My family and I have lived in Hamilton for 12 years and my son attends Cutler Elementary School. We value the character of the North Shore, enjoying outdoor recreation on the Ipswich River and the beaches, and the vibrant arts community. As Planning Director for the Town of Burlington and a community volunteer, I have dedicated the last two decades to improving quality of life for people and their environments in the Commonwealth. My professional life has focused on consensus building and community planning, building fiscal stability, improving open spaces and driving regional partnerships.
Economic recovery is stronger when communities work together. As a State Representative I will coordinate with the six towns in the district to create a 2nd Essex Coalition. It will bring together small and large business leaders, municipal officials and other leaders to share ideas and discuss regional opportunities.
Healthcare: No one should face financial or geographic obstacles when it comes to accessing equitable healthcare services. I support 100% Universal Healthcare in Massachusetts and expansion of mental health services capacity.
Child & Eldercare: The economy needs more workers. In order to get women back into the workforce, they need access to affordable, quality daycare. Our population is aging. Many families are caring for their children and elderly parents. Our communities need guidance in planning for care options and services for our elders that are accessible and affordable.
Support for small business and Innovation start-ups: Small business is the heart of our communities. These businesses have been hit hard over the past few years. I will propose and support assistance for small and home businesses to help diversify and stabilize local economies.
Housing prices continue to rise all over Massachusetts. The current regulations for affordable and multi-family housing require our communities to create additional housing without planning and infrastructure support. At the state level we should fund planning for growth that recognizes local housing needs and infrastructure limitations. Communities should have the ability to create their own path to meet these goals.
The Merrimack, Ipswich and Parker rivers are precious resources in the 2nd Essex District and must be maintained and protected for our communities. The Ipswich and Parker provide municipal water for Ipswich, Hamilton, Rowley, Georgetown, Newbury and Topsfield. We need to increase our use of clean energy sources like solar, wind, and geothermal to power our buildings and our vehicles. Updating the electric grid will be an integral part of this effort. A robust electric grid will allow us to diversify energy production and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
Reaching children early is key to their success. Early childhood education, universal free full-time kindergarten, and special education bring value to all of our children and our communities. Education should be open and inclusive for all children. State educational funding should be equal for all children of the Commonwealth. I will support and lead efforts to equalize education for all students in the District and Commonwealth.
Our teachers are vital to building a robust school system, and they have faced enormous challenges in recent times. We can do better. Improving our resources, infrastructure, and educator compensation will help support and empower our schools, teachers and students to do their very best--and that is my goal.
Every citizen should have the right and access to take part in our democracy.Freedom of the press is critical to our democracy. I will defend the freedom of the press and our First Amendment rights.