A Progressive Vision for Massachusetts

I believe that effective local, regional, and state government can make a real and positive difference in people’s lives.  The next State Representative for the 15th Middlesex District must stand up for the values that make Lexington, Woburn, and the entire Commonwealth of Massachusetts such a desirable place to live, work, raise a family, and retire.  Massachusetts leads when we support justice and equality for all our neighbors -- regardless of their gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identification, or immigration status.  We must embrace our political, cultural, ethnic and religious differences because our diversity makes us strong.   As a Commonwealth, we must stand up for our values and push back on the regressive efforts coming out of Washington.  This includes fighting for our inalienable civil rights, reproductive freedom, LGBTQ rights, the reduction of gun violence, progressive taxation, fair labor standards, a living wage and protection of the environment.  

Click on the topics below for more information.

Education

As a public school parent and a product of the Lexington public schools, I know what good public education can do for a child. But I also know that the great public education that my children and many other Massachusetts children have experienced is not available to all children in our Commonwealth. There are shocking disparities in educational opportunities across our state and I am committed to fighting against these inequities.

As a State Representative, I will place a high priority on investment in our public schools to ensure that no child has less educational opportunity because of where they live, and every child across the Commonwealth has access to a great education and the life-changing empowerment that it brings.

Because the ability to support educational services through local property tax varies greatly across our cities and towns, it is critical for us to fix the formula for determining the local education funding that comes from the State. This funding, known as Chapter 70, is supposed to ensure a fair and balanced distribution of state education funding.

The State recently completed a study of Chapter 70. The report of the Foundation Budget Review Commission was eye-opening. They found that the current formula needed important adjustments to create fair reimbursements for Special Education, METCO, English-language learners at all levels, School Transportation, school-related costs such as teacher health insurance and retirement funds, and school bonding.  I deeply believe in the importance of fairness, and have pushed strongly--and will continue to advocate--for adopting the recommendations of the Commission to  increase funding and rebalance how it is allocated.

Equal access to educational opportunity also means free all-day kindergarten, especially for lower-income families. Most communities in Massachusetts now offer the important early education benefit of all-day kindergarten, but many charge tuition. We must restore the state’s kindergarten grant funding program, which was cut from the budget in FY2017 so that all of our children can experience the benefits of an all-day kindergarten program.

But all-day kindergarten alone will not be enough to close our state’s opportunity gap. Pre-K education has measurable lifelong benefits and is especially important for the families who can least afford it. I will fight for the creation of a universal Pre-K program in Massachusetts.

Teachers are the backbone of our education system. Attracting and retaining talented teachers is critical to the quality of our schools There is no other profession that can so change the life of a child and forever improve that child’s outcomes. I enthusiastically support our teachers unions and their right to collective bargaining. Our teachers need to be supported in their efforts to ensure they are well compensated and fairly treated.  

Higher education is fundamental to the success of individuals and to the continuing economic strength of our Commonwealth. Need-based free and affordable options for college, vocational and technical education are a top priority.

With a personal understanding of the benefits of public education and a practical knowledge of how to implement positive change through policy amendments, I hold education access and quality as key issues of our day and top priorities for my campaign.

Transportation

Meaningful investments in transit and transportation infrastructure must be a priority for Massachusetts.  Increased traffic congestion, outdated public transit, and crumbling roads and bridges make getting around the region an increasing challenge and can ultimately damage our economy.  As the initiator of statewide legislation that created the Complete Streets program which is currently expanding bicycle and pedestrian options across the Commonwealth, I will continue to focus on funding capital improvements to public transportation.  We need to close the "last mile" transit gap that separates our homes and workplaces from convenient access to public transportation.  We must focus on using data and technology to improve traffic flow, and we must make real investments in public transportation infrastructure.  We must prepare for the inevitable disruptive changes that new technologies and autonomous vehicles will bring so that we can harness the opportunities that they present for real improvements to our transportation systems.

Environmental SustainabilitY

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 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.

Public Health

We must invest in prevention programs, both in physical and mental health to keep our residents healthier and, over the long term, to help lower our costs.  We must institute comprehensive policies that make it easier for people to be healthy.  More State funding should be directed to programs that emphasize wellness, with education aimed at improving nutrition, measures to encourage physical activity, and strong preventive efforts to vaccinate and screen for diseases so they can be treated early.  Preventative efforts must also be focused on reducing substance abuse.  We must support programs and policies that ensure equal access to reproductive healthcare for all people.  We must improve the very low wages of home care workers, and create a student loan repayment pilot program for licensed, certified social workers working in areas of high need.  We need to be prepared, with legislation in place, to provide healthcare continuity for our most vulnerable residents in the event of federal cuts to our Medicaid funding.  We must work towards the creation of a single payer health insurance system in Massachusetts that guarantees access, is publicly administered, and lowers the cost of health care.  Such a system must be phased in carefully and deliberately to ensure service quality, and, importantly, to reduce disruption and displacement of workers currently employed in the private health insurance industry. ​

Job Creation & Economic OpportunitY

​​Massachusetts has a thriving economic engine, with leading Life Sciences, Finance, Information Technology, Higher Education, and Advanced Manufacturing sectors.  But we also have a severe deficit of skilled labor, and the sixth highest rate of income inequality in the nation.  It is imperative that we create pathways to success and employment opportunities for residents of all skills levels.  Widely available vocational and technical education is key, as well as support of small business ownership and downtown economies.  We must have the vision to anticipate the effects of automation, such as robotics and autonomous vehicles, on our workforce and be prepared with appropriate job training to enable displaced workers to succeed.