener and healthier. I’ve helped the communities I’ve worked for win “Leading by Example” awards in the environmental arena. In the Legislature, I will stand firm on the provisions of the Global Warming Solutions Act and push for better planning to ensure we can meet and exceed our targets. I will support increasing the renewable portfolio standard at a faster rate, so we can have clean energy sooner. I will strongly advocate for important initiatives including raising the cap on solar net metering, retrofitting State facilities and switching our public vehicle fleet to energy-efficient vehicles. I will look for ways to hold energy companies accountable for plugging their leaking gas pipes. I will push State agencies to help communities set net-zero energy consumption goals. I will oppose efforts to expand gas pipelines, especially those coming from fracking. I will promote State efforts to work with local communities to prepare for and adapt to the effects of climate change. In everything we do, climate must be considered in all our policies because it is the most pressing struggle we face. Getting it wrong is not an option for our planet and we owe it to our children and grandchildren to lead on this issue. The heat and humidity of the summer may be at its peak, but that's only getting our campaign more determined! Next Wednesday, August 1, 2018, we're going to be taking a break from knocking on doors for a few hours for an exciting campaign event in Lexington. I hope you'll join me for a fun evening with your friends and neighbors. Here are the details:  I hope you'll have the opportunity to attend, learn more about our campaign, and get involved!
 Thank you Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus for endorsing my candidacy for State Representative! The MWPC has played a critical role in electing qualified women candidates from City Councilors to U.S. Senators. To earn their endorsement in such a crowded field of candidates is truly an honor. It also shows that our message is resonating and our hard work is making a real difference. Moreover, my recognition by this group of very influential, involved citizens adds one more element to my ability to be effective on Beacon Hill from day one. "We are pleased to endorse a group of terrific women candidates who are highly qualified and committed to making positive changes in districts across Massachusetts," said Laurie Martinelli, Executive Director. "This is a watershed year for the Caucus in many respects, and through these endorsements for offices statewide we are seeing this women’s movement unfolding right in front of our eyes.” Please see the attached press release for more information on Michelle's endorsement and the mission of MWPC. 
I can't believe summer is actually here! When we launched our campaign earlier this year, there was a foot of snow on the ground. Since then, we've been out working hard and connecting with voters in Lexington and Woburn -- knocking on over 2,500 doors, hosting more than 40 meet & greets, and putting up more than 250 lawn signs.
The response has been incredible and the excitement surrounding our grassroots campaign is palpable. With all this excitement, we're also approaching an important fundraising deadline. The second fundraising quarter ends on June 30th, and we want to end this quarter strong. Will you consider making a donation in any amount between now and Saturday night at midnight? If you have been considering making a contribution, then now is the most critical time to do so! Please click here to donate today! With your continued support, we will have the resources we need to continue our momentum and grow our organization. I can't thank you enough for your generous support, and I look forward to updating you with more exciting news coming next week! |
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