Election 2018: Candidate Profile Of Lori Lennon

ARLINGTON, MA – There are two candidates running in the Democratic primary for 23rd Middlesex District in the Massachusetts Legislature, which includes Arlington and Medford.

Patch reached out to both incumbent state Rep. Sean Garballey and challenger Lori Lennon with a series of questions to help introduce voters to those candidates. The first in the series of candidate profiles will look at Lennon. Her campaign website is here.

Lennon, 36, lives in Arlington and has a 9-year-old daughter, Keira. She has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Northeastern University and later returned to serve as the director of communication at the College of Science for seven years.

All of the candidates were asked the same questions. We are publishing their answers to selected questions as they were submitted to us, with some editing for space and style considerations.

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

It’s imperative that public transportation be a priority for the Commonwealth. Our state has gone from a transportation pioneer to a state considering privatization due to mismanagement. It is going to take an innovative and incremental approach to get us back to a place where we can laud our public transit as a model for other states and cities in the US.

With housing prices on the rise and more residents moving further away from major cities, our trains need to connect Boston to communities across Massachusetts more than ever. Residents in these areas will need a reliable mode of transportation to get them in and out of the city in the most efficient way.

Our goal as a major hub must be to get cars off the roads by making more communities across the Commonwealth accessible through public transportation. By taking more cars off the roads, we are helping our fragile environment, reducing the wear and tear on our state’s highways and roadways, and attracting more people to the MBTA, which could help control fare increases and make the T more competitive with other ride sharing services. As State Representative, I will work with my fellow legislative colleagues to increase access to the MBTA, extend rail service across the Commonwealth, and connect North and South Station.

This is a big project, however, by taking small, thoughtful, and strategic steps toward a more efficient transportation system, we will alleviate the burden and stress on both the commuters and our aging transportation infrastructure.

Many issues in this state are connected, and housing is absolutely one of them. To help address our housing issues, it is important not to search for a solution in silos. Transportation and schools play a part in the housing issue. By working toward equal education standards for all of our public schools and creating accessible transportation across the state, many more communities will have the opportunity to thrive.

Our state must also work to provide more affordable housing options for our residents. Affordable housing is oftentimes a direct result of families or individuals not receiving a livable wage. Just recently, the House and Senate approved a bill that would raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, which will help many of our workers; however, this increase will happen incrementally over the next five years. I see this as a concern. If inflation and cost of living increases are accounted for, there is a very strong chance that $15 an hour will not qualify as a livable wage in 2023.

Corporations must also take responsibility and pay their employees livable wages, and account for cost of living and health care increases. Theoretically, if employers provided adequate resources for their staff, the demand for affordable housing could decline.

Lastly, education around affordable housing subsidies is lacking, leading to the perpetuation of stereotypes. As the middle class continues to disappear, more families and professionals are looking for help. Affordable housing is an incredible tool that can help many members in the Commonwealth achieve their ultimate goal of financial independence. This resource must continue to be supported and advocated for.

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

Leadership, Vision, and Communication.

I am an advocate, communicator, and a professional woman with an entrepreneurial spirit.

I understand the issues facing voters across the district. Like many others, I continue to manage student loan debt, struggled to find and afford child care, navigated challenging life experiences, and have sat in traffic for far too long. I believe there is so much more our government can do on the issues of universal healthcare, homelessness, veteran affairs, women’s rights, the environment, LGBTQIA+ rights, and the opioid crisis.

As a graduate from Northeastern with a degree in Journalism, I spent seven years working in television news, first at New England Cable News, then WBZ-TV. I had the honor of conducting interviews and writing about politicians, organizers, activists, and athletes. I then started at Northeastern University where I worked my way up to the Director of Communications for the College of Science.

My experience as a communicator has afforded me the opportunity to work with leading researchers that are tackling some of the biggest and most important issues of our time, such as climate change, renewable energy, and drug discovery. I am a network-builder and a collaborator, and these strengths help me tap into the resources to move initiatives forward.

I am a room parent in my 9-year-old daughter’s class at Thompson Elementary School, a soccer coach, and an active member of the community. I am a member of the Equal Opportunities Advisory Committee and the Superintendent’s Diversity Task Group in Arlington and volunteers for Jane Doe Inc, in Boston.

I am running for state representative, because I am a natural stakeholder in the community. I am invested in seeing this district and the Commonwealth succeed.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

Affordable Childcare: We need to step up our support for working families. Our state needs to find solutions to help address the struggles many families face as they grapple with the challenge of finding affordable and enriching childcare.

As a working parent, I deeply value and understand the importance and the necessity of having access to childcare that won’t break the bank. Like many families, our family paid a college tuition for childcare before my daughter entered kindergarten. We need to start finding creative and innovative ways to make child care sustainable, while also working to support the careers of our childcare professionals.

Economic Development and Educational Opportunities through Innovation and Technology: In Massachusetts, we are in a strong position to continue advancing in the areas of innovation and technology. Surrounded by companies, institutions, and startup spaces that specialize in industries such as biotechnology, sustainability, and security, our state has the ecosystem to harness true innovation. We have a responsibility to not only build up these communities, but also create pipelines to train and prepare our next generation of professionals, as well as current professionals who are looking to transition into new jobs. This will give us an edge as we continue to position ourselves as pioneers in an ever-changing environment

Communication with the District: As a communication professional, I realize how powerful open and informative communication can be. As State Representative, I will prioritize communication between the State House and the district, and put mechanisms in place to ensure transparency and that all interested voters are a part of the conversation.

I will create an interactive website, develop a comprehensive newsletter, and hold round table discussions at the beginning, middle, and end of the session where we can review the progress and outstanding concerns. I will also hold regular office hours with constituents to ensure our district’s message and mission in the State House is authentic and accurate.

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

As former director of communications at Northeastern University’s College of Science, I had the opportunity to use my creativity and entrepreneurial spirit to help develop a strong and strategic foundation for a new college. This required collaboration, leadership, integrity and the ability to navigate difficult conversations.

These are the skills that will be instrumental when building coalitions and bridges to advocate for legislation that will impact our district and state, while protecting some of our most vulnerable populations.

The vision and foresight often associated with entrepreneurship are qualities I will bring to this office. As a progressive Democrat, I support priorities such as LGBTQIA+ rights; providing quality services to veterans; fighting for and protecting communities from racism; preserving women’s reproductive rights; supporting our public schools and teachers; focusing on sustainable solutions for our environment; advocating for universal healthcare; and pursuing resources to address the opioid crisis.

Change like this will require more than voting the right way. I am prepared to lead with vision and creativity to ensure the causes we all believe in are addressed and defended. Our district has the infrastructure to lead groundbreaking legislative initiatives that will not only benefit Arlington and Medford, but also provide opportunity and equity across the Commonwealth.
As an active member in the community, addressing issues such as affordable childcare, housing and transportation challenges and creating economic growth through innovation and technology initiatives will be paramount to ensuring the continued growth of our district.

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

I recently signed a #TransparencyPledge with 14 other candidates that pledges to stand for roll calls and to advocate for greater transparency and accountability within the Massachusetts Legislature. Elected leaders should be on record supporting or opposing proposals on Beacon Hill. Currently, roll calls are not required to pass legislation. In the House, votes are recorded when it’s requested by a representative and then 10 percent of colleagues support it. This also holds true while votes are cast in committee meetings, and I believe it is essential to know how our leaders voters while in committee and it should be made available to the public.

Photo: Lori with her daughter, Keira (Sri Thumatis of thumatipics)