Tom Birmingham served in the State Senate for 10 years. After 4 years, he was chosen by his colleagues to serve as Senate President. He had a raft of accomplishments:
He passed the landmark Education Reform Act of 1993, which has brought billions in state aid to public schools and helped keep Massachusetts students first in the nation in reading and math. He drafted and passed legislation to raise the minimum wage. He wrote and passed the Small Necessities Leave Act to let parents to take 24 hours per year off work to go to parent-teacher conferences, and take their children and elderly family members to the doctor.
He fought to protect a woman’s right to choose, fought for gay marriage, and supported clean elections. Oh, and he’s a Rhodes Scholar.
Today, Birmingham is Senior Counsel at a big firm, which he could give up or ramp down in order to serve. If he’s got the fire, no one could match his name recognition among grassroots leaders, deep relationships with unions and grassroots groups, and ability to raise money. As a senator, he’s an instant powerhouse dealmaker on Day One. And, of course, no one has the track record he’s got.
The district stretches from Saugus to Allston, with bits of Revere and Somerville, all of Everett, Chelsea, and Charlestown, and large portions of Cambridge.
It’s his for the taking.
