I am pleased to support the candidacy of Jeff Thielman for state representative.

As soon as our new state representative is elected, he will be in the middle of a debate about how to close a projected $1 billion state budget deficit for the next fiscal year and where to allocate resources within our Commonwealth’s $27 billion budget. The Legislature will wrestle with ways to revise complex tax laws, make adjustments in the new health care law, and address housing, environment, education and other issues.

Jeff Thielman is well prepared to work with legislators from across the state to address these issues. During his five years on the Arlington School Committee, Jeff has worked collaboratively with his colleagues, parents, administrators and staff to allocate scarce resources to obtain the most benefit for Arlington’s school children. Jeff’s service as chair of the School Committee during the 2005-06 school year was exemplary.

For the last seven years, Jeff has also been an elected Town Meeting member, where he has deliberated and made decisions on fiscal, environmental and social issues impacting the entire community. He will bring the local perspective he has gained through both of those positions to the State House.

I’m confident that Jeff will work well with both Governor Patrick and the house leadership to bring about changes in policy and local aid that will benefit the people of Arlington and West Medford. 

I urge my friends and neighbors to support Jeff Thielman for state representative in the primary on February 5.