Economic development creates more opportunities for workers and businesses in our community for today and tomorrow. I will support policies that will bring more businesses to the South Shore, which means more jobs and revenue to keep our economy sustainable. Strengthening our economy allows us to help reign in escalating increases in real estate taxes, better fund quality education for our children, and invest in our local infrastructure.  

I owned a small business with over a dozen employees for ten years, so I understand the difficulties of starting and growing a company. Government needs to reduce those difficulties, not create more of them. Bringing businesses to the South Shore requires investments and tax policies that prime our area for business and workforce development.

Supporting business means supporting workers. I was proud to serve on the Future of Work Commission, tasked with understanding the effects of technological change and automation on work, as well as how we can support the worker of tomorrow. In this vein, I will support targeted funding for infrastructure, housing, and workforce development. Furthermore, education grant programs to train students for skilled work in new economic sectors help attract more businesses to our area.

As your State Representative, I have worked hard to prioritize local economic development. I have secured funding through the budget to support our local businesses, I have lent my support to local business and development grants that create a better business environment, and I have sponsored legislation that promotes local businesses and creates a MassMade program to support businesses that operate in Massachusetts.

Supporting business means supporting workers. I was proud to serve on the Future of Work Commission, tasked with understanding the effects of technological change and automation on work, as well as how we can support the worker of tomorrow.

I am the proud parent of public school students. My children have attended high-quality schools and learned from some of the nation’s best teachers. Our strong public schools are the key to the success of all Massachusetts students, so I will fight for policies that ensure Massachusetts continues to lead the nation in public education. And because today’s students are tomorrow’s professionals, bolstering our education system is the single greatest step we can take for the long-term strength of the Massachusetts economy.

I have advocated strongly for our public schools during my three sessions on Beacon Hill. I have supported fully funding the Student Opportunity Act each budget session since its passage, and will continue to do so until it is fully funded in the year 2026. I was proud to support increasing per pupil funding to $60, up from $30, and to fully fund universal school meals, with the understanding that students cannot learn effectively on an empty stomach. I will continue to advocate for our schools to receive all the resources they need, which includes ensuring that the extra revenue received from the Fair Share Amendment goes towards making our schools the best they can be.

Additionally, we need to ensure that our schools always remain safe. I support state funding for School Resource Officer programs to keep our schools free of drugs and violence. Our children deserve the chance to focus on learning to their highest potential and should not have to worry about their safety in school. 

Effectively preparing our students for the future starts before they even enter elementary school. Unfortunately, the rising costs of childcare and pre-school make these crucial years of child development financially out of reach for too many families. In high school, our students must have opportunities to prepare for jobs in a changing world. Technological developments—from automation to green technology—signal big changes to come in the global economy and we must prepare our students for the jobs of tomorrow.

The opioid epidemic is the greatest public health crisis we face. As a community, we must unite to help those struggling with addiction and educate the next generation to prevent drug use. At its core, this epidemic is about our neighbors, our communities, and our families. With children moving in with relatives or foster parents because so many parents struggle with addiction, the epidemic threatens the fabric of our community for generations to come. I will advocate for a comprehensive solution to combat this crisis today and prevent drug abuse going forward.

Education: I will advocate to expand comprehensive drug education in our public schools. Helping today’s students understand the dangers of drug use is the best way to prevent addiction in the next generation. Effective education starts with safe schools.

Prevention: Preventing addiction begins with the medical professionals who serve patients in pain. I support comprehensive pain management guidelines to prevent over-prescription and ensure we manage pain responsibly.

Treatment: We cannot arrest, adjudicate, or stigmatize our way through this crisis—that strategy has failed. I support funding to expand access to long-term, comprehensive treatment. By building these programs, we can rebuild communities and help addicts and their families regain control of their lives.

Improving access to high-quality mental health services is critical to the wellness of people of all ages and has been one of my top priorities since joining the Legislature. Improving mental health services begins with supporting the mental health workforce. I was proud to have legislation that creates an entry-level license for Licensed Mental Health Counselors passed in a larger package. The legislation removes barriers to entry for new LMHC’s and allows them increased benefits when starting in the field by creating a new license.

I have continued to work with the Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association to support the mental health workforce and their ability to better do their jobs. I co-filed legislation that would provide LMHC’s the same power of Section 12 that is given to both police officers and social workers, who many times, rely on the advice of LMHC’s to make that decision. I was deeply honored to be named Legislator of the Year by the MaMHCA for my support of their important organization.

My husband, Mike, has served as a Kingston Police Officer for 12 years and was with the NYPD during the 9/11 terrorist attack and its aftermath. I understand first-hand the sacrifices of those who devote their lives to protecting our communities. As a former personal trainer, I helped prepare many local firefighters for duty. First responders consistently put themselves at risk to save lives and keep us safe, and it is our duty to support their work.

For me, that means advocating on Beacon Hill for high-quality training and better healthcare for first responders. Police officers and firefighters face immediate risks every day, and they often deal with long-term health problems because of their work. I am the proud supporter of officer wellness legislation, to protect the mental health of law enforcement officers after their involvement in a critical or traumatic incident. After the Legislature passed major police reform legislation in 2020, we need to continue to ensure and bolster the resources available to law enforcement departments so they can continue to improve and better protect and serve our communities.

By embracing this approach to public safety, we can ensure that those who serve our communities have our support. I will advocate for them because I know that protecting our first responders is key to protecting everyone in our community.

Racial inequality in this country dates back hundreds of years to our founding. While we have made good progress toward racial justice under the law, systemic racism still exists throughout our society and we have a ways to go to reach true equality for all. Black Americans and People of Color have faced barriers to the economy, to housing, to education, and to voting access.  Massachusetts, and more specifically the 12th Plymouth district, is not immune to systemic racism and there are many unfair barriers that People of Color must overcome each and every day.

On Beacon Hill, I will advocate for and work to create a more equitable Massachusetts.  A study done by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston (The Color of Wealth in Boston, 2015) found that non-immigrant black households in our very own Boston have a median net worth of $8, while white households nationally have a median net worth of $247,500. We must work to bridge the wealth gap between black and white households, while understanding that the problem lay not with Black Bostonians, but with the systemic barriers they face every day. Increasing economic opportunities for African Americans means creating access to better, affordable housing as well as access to high quality education, both in elementary and secondary education as well as higher education.

I will fight to ensure that our ballot boxes remain open and available to all.  Many voter suppression tactics are aimed at keeping Black Americans away from the polls. Not only will I oppose all measures to suppress votes, I will support legislation that enhances voting rights and makes it easier for all legal citizens to vote in elections. Voting is the most fundamental right we have as citizens, and no citizen should be turned away for any reason.  On a personal level, I will be working to further educate myself on how systemic racism persists at many levels as I strive to become a better, more informed ally to the Black community, and will represent them with sincerity, honesty and integrity.  

Climate change is a threat to our neighborhoods, our wallets, and our planet. We see the impacts throughout our community. Rising sea levels are driving up flood insurance rates, ocean acidification threatens our local shell-fishing industry, coastal erosion threatens our barrier beaches and our watersheds. In the face of Federal inaction and reductions in regulations we must lead at the state level.

I was a proud supporter of Roadmap 2050 legislation, which set the Commonwealth on a course towards net-zero emissions by that year. However, there is still work to be done to ensure that Massachusetts hits that bold goal. Investments into clean, renewable energy are necessary to meet the target. In our FY24 budget, the legislature made strong investments into this area, and I intend to support these efforts again in future budget sessions.

I have been a strong supporter of climate change adaptation efforts. I have worked to help secure grants to bolster the 12th Plymouth’s vulnerable shoreline through increased investment in coastal infrastructure. I have worked closely with blue economy organizations to protect our oceans, one of the most valuable resources we have, from degradation and pollution. I am the lead sponsor on circular economy legislation, which will help keep waste out of our oceans.

Locally, the responsible use of our lakes and waterways is vital to our community’s well-being. Brockton’s overreliance on Silver Lake has caused dangerously low water levels in the lake and unsafe algae blooms in nearby Monponsett Pond. While progress has been made with Brockton's signing of a new Administrative Consent Order (ACO) in 2017, the enforcement of those regulations on their water management practices will be among my top priorities, and I will advocate for further state funding as needed to combat toxic algae in Monponsett Pond.

Along with my South Shore colleagues, I have been a strong watchdog over the decommissioning of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant by Holtec International. The companies plan to dump spent fuel pool water into Cape Cod Bay will have long-lasting consequences on the health of the bay and the economy of the many towns along the bay who rely on it for their fishing industry, tourism industry and so much more.

MassDEP has issued a preliminary decision blocking the discharge of spent fuel pool water, but there is still more to do. As your State Representative, I will fight each and every day to ensure that Holtec does not take advantage of our local waterway to decrease their costs associated with decommissioning of the power plant. I have been in attendance at all meetings of the Citizen’s Decommissioning Advisory Panel, I have filed legislation to prevent Holtec’s dumping into our bay and to study the effects of spent fuel on a waterway, and I am in constant contact with the State Attorney General’s office and MassDEP. The health of Cape Cod Bay is too important to take a day off the issue, and as your Representative, I will always be in this fight.

I am the proud daughter of a veteran of the United States Navy. My dad taught me firsthand about the sacrifices made by those who serve our country, and his example has inspired my involvement in public and community service throughout my life. My son, Nick, is carrying on his legacy as he serves in the Army overseas now. 

I am grateful to all military service members and veterans for their sacrifices and efforts to keep our country safe and free, particularly in today’s troubling world. I have worked hard to secure funding in the budget to properly honor the veterans of Kingston for their brave and selfless sacrifices, I supported legislation that improved the quality of care at Soldier’s Homes and would ensure that the tragedy that unfolded in Holyoke in the beginning of the pandemic cannot happen again. I am a lead sponsor on legislation that would give Veteran’s organizations, such as the American Legion, another revenue source to continue doing the amazing work they do to support veteran’s when they return home.

Our veterans deserve the highest quality care and support after they are discharged. Massachusetts has been a leader in the nation for veterans' benefits, and as your State Representative, I will continue to advocate for those who have fought for our country by supporting facilities and programs that are well-funded, modern, and safe.

For several years, I have volunteered regularly for the Council on Aging and Meals on Wheels. Working with seniors has heightened my awareness of the many challenges that older members of our community face, from balancing expenses on a fixed income to rapidly rising healthcare costs. Throughout their lives, our seniors have built and sustained our communities, and each time I meet with them, I learn so much by listening to their experiences. Our parents and grandparents have cared for us, and it is our duty to care for them.

With growing reports of elder abuse and rising costs of healthcare, I know our state government must continue to work on behalf of our seniors. As your State Representative, I will support expanded access to affordable health care for all seniors, and funding for care to the elderly will be one of my top priorities as I look at the state budget. Our seniors have worked hard for our communities, and I am working hard for them. 

I support the efforts of the Massachusetts legislature to ensure that state laws protect women’s healthcare and reproductive freedom, and I will advocate for policies that improve availability and access to these vital services for all women.  With upcoming changes in the Supreme Court that could mean even greater threats to women’s rights and economic protections, the stakes are higher than ever.  We need strong leaders in the State House to continue pushing our state forward in this area. 

The Massachusetts Office of Economic Empowerment reports that women in Massachusetts make 82 cents on the dollar compared to men. We can do better; we must do better. Regardless of income or type of work, all women need to be safe from harassment in the workplace, and all women deserve an equal opportunity to advance. I have been a proud and staunch supporter of numerous bills that support women in the workplace including paid family leave legislation, as well as most recently, pay equity legislation, that will work to level the playing field for all applicants in the Commonwealth.

An innovative, affordable higher education system is vital to Massachusetts’ future as an economic leader. But students and their families worry more and more each year about how to pay for college. Tuition and fees at Massachusetts Universities have increased significantly since 2009. In the 2015-2016 academic year, 73% of graduates from Massachusetts public colleges and universities had taken out loans, and the amount borrowed has risen substantially since 2004. The financial effects of student debt last for decades. Graduates must devote financial resources to paying down debt, so they wait longer to buy homes, start families, and open businesses. As college debt can frequently take decades to pay off, families struggle to plan for retirement and fund their own children’s education. The result is a drain on our economy and fewer opportunities for future generations.

I will advocate for increases in funding to our public colleges and universities and state scholarship programs. To address current debt, I will advocate for programs that encourage employers to help their workers with debt assistance programs. By implementing these two solutions, we can help Massachusetts families pay for college and pave a path to financial stability for past and future graduates.

Massachusetts has the best K-12 public schools in the nation, but since 2008, a growing number of our high school graduates have chosen to attend college out-of-state. Building a strong economy in Massachusetts requires making sure the bright minds of tomorrow don’t take their talents out of state when they graduate from high school. By increasing investment in our colleges and universities and making higher education more affordable, we can keep the innovators of tomorrow here in Massachusetts today to carry our state forward.