Senator Jim Marzilli - I look forward to Jeff joining me in the State House as a courageous partner in government

Seventeen years ago I was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives where it has been my honor and privilege to work on behalf of the people of Arlington and Medford. Last month you chose me to represent you in the Senate. We soon will be voting to fill the vacancy in the House of Representatives, and I will be voting for Jeff Thielman.

Jeff Thielman is an exceptionally well-qualified candidate for the House. When he graduated from Boston College, he heeded the advice of former-Congressman Father Robert Drinan, and went to Peru to work with poor youth for three years in a program sponsored by the Jesuits. He returned to attend Boston College Law School and has spent much of his professional life building a network of private schools for our nation’s urban poor. Jeff has the professional and real-life experiences that are needed to be effective on Beacon Hill.

Jeff has served on the Arlington School Committee and made the difficult decisions that don’t always win a candidate votes, but are necessary as we struggle to fund a quality education for everyone, including special education students who were in danger of being left behind. He worked successfully as a newly arrived resident to fund the rehabilitation of Spy Pond Park.

I am confident that Jeff will be a leader in the House on the issues important to Arlington, including restoring local aid and school funding. Jeff has already begun working with me on closing corporate tax loopholes to help get us needed revenue. He will continue to work to protect the environment, and is committed to making sure the needs of Arlington are heard as the MBTA works to extend the Green Line into Medford. He supports expanding the “senior circuit breaker” property tax relief law that I initiated when I was first elected, extending it to families regardless of their age.

I look forward to Jeff joining me in the State House as a courageous partner in government. We won’t always agree, but Arlington needs a leader and not a rubber stamp. Jeff is the best candidate to represent us in the House of Representatives and I will be voting for him in the Democratic Primary on February 5.