Left In Lowell

I’ve been in touch with a progressive candidate who is running for Jamie’s vacated Rep seat. She is a Lunenburg elected official and I’m looking forward to watching this race. She wanted to send a personal note to the blogs:

I wanted to let the progressive community know early on that I have decided to run for State Representative in the 37th Middlesex District.

I have been a supporter of Jamie Eldridge’s since he first ran in 2002 and I hope to continue his progressive legacy.

I am Chair of the Lunenburg School Committee and have been active in Democratic politics for several years. I have young children in the public schools and I know first hand how hard it has been for cities and towns to continue to provide quality education with dwindling resources. I firmly believe that our children - our future, depends upon high quality education, a clean environment and social equality.

Please get in touch with me at jen@jenbenson.org or check out my website at www.jenbenson.org. I’d love to hear from you.

Thank you,
Jennifer Benson

Her full press release after the flip

Democrat Jen Benson, Chair of the Lunenburg School Committee, announced today her candidacy to represent the Massachusetts 37th Middlesex District

Benson has a strong record of public service including five years of municipal government experience on the Lunenburg School Committee. She has served as liaison to the Finance Committee and as a member of the Charter Review Committee, Capital Planning Committee, the Lunenburg Primary School Building Committee, and on the School Policy Subcommittee.

“I’ve been involved in town government for years and raised a young family,” said Benson. “I’ve come to know the challenges faced by our citizens and our towns. I’m running because I want to take this knowledge and experience to the State House and work to improve our schools, provide better support to our towns, and protect the environment.”

Benson has been encouraged by the early support from government officials in the district. “Jennifer understands the issues that cities and towns are faced with,” said Jonathan Chinitz, Chair of the Acton School Committee. “She is compassionate. She is a great listener—a breath of fresh air on the local political scene. I can’t wait for her to be our representative on Beacon Hill.”

Benson has been endorsed by Senator Robert A. Antonioni (D-Leominster), Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Education. “I have worked with Jen Benson on education issues, and I believe she is especially well qualified to represent the citizens of the 37th District in the State House,” said Antonioni. “She has my full support.”

Benson has also received endorsements from the full Lunenburg School Committee, and from Lunenburg Board of Selectman members, including Chair, Tom Alonzo. “Jen has consistently demonstrated her dedication, her willingness to get involved and her commitment to work hard in trying to reach collaborative solutions to our challenges,” said Alonzo. “I believe Jen’s experience, energy and commitment are exactly what we need to have our collective voices effectively heard in the State House.”

The primary election for the seat will take place on Tuesday, September 16th, and the general election will be held on Tuesday, November 4th.

The 37th Middlesex District includes Acton (precincts 3, 4 and 5), Boxborough, Harvard, Lancaster (precinct 1), Lunenburg and Shirley. The seat has been held since 2002 by Representative James Eldridge (D-Acton) who recently announced he will be running for the Middlesex and Worcester state senate seat being vacated by Senator Pam Resor (D-Acton).

More information on Benson’s candidacy can be found at www.jenbenson.org.