It has been a real whirlwind since I announced my candidacy for 37th Middlesex State Representative on February 18th in BMG. Several other excellent Democratic candidates have come and gone and now I am alone facing a conservative Republican candidate from Boxborough, Kurt Hayes.
It has been a pleasure meeting so many voters in the last 6 months. I have learned a great deal; we are alike in many ways, but each town has it’s own unique quality and feeling. I have enjoyed sharing fun times, such as at the Harvard 4th of July Parade, Boxborough’s Fifer’s Day, and the Shirley LobsterFest. But at each of these fun filled events I heard similar concerns: a lagging economy, rising costs in property taxes and fuel, and a consistent concern among parents that their schools will be affected by this economic uncertainty.
I am doing my best to run a campaign based on my strong record of experience and leadership as Chair of the Lunenburg School Committee, and on the issues of better schools, quality healthcare for everyone, protecting the environment, and strengthening the economy and creating jobs. I am releasing a series of position papers on the issues. The first paper (http://jenbenson.org/policy_economy.html) is on strengthening our economy and creating jobs. My opponent, on the other hand, is running a campaign of distortion and distraction and has strong backing from the state Republican party. There are not very many seats being challenged by the Republicans, and they consider the open 37th Middlesex seat as a prime opportunity.
We are in the home stretch of the campaign and I need your help. We need volunteers to phone bank and go door-to-door, and we need contributions to get my message to the voters. If you want to volunteer, please contact my friendly and capable campaign manager Mike Mackin by email (mike@jenbenson.org) or phone (978-582-7063). We are doing regular phone banking and canvassing.
Please make a contribution if you can: http://jenbenson.org/contribute.html. We will succeed if we have the resources to get our issue-based message to the voters.
Thank you for all of the supportive emails, calls and messages. I am excited about the opportunities we have to improve our Commonwealth and make a difference.
and I believe that not only is this seat targeted by Republicans and it would be a shame to see Jamie’s old neighborhood represented by regressive and maybe even partially insane Kurt Hayes (anyone remember the MA-05 debates?), but that Jen is the sort of candidate that we always talk about – a practical new Progressive with intelligence and the ability to work well with others. JUST the sort we need in the House. I had the very good fortune to interview her a few months ago for my radio show, as well as spend time chatting with her afterward. My friends, Jen Benson “gets it”!
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p>Donate, donate, donate, and volunteer! (My husband is going to kill me, but I couldn’t help heed the call myself and volunteer to give up a few hours on some upcoming weekend. Sorry hon! Jen’s just that good.)
his first time, and only because his opponent refused to use information that he thought was negative, even though it was factually based. Jamie was lucky to win that election. This seat is republican based.
If by “by less than a percentage point” you mean “by more than 4%,” then yes you’re right. You’re correct that it was close, but what’s the problem with getting your facts right?
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p>Also, that was 2002. Wasn’t that a strong Republican year in MA? I don’t think it’s going to be quite so strong for the Rs this time…but that’s pure speculation.