Democrat Jen Benson, Chair of the Lunenburg School Committee, announced today her candidacy to represent the Massachusetts 37th Middlesex District.
Benson has a strong record of public service including five years of municipal government experience on the Lunenburg School Committee. She has served as liaison to the Finance Committee and as a member of the Charter Review Committee, Capital Planning Committee, the Lunenburg Primary School Building Committee, and on the School Policy Subcommittee.
“I’ve been involved in town government for years and raised a young family,” said Benson. “I’ve come to know the challenges faced by our citizens and our towns. I’m running because I want to take this knowledge and experience to the State House and work to improve our schools, provide better support to our towns, and protect the environment.”
Benson has been encouraged by the early support from government officials in the district. “Jennifer understands the issues that cities and towns are faced with,” said Jonathan Chinitz, Chair of the Acton School Committee. “She is compassionate. She is a great listener-a breath of fresh air on the local political scene. I can’t wait for her to be our representative on Beacon Hill.”
Benson has been endorsed by Senator Robert A. Antonioni (D-Leominster), Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Education. “I have worked with Jen Benson on education issues, and I believe she is especially well qualified to represent the citizens of the 37th District in the State House,” said Antonioni. “She has my full support.”
Benson has also received endorsements from the full Lunenburg School Committee, and from Lunenburg Board of Selectman members, including Chair, Tom Alonzo. “Jen has consistently demonstrated her dedication, her willingness to get involved and her commitment to work hard in trying to reach collaborative solutions to our challenges,” said Alonzo. “I believe Jen’s experience, energy and commitment are exactly what we need to have our collective voices effectively heard in the State House.”
The primary election for the seat will take place on Tuesday, September 16th, and the general election will be held on Tuesday, November 4th.
The 37th Middlesex District includes Acton (precincts 3, 4 and 5), Boxborough, Harvard, Lancaster (precinct 1), Lunenburg and Shirley. The seat has been held since 2002 by Representative James Eldridge (D-Acton) who recently announced he will be running for the Middlesex and Worcester state senate seat being vacated by Senator Pam Resor (D-Acton).
For more information please log onto Jen Benson
Hi to all BMG readers,
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p>I posted this formal announcement which will be appearing in press, but also wanted to informally say hello. I have been active in local Democratic politics in Lunenburg, and I have been a supporter of Jamie Eldridge since he first ran for State Rep. in 2002. His passion and hard work have inspired me to run for his seat, to continue his progressive legacy.
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p>I would love to hear from the BMG community. You can email me directly at jen@jenbenson.org.
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p>Have a great day!
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p>Jen
Once you have a campaign website up, please post a link. I would like to at least follow your campaign, though my personal plate is “too full” for one more thing right now.
My website is jenbenson.org. You can also contact me directly at jen@jenbenson.org. I’m happy to answer any questions.
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p>Thanks again.
Stances on municipal partnership act, loophole closings are excellent.
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p>Just three questions: you say that we should “ensure lottery funds come back as local aid to cities and towns.” I’m unfamiliar with this issue. What exactly is the alternative to this?
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p>What is your stance on casinos?
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p>You mention redefining “affordable” for chapter 40B. What exactly does this entail, a tightening or loosening of standards for affordability? Does it include preventing affordability from “expiring”?
The lottery was established in 1971 in order to provide a source of revenue for the Commonwealth’s 351 cities and towns. In past years a cap was placed on lottery revenue, withholding some funds at the State level. This does not live up to the original intent of providing local aid. I believe we should disperse all of these revenues as local aid.
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p>I am skeptical of the Governor’s casino proposal, but I am happy the search is on for new revenue sources. The debate has certainly highlighted this need.
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p>There is a proposal in the House to reform the 40B law to include mobile homes as affordable. It is a simple change but would allow small towns to count existing homes toward their goal.
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p>I hope this answers your questions. Thank you for the chance to clarify.
Hi Jen,
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p>I see this post was done some time ago but I just happened upon it. I just wanted to clarify something. You mention the lottery funds withheld and said you support returning all lottery revenues as local aid. So does this mean you disagree with Jamie Eldridge and would have voted to send back the $450 Million in lottery money the state withheld?
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p>Because Jamie says he is for increasing local aid but then voted against it when given the chance. This $450M is owed to our towns and would have meant almost $700,000 coming back to my town of Shirley. Oh, and by the way, we happen to have a Prop 2 1/2 overide vote coming up in September. For how much you ask? $700,000. If Jamie Eldridge supported increasing local aid like he says, we wouldn’t even be having this vote.
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p>I don’t like politicians who say one thing but then vote another. Jamie Eldridge lied to us. Can we count on you to help us? I hope so.
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p>Thanks! And good luck.
and she will be an excellent State Representative. I grew up in Lunenburg and have known Jen for a few years. We have volunteered together on a few of the same campaigns. She is hard-working, a strong believer in progressive values, and down to earth. A great combination for an effective leader.
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p>While it is great to see Jamie Eldridge run for State Senate, we need to make sure that his House seat goes to another good progressive leader. I believe Jen Benson has what it takes to make a difference on Beacon Hill. She will be an excellent addition to the growing progressive movement in the State House. She really is a candidate that we can get excited about! I encourage everyone to check out her website and get involved in her campaign.
Otherwise, what if Jamie Eldridge doesn’t get elected and the 37th isn’t open?
Jamie is running for Pam Resor’s seat. She is also retiring. Jamie’s House district includes both Antonioni’s seat and Resor’s seat. His town of Acton is in Resor’s district. Jamie is not running for the 37th in the next election, so it would not be open whether he is elected to the State Senate or not. It would be filled by either a Democrat that we like, or a Republican that we do not like.
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p>No worries though, Jamie is a great guy and very welled liked in his district. I have great faith that the people will elect him to the opening Senate seat.
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p>I can imagine that Jen Benson and Jamie Eldridge would make a great progressive House/Senate team for the towns that they would share.
That the seat for which Jamie Eldridge is running is the one that Sen. Resor will be leaving at the end of her term [serving out one’s term definitely seems more honorable then leaving in the middle, besides not costing towns and cities as much]. And Jamie Eldridge is not running for the 37th, so it will be vacant at the end of his term. Got it.
Jen Benson will be a great state representative!