For Immediate Release
Contact: Sam Barrows
Phone: 978-409-1818
E-Mail: campaignmanager@teambarbara.com
L’Italien Seeks Return to House
Says ‘My neighbors in this district deserve better than what they have today’
July 1, 2012 – Stating she will be a “better representative,” Barbara L’Italien announced her campaign to represent the new 18th Essex District.
“When I served in the MA House of Representatives I made it my priority to help my constituents—not grandstand for political points,” said L’Italien. “My neighbors in this district deserve better than what they have today.”
L’Italien represented several Merrimack Valley communities for 8 years in the legislator, earning a reputation as a responsive legislator who worked with members of both Parties to deliver results locally and state-wide.
“This is my home. I was born here, attended Merrimack College and am fortunate enough to have raised my four children here,” explained L’Italien. “I understand the local issues that people in this community care about—jobs, schools, and family.
L’Italien expressed disappointment in current representative, Jim Lyons.
“For the past two years we’ve had nothing but a representative who is only interested in partisanship and pushing an extreme Tea Party agenda,” said L’Italien. “He has no credibility, no authority, and has delivered no results. My neighbors in this district deserve better than what they have today.”
L’Italien kicked off her campaign in June to a packed room at the Chateau Restaurant in Andover.
“If we want results, then we need to roll up our sleeves and work together,” said L’Italien, who worked closely with both Democrats and Republicans as a State Representative. “We don’t need a loudmouth – we need a strong and reasoned voice that gets results. As a State Representative I built a reputation as someone who worked with both political parties to get things done – and I delivered.”
“My neighbors are tired of the political bickering that causes government gridlock,” L’Italien declared to loud applause. “If we want better government then we need to elect better representatives. That is why I am running – because we deserve better.”
From 2003 to 2011, L’Italien represented Andover, Boxford and North Andover in the Legislature. L’Italien also represented Georgetown, Haverhill and Methuen – three communities that are no longer included in the district.
“Every community is unique in their needs, and I was honored to serve six great towns and cities,” said L’Italien. “I look forward to the opportunity to continue my work with Andover, Boxford and North Andover once more, and to bring my hands-on style to the great town of Tewksbury.”
L’Italien pointed to how closely she worked with Andover parents, volunteers and the School Building Authority to get Andover’s Bancroft School construction project off the ground.
“Democrat, Republican, we all want our children educated in top-notch facilities,” said L’Italien. “You don’t move projects like this by being divisive and partisan.” L’Italien mentioned the satisfaction she felt when she was able to get the state to act on and address Boxford’s well water contamination.
“For years these residents were forced to live with wells that were contaminated by large amounts of salt from a near-by salt shed,” explained L’Italien. “With degraded water and corroding plumbing, this entire Boxford neighborhood was in desperate need of help – and I am proud of the role I played in getting the state to take responsibility for moving their salt shed.”
L’Italien pointed to the irony that this Boxford neighborhood – though now in this district – wasn’t at the time.
“I think this neighborhood, more than any, can attest to my commitment to serving the entire community, even if I only have one or two precincts in my district.”
L’Italien emphasized that Boxford’s problems never would have been addressed if partisan politics were a factor.
“While I worked closely with Boxford’s two other legislators – both Republicans – party affiliation was never even part of the conversation,” said L’Italien. “At the end of the day, it is all about the people who we serve.”
L’Italien pointed to larger accomplishments, like maintaining North Andover’s local aid and fighting for improvements to route 93 that will benefit Tewksbury.
L’Italien also underscored that many times a legislator helps facilitate conversations to move projects along – like when North Andover wanted Verizon to remove the telephone poles from around the Common.
“These projects and policies are not ideological battles. These are things that are important to our residents and communities,” said L’Italien. “How are we supposed to get anything done with Jim Lyons refusing to work with individuals just because of their Party?”
In the last eighteen months L’Italien has worked as the Director of Government Affairs at the office of the State Treasurer, Steven Grossman. L’Italien was part of the professional team that created funding opportunities for local small businesses through the Small Business Banking Partnership (SBBP). The SBBP placed almost $250,000,000 of state funds into local, community banks to make small business loans – a program that has been remarkably successful at spurring innovation and job growth at the local level.
“For the past two years I’ve been a leader in creating jobs, economic development and pension reform. I can do even better as a state representative,” explained L’Italien. “I know how to work collaboratively to produce real results and am, simply, a better representative. My record proves it.”
L’Italien lives on Harper Circle in Andover with her husband of 26 years, Kevin Hall. They have four children: Rudy, 22; Allie, 20; Sam, 18; and Andrew, 14. L’Italien’s mother Claire also lives with the family.
“My parents taught me to strive to improve – to become better. I learned much in the past two years and know that it will make me a better representative for all my neighbors than the one we currently have. I always believed that you had to stand up and help your community. I’ve done that all my life as an active citizen, and I plan to continue to do so in the State House. I will be the better representative,” declared L’Italien.
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methuenprogressive says
The rabidly right wing Eagle Tribune had this story this morning. Only read the Disqus comments if you’ve had your shots.
http://www.eagletribune.com/local/x694484860/LItalien-Lyons-has-delivered-no-results
more at link
Christopher says
It is a very different district though.
methuenprogressive says
http://www.eagletribune.com/election/x1744211440/Tax-woes-come-back-to-haunt-candidate-for-state-rep
October 24, 2010
More at link.
merrimackguy says
This is not a campaign issue. You’re just trying to distract from the real issues.
This is an attack on Lyon’s family.
This has no relevance.
Etc Etc
merrimackguy says
Multi-term rep and co-chair of a powerful committee gets beat by old guy who is a first time (well recently at any rate, I think he might have run sometime in the distant past in another town) candidate who has baggage (see above) and is a social conservative.
Newbie rep becomes one of the most written about legislators in the House, and for doing things (like assisting cities and towns, or wondering how much is spent on undocumented immigrants) that people of his district actually care about.
Redistricting committee takes a district he won and makes it much more Republican.
The is clearly a kamikaze run by L’Italien forced onto her by the Democratic committee to tie down Lyons and prevent him for stumping for other candidates, forcing him to use money, and preventing his volunteers from working elsewhere. L’Italien was so into running again that she delayed announcing until the last week for signatures and then had to scramble to get them.
She will have her Treasury job waiting when she’s done so it’s just a question of going without pay for a few months so I can see why she agreed. Maybe they’ll give her a raise or bonus to make up for it.
Ryan says
No one who knows what they’re getting into runs for state office for kicks and giggles. The grief and antagonism you get on a daily basis is just not worth it, unless it’s something you really believe in.
L’Italien has a proven track record of caring about the people of her district and the Commonwealth as a whole and sadly got swept away in the one down spot of the previous election cycle — the state house of representatives, where 15 or so democrats lost.
The new district is a little bit more red than the one before and she’ll certainly be the underdog in the race, but clearly she thinks it’s worth the effort. I think she’s right.
merrimackguy says
I think it’s part of a bigger plan, but I’m sure she knows her chance of success is slim. Unlike most candidates that have to quit work I bet she has her job to return to. If she thought this was so important why did she wait until the last minute to run?
I don’t think you know the district. Lyons added two precincts in Republican Tewksbury (that Rep Adams won 2:1) and added others that are more favorable than the ones he lost.
Ryan says
What is she, a Cylon?
As for the rest of what you say, it’s pretty much all unsubstantiated garbage. I have a problem with anyone who suggests only people who can afford to quit their jobs — ie the richest of the rich — should be able to run for politics.
jack says
Barbara L’Italien never shied away from taking a difficult vote. Perhaps her very first vote was against Tom Finneran for Speaker of the House. That day she joined a very small group of dissident legislators when Finneran was overwhelmingly reelected by democrats and republicans. Later, she took a beating from the Catholic Church for standing up for same sex marriage. She paid a price for each of these votes in different ways. But it didn’t stop her from becoming one of the most effective legislators on the hill. She has chosen to fight an uphill rematch against knee jerk right winger in a district that is less favorable to her than the one she lost. Her district would be very lucky to have her.
merrimackguy says
I saw her say almost nothing during the Lawrence loan guarantee hearings and then vote against them. As vice-chair of the committee it should have been her role to actively attack the idea if she was not supportive.
Her Catholic church in Andover tossed her from a leadership position. While many that belong to the Church differ from the Church’s views, they have the right to decide who they have as leaders, and one who differs from two major beliefs they have (anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage)would appear not to fit their criteria.
I don’t think you know Jim Lyons. No one would call him “knee jerk right winger.” Maybe “dyed in the wool,” “hard,” “through and through,” “unapologetic” or other adjectives that express completeness. The voters didn’t seem to mind that.