Jason Guida: Candidate Profile 13th Essex District

PEABODY, MA — Jason Guida is looking to be an experienced and independent voice in the state legislature as the representative for the 13th Essex District.

The 41-year-old father and Danvers High alumnus is an attorney, former assistant district attorney, former budget and finance director on the Senate Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security as well as the former director of the Massachusetts Firearms Records Bureau.

Guida is a graduate of James Madison University and Suffolk Law School.

The 13th Essex district includes Danvers, Middleton and Peabody with Guida running as an Independent against Democrat Sally Kearns, Republican Robert May, Independent William Bates and Independent Christopher Keohane for the open seat.

The general election is Nov. 3.

Campaign website

www.voteguida.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

My career in public service spans almost a decade and includes time in all three branches of state government. I am excited for the opportunity to use my experience to work for the communities I grew up in and be an effective, independent legislator who puts the needs of the district and the voters first.

How would you rate the state's response to the coronavirus pandemic on a letter-grade scale (A, B, C, D or F), and how would you explain that rating?

(B) The Baker Administration was tasked with an unprecedented challenge and has largely met expectations while working under the constraints of the Civil Defense Act of 1950. It is now time for the Legislature to take a closer look at this Cold War-Era law and find ways to allow more local control over decision making and establish more protections for our small businesses should a COVID-19-type crisis occur again in the future.

Is Chapter 40B, the state's affordable housing law, working, and if not what would you change?

A majority of voters in Massachusetts believe that Chapter 40B is meeting its goal to promote safe, well-developed affordable housing for working families and seniors. Our local officials in Danvers, Peabody, and Middleton have crafted state-approved affordable housing plans that allow our communities to control their own 40B destiny and still stay at or above Commonwealth’s affordable housing goals. The law is, of course, not perfect, and the Legislature should always consider improvements, particularly when ideas are brought forward by our local community leaders.

What steps, if any, should the state take toward police reform?

As a former prosecutor, I have seen, first-hand, how our criminal justice system struggles with the ongoing cycle of poverty, lack of opportunity and racial injustice. When it comes to police reform, however, it is essential that we strike a balance between the concerns of our community and our interest in maintaining public safety.

I have been endorsed by several police organizations including the Danvers Police Benevolent Association, the Middleton Police Benevolent Association, MassCOP and the Massachusetts Police Association because, as a former legislative aide to the Senate Committee on Public Safety, I have extensive experience working on meaningful public safety reform measures. My experience has taught me that real reform will only be effective if (we) ensure that the collective voices of our law enforcement officers are heard in the Legislature.

There is clearly no one-size-fits-all solution to this complicated issue. However, reform efforts must focus on building real community connections with the police, emphasize training for our public safety officers and include funding so that our local municipal budgets are not further strained.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

I believe that elected officials must act responsibly, ethically and make common-sense decisions that are informed by the needs of their district and the needs of the Commonwealth. In order to do so, our next state representative must remain independent of party politics and have the real experience to begin working for the voters on Day 1.

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

Real experience and true independence. No one else in this race can claim both.

Those with experience are loyal to their political parties and will vote along party lines. Those with independence cannot match my experience writing and passing legislation in the State Senate, delivering justice to victims as an assistant district attorney, managing a government bureau in the executive branch and running a small business as a practicing attorney.

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

My work as a Budget and Legislative Director in the State Senate provided me with hands-on experience in every aspect of the legislative process. I was directly involved in local issues that affected the communities we represented, helped constituents cut through governmental red tape, drafted legislation, budget amendments and legislative reports and worked with community groups and stakeholders to create groundbreaking policy changes in the Commonwealth.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

I was once told by a legislator that you can spend your entire term in office sitting in meetings with important people and attending fundraisers in fancy places. But if you spend your time talking with constituents, listening to their concerns and going to events they care about, you might actually make a difference.

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

I will listen to my constituents, consider their thoughts and always do what is right for the district.

No political party or special interest group will ever impact the decisions that I make.