BLOG: Claire Cronin for State Representative

Dear Neighbors,

I poured my heart into the State Rep. race. Personally, I called and knocked on the doors of voters 8,164 times, and I had 2,246 one-on-one conversations. Rain or shine, heat or humidity, I met you where you were—at your door, in your yard. . .even on your job!

I mention all of this because I campaigned hard and I take my endorsements seriously. After several in-person meetings and phone conversations with both candidates, and several weeks of reviewing their platforms, I have decided with great confidence to entrust my endorsement with Claire Cronin.

“Why?” you ask. I have three principal and principled reasons.

1. I’m a Democrat who believes in the core Democratic political value that we must protect and champion working families and grow the economy from “the middle class out”—not from the top down. This means investing in education while demanding results; using tax policy to reward job creation here at home, not outsourcing opportunity overseas; and ensuring our parents can retire with respect and dignity, without fear of losing their safety net. Claire Cronin and I agree on this core belief, and that we best protect it by vigilantly rooting out government waste and abuse while eking out new revenue where needed.

2. I am pro-choice, pro-marriage equality, pro-tax fairness, and pro-middle class. The arc of history shows us that the fight for liberty and freedom cannot be decoupled from the fight for fairness. These are big principles that are sometimes hard to grasp. But I assure you, political leaders who seek to limit our choices, define who we can love, support regressive taxes, and exclusively advantage a wealthy minority have a tangible impact on your lives and mine. I know Claire Cronin will champion these big ideas we collectively call the American dream.

3. For the last three years, I’ve dedicated a fulltime schedule to my part-time City Council position in Brockton. It pays $10,000 a year. I’ve done this because the demands are so large, the need so great. And yes, while I credit my successes to hard work and a clear vision of the future, I also know that a commitment in time played a pivotal role in getting results. Claire Cronin has made the same commitment, to put her law and mediation practices on hold so that she can devote her fulltime attention to serving our community on Beacon Hill. This is exactly what we need to ensure we get what we deserve, and the district deserves nothing less than fulltime representation.

As you look at the candidates, weigh the issues, reflect on your political values, and start to solidify your decision, I hope that my endorsement carries some weight.

I am still in government. I am still a City Councilor in Brockton who has an enormous stake in the success of the district. At the local level, we need a true partner at the State House. Without question, that partner is Claire Cronin, who I am proud to endorse for State Representative.

With regards,

Jass Stewart

City Councilor at Large, Brockton