Election 2018: Candidate Profile Of Lori Trahan

This is one in an occassional series looking at candidates running in contested races on November 6. Today we profile Lori Trahan, the Democratic nominee in the three-way race for the third district seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

WESTFORD, MA -- Lori Trahan is making her first run for political office, but she's already battle-tested. She won the Sept. 4 primary over Dan Koh of Andover and eight other candidates. The race featured a recount of the more than 89,000 votes cast where Trahan was declared the winner by a 0.1%.

Trahan lives in Westford with her husband and their two young daughters. Her husband also has three grown children. Trahan grew up and Lowell and went to Georgetown University on a volleyball scholarship. She currently owns a consulting firm.

The following are responses Mullen gave to questions Patch posed to all candidates running in the race:

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Too many families are feeling the anxiety of living paycheck to paycheck – never mind having money to put away for their kids’ college or their own retirement. The reality for too many working families is that the escalating cost of living is dramatically outpacing earnings. In Congress, I will fight for economic priorities like affordable, universal health care and prescription drugs that we can afford. We need more good paying jobs with benefits and that requires high quality public education, affordable college and practical training that prepares people for the jobs of today and tomorrow. I will also fight for paid family leave, a $15 an hour minimum wage, and I will always stand on the side of workers.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I will take a firm stand against any efforts to take away healthcare coverage for those with pre-existing conditions and will fight to preserve coverage for children on their parents’ plans until age 26. I firmly believe that we need to root out the corruptive influence of money in politics which is why I refuse to take any money from corporate PACs. I am also the only candidate who has the experience of working in a Congressional office and knows what it takes to build coalitions and deliver real results for the people of this district. My deep roots here in this district mean I will never forget who I am going down to Washington to represent.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

The opioid crisis has impacted too many families and we’ve lost too many loved ones. We need to start by removing the stigma associated with substance use disorder to encourage people struggling with this disease to come forward for help. We need more funding for treatment beds, recovery programs, and long-term supports to help get people back on their feet, into good-paying jobs and living a healthy life. We also need to expand access to Narcan, as well as other medications that can help in their fight. I also believe in early education programs aimed at making children aware of the dangers of drug use.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I will use all of the hard-earned lessons of my career—working across the aisle in Washington as a congressional chief of staff, delivering results and opportunity for the communities of this district, becoming the only female executive at a tech company, starting a successful business —to get things done as your next representative.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

My parents always told me to work hard and focus on learning and those values got me to where I am today.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Running for office was never the plan for me, but everything changed in 2016. I’ve had the good fortune to work with entrepreneurs and business leaders in many different industries and this is what I know to be true – when disruption happens, change follows. Washington has been disrupted by our President and this election is shaping up to be the change that follows. We need new leaders in Congress – leaders who know how to build things and not just tear them down, leaders who genuinely care about working and middle-class values, leaders who can help to create an economy that works for everyone. That opportunity to make real change is what motivates me every single day, so that I can help build a better world for my daughters.

Previously:

• Mike Mullen (I-Maynard)

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Photo submitted by Lori Trahan. Used with permission.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).