The race for State Rep in the 8th Suffolk District is tomorrow and I’m writing to say that I believe Jay Livingstone has both the experience and character to serve the Suffolk 8th and the entire state very well.
First his experience: He’s been a community activist and grassroots organizer throughout and beyond the 8th Suffolk District. He’s also an attorney and the combination has enabled him to get which issues are important to people and how policies made at the statehouse affects them.
As he says on his site http://jaylivingstone.com/issues/, “as Assistant District Attorney, I saw first-hand the negative impact of (those) budget cuts. At-risk youth ended up in trouble with the police instead of receiving the social services that they needed. This pattern will lead to negative long-term consequences for our youth and our society. I will work to restore social programs so that at-risk youth, seniors, and low income families receive the help that they need.” So he gets how policy and funding decisions made now impact people and the state’s budget for years to come.
Second, character: One way to get to know a person is to see how she or he treats a stranger, especially one who shows no particular advantage or benefit to knowing.
I met Jay at a large and happy gathering – the Massachusetts Democratic Convention – where he had had many friends and acquaintances. Jay was as warm and helpful as anyone I could have been. So, before he was running for any office and in a setting where he had lots of friends and colleagues, I got to appreciate Jay’s thoughtfulness and generosity. That, and his experience and positions, show me the kind of state rep he’ll be.
I hope you’ll consider voting for him Tuesday and/or letting your friends know about the race and the candidate.
Thanks.
My street was redistricted out this district, but I would definitely be voting for Livingstone today. He seems like he will be more of an independent progressive. Dawson, who also seems great, strikes me as more of a big D Democrat.