I am running for State Representative because the Outer and Lower Cape is at an economic, environmental, and social crossroad. Our fragile coastal environment is threatened, the cost of living is high, and folks are struggling to get by. From Harwich to Provincetown, and all across Cape Cod, we need a fresh perspective and a new vision in the 4th Barnstable District which looks towards the long-term prosperity of our region — one which creates a future where families can remain here, and where all members of our community are strengthened. I ask you to join me in the work ahead.
People
Founded by radical Calvinists in pursuit of religious freedom, our Commonwealth has, since its inception, placed the “public good” as the primary driving force for our state government. It’s something that Democrats have long fought for, however; our outcomes have failed to match the rhetoric of the past. In line with President Roosevelt’s Economic Bill of Rights which was never realized — we should strive to deliver upon an aspirational agenda which serves the material interests of the working people of this Commonwealth. We should be leading by example by pursuing policies which put our people first, and will lead us into a future which is more prosperous for all.
Planet
We are currently living in an unprecedented moment where the natural systems which sustain us are in jeopardy. Climate breakdown, destructive land use practices, pollution, and species loss are approaching tipping points beyond which the natural world will not be able to recover. Scientists all over the world have made this abundantly clear, yet our elected leaders have failed to recognize and deliberate on the urgency of system change required to address these intersecting crises. Cape Cod is a place exceptionally vulnerable to the changes we are already seeing from more extreme weather, to sea level rise. While Massachusetts alone cannot solve these crises – there are things we can do as a Commonwealth which will have an international impact which are not currently being discussed. From our bays and beaches to our marshes and woodlands – our unique ecosystems draw visitors from across the country and the world and serve as a primary economic driver in both tourism and traditional industries. Without them, our way of life will be lost.
Progress
In JFK’s City on Hill speech, he remarks about the ways in which Massachusetts has always led the nation. “Its leaders have shaped our destiny long before the great republic was born. Its principles have guided our footsteps in times of crisis as well as in times of calm. Its democratic institutions–including this historic body–have served as beacon lights for other nations as well as our sister states. For what Pericles said to the Athenians has long been true of this commonwealth: “We do not imitate–for we are a model to others.”
At present, we can do better to live up to those ideals. Good governance groups rank the Massachusetts Legislature among the worst states in terms of governmental transparency, and we have some of the least competitive legislative elections in the country. If states truly are laboratories of democracy, we should strive to become that “City on a Hill” which has been the defining characteristic of our shared history. We have the obligation now, more than ever, to fulfill the social contract our founders envisioned.