A little about myself and my campaign

Many of you have commented that you like our campaign tour titled “Wake Up Washington”.  As part of the tour I will be traveling the district to meet voters at commuter rail stops, coffee shops, and diners during your morning commute.  I want to take my campaign for Congress right to you, and hope we get a chance to meet at your local coffee shop.  If you are interested in where the tour will be taking us, please do not hesitate to contact my field director at chris@barryfinegold.com.

Many of you may not know me, who I am, or where I come from.  I have been working hard for Massachusetts families for over eleven years on Beacon Hill, and have never been afraid to stand up for what I believe is right.

During six terms on Beacon Hill, I have earned a reputation for hard work, tenacity and results by taking the lead on critical issues such as:

– The “Massachusetts Renewable Energy Road Map,” a package of policy ideas designed to invigorate our economy and protect the environment with research-and-development grants and tax incentives for Massachusetts companies developing fuel-cell technology. The legislation also creates a $1,500 state tax credit for consumers who purchase hybrid vehicles.

– The Safe Havens Act establishes designated locations, such as emergency rooms or fire and police stations, where a parent can leave their newborn if they are unable to properly care for the child.

– Nursing home reforms to protect our seniors and securing funding to make Massachusetts one of the first states to establish a consumer report card on nursing homes.

– I helped fight for a comprehensive Rules package to improve our government, limit the power of entrenched interests and make it more responsive to our families.

– As co-chair of the North East Solid Waste Committee, I secured $54 million to assist communities throughout the Merrimack Valley such as Dracut, Westford, and Tewksbury to address increasing costs of waste disposal. This funding helped towns and cities meet environmental regulations and implement clean air technology upgrades at power plants.

– In 2000, I authored the Holocaust Restitution Bill, which ensured that the 3500 Massachusetts holocaust survivors did not have to pay taxes or incur penalties on recovered assets from the Swiss Government.

In 1999, I won the Kennedy School Fenn Award for Political Leadership for bringing together legislators and officials from New Hampshire and Massachusetts to address the traffic problems on I-93. My efforts led to the opening of the breakdown lane during rush hours, which greatly reduced congestion during peak commuting hours.

I learned the value of hard work and education from my parents: my mother taught for 33 years in the Andover Public Schools and my father taught 33 years at Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill. I attended both the Andover and Tewksbury public schools and graduated from Franklin and Marshall College.

Going to classes at night, I graduated from the Massachusetts School of Law in Andover and was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1998. I am presently a partner with the law firm of Dalton & Finegold,LLP. I also hold a Masters in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Our district has such tremendous potential, and I know that with your help, we can make the 5th Congressional District in Massachusetts a model of the innovation economy we need to succeed.

We need a Congressman that will fight everyday for good jobs, great education, and lead with a vision for a 21st Century economy.

I hope to earn your support in the coming months, and look forward to seeing you on the campaign trail.

Barry