Support Rep. Jason Lewis on April 1st

Letter to the editor:

We are writing to urge Melrose registered voters to go to the polls on Tuesday April 1st and to support State Representative Jason Lewis in the special election to replace Congresswoman Katherine Clark in the State Senate.  We have known Rep. Lewis for several years, and are convinced that our city and the Commonwealth will be stronger with him in the State Senate!

Jason is an elected official with a record of strong accomplishments. He’s led by winning funding for the first-in-the-nation Prevention and Wellness Trust. He’s fought for and secured funding for the Stone Zoo when it was threatened with closure. He’s always been an effective voice for our public schools. Jason is the lead sponsor of a bill that will help bring more local aid to our communities for education. The list of his successes on behalf of his own constituents and for the betterment of our state goes on and on.

We have long had great respect and admiration for Congresswoman Katherine Clark. She knows our district well. Her endorsement of Rep. Lewis means much. We think she did so because she knows that in Jason, Melrose will have a strong Senator.

In a special election, anything can happen. Representative Lewis faces Republican Monica Medeiros. We first came to know her four years ago when we moved to town, and have been impressed with her as she has dealt with us on a personal level, and local issues as our Alderman.

Although we follow politics and state issues closely, we have never before publically endorsed any candidate for any office. We do so now because we were surprised to learn that MassResistance, an organization that has been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, once wrote of Medeiros that she is “completely with us on the issues.” At the level of City government, that might not mean so much, but on the statewide stage, the ramifications can be dramatically negative.

We feel strongly that we want a candidate whose values are consistent with Congresswoman Clark’s and our own. We feel strongly that voters should take the time to research both candidates. What it comes down to is simply this: our votes, whether in the voting booth or in the halls of government reflect our values.

On April 1st, let’s also say that we value voting. Regardless of which candidate you support in this election -- please vote.  It is a right we need to cherish and exercise.

Melrose