Election 2018: Candidate Profile Of Matthew Cohen

LEXINGTON, MA – There are five candidates running in the Democratic primary for the 15th Middlesex District in the Massachusetts Legislature, which includes Lexington.

Rep. Jay Kaufman is retiring, leaving the nomination open. The winner will hold the district seat, as there is no Republican challenger. Patch reached out to the five candidates – Michelle Ciccolo, Matthew Cohen, Joseph G. Lahiff, Mary Ann Stewart and William Joseph Sweeney – with a series of questions to help introduce voters to those candidates.

The first in a series of candidate profiles will look at Matthew Cohen. His campaign website is here.

Cohen, 37, lives in Lexington with his wife, Juliana, and their two kids, Brianna and Ben. He has a Ph.d., a master's degree and a bachelor's degree in political science and has taught political science at Northeastern University and Merrimack College. Cohen has also served as the research and budget director of the joint committee at the State House.

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.

Education. It is critical that we continue to invest in our schools and our students, from pre-school through post-secondary education. I will work to ensure expanded access to pre-k programs; reduce overcrowding in classrooms; provide greater flexibility for teachers so they can teach critical thinking rather than 'to the test’; eliminate, or at least change, standardized testing; and advocate for towns and cities to receive adequate support for mandated programs and updating of facilities. I will support expansion of vocational/technical education so that students not inclined toward college are prepared to take their place in the workforce in meaningful jobs. I will work to expand access to high quality affordable higher education and the reduction of college debt.

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

I have dedicated my entire life to both the learning and practice of good government. I have no competing interests or conflicts of interest.

My education has focused on how societies and governments work. I have practical experience as well, having served in government at all levels - local, state and national. At the MA State House, I was the Research and Budget Director for a joint House-Senate committee, where I helped draft and pass legislation enhancing veteran’s and children’s access to mental health care, requiring insurance companies to cover a greater number of mental illnesses and offer longer treatment, and worked to ensure committee and district budget priorities were defended. I am the only candidate with this relevant experience for the job we seek. I know from experience that working at other levels of government and with the State House is not the same as working in the State House. I can effectively represent our district from day one.

Further, I am only candidate with a proven commitment to transparency, as is evidenced by the public release of my Statement of Financial Interest form.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

I am not a challenger. Our current State Representative is retiring at the end of his current term.
Rep. Kaufman has represented our district admirably during his tenure. I worked on Rep. Kaufman’s campaigns and he supported me in obtaining my job as Research and Budget Director for a joint committee at the State House. I hope to follow in his footsteps and continue his legacy of service.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

Health Care:
Massachusetts is a world leader in the field of health care but we must make sure that everyone has access to quality care and can afford that care. I will work on legislation to create incentives to control costs and increase access to preventive services and treatment for illness.

Mental Health Services:
During my tenure at the State House, we created mental health parity legislation, but adequate access to care is still lacking. I will work to expand parity legislation, provide greater options for those seeking treatment, and create new initiatives to battle opioid addiction and expand treatment options and access.

Environment and Public Transportation:
Protecting our environment is critical. Expanding access to, and use of, alternative energy is one of my central goals. I will advocate for protecting and expanding consumer subsidies for installation of solar panels, ensuring that rates are set fairly so that companies invest in improving clean energy technology, and supporting communities that want to create their own solar or wind farms. To achieve renewable energy, innovation is the key. Just as Massachusetts has been a leader in innovation in biomedicine and computing technologies, so too should we be a leader in innovation in energy conservation and improvements.

In the area of transportation, I will work to develop alternative transportation options, expand services and routes of the MBTA, and advocate for safe roads designed to handle both motor vehicles and bicycles. Many people rely on public transportation to get to work, school, childcare, and run errands. Reliable and comprehensive service is essential. I will support the option for communities to build partnerships to create their own transportation systems as part of a longer-term goal of making it easy and fast to get between neighboring communities and from one end of the state to the other via public transportation.

Economy:
Taxation should be fairly applied and tax policies examined. I will prioritize programs such as the Circuit Breaker program to help enable people to stay in their homes, work to reform the revenue system and exemptions to ensure reasonable and fair shares in taxation, and address commercial tax programs to establish fair and manageable tax rates that lead to quality and diversity of stores and offices in towns and cities. I will support living wages and fight against wage theft. I will protect the right to collective bargaining so that unions can advocate for their members. The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 4 recognized my commitment by endorsing my candidacy.

Equity and Social Justice:
Diversity is a great strength. I support the Safe Communities Act and protections for immigrant and refugee populations. I was the first candidate in this race to oppose the upcoming ballot question to repeal protections for transgender citizens and similar measures targeting any group. I will stand against all forms of bias based on personal identification and recognize that discrimination against one group harms us all.

Gun Safety:
We need to address gun violence while supporting the Second Amendment. The minimum age of purchase for all firearms should be 21, the existing ban on assault weapons and bump stocks should be upheld, and we must pass ‘red flag’ laws and support the firearms licensing program that prevent gun violence. I am proud to have been recognized for my advocacy for smart and fair gun legislation by my designation as a ‘Moms Demand Action Gun Sense’ candidate.

Senior Issues:
The wellbeing and health of older citizens is a priority for me. I will address the tax burden that prevents seniors from staying in their homes by advocating for local tax exemption programs and work to ensure there is adequate housing for seniors by expanding affordable housing and availability of rental properties. Seniors should be able to downsize yet continue to live near friends, services and resources with which they are familiar and comfortable.

To combat the isolation seniors too often experience due to lack of transportation, I will support local transportation services, expansion of MBTA routes and the “Last Mile” program to get people safely back home. Services such as these are essential so that seniors can continue enjoying active lives.

Cyber-security:
Interference in the 2016 election and the constant barrage of cyber-attacks illustrate the importance of cyberspace security. I have extensive knowledge of this field. My Ph.D. dissertation focuses on cyber-security policy and I have published numerous articles on this topic. Using my training and expertise in this area, I will craft cyber-defense policies that ensure the Commonwealth is well protected. At the same time, I will address government outreach through limiting the monitoring of citizens’ communications in cyberspace. We must support net-neutrality so that access to information remains available by adopting net-neutrality regulations for all Internet traffic in the Commonwealth. This is critical to democracy. Lastly, just as we address traditional bullying, we must address the problem of internet/cyber bullying.

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

I have already successfully performed all the key aspects of this job. When I worked at the State House, I simultaneously addressed district issues and led a team that drafted and enacted major legislation in the areas of mental health parity for adults, children’s mental health care, and veterans’ issues. I devised a novel idea of a voluntary licensing program to regulate sober homes for those recovering from addiction and collaborated with the Department of Public Health to create the program. In addition, as Budget Director for a joint committee, I worked with a massive budget with competing priorities. I evaluated the cost effectiveness of initiatives. I was able to secure funding for district needs and for policy priorities. I formed coalitions with legislators, the Speaker’s Office and the Governor’s office (under both Democrats and Republicans). I learned to work around roadblocks to get new policies implemented alongside the traditional legislative process.

I have the experience one needs for this job, experience one can only get by working at the State House. Learning to serve as a State Representative takes years, and we are losing a skilled representative. I will be ready on day one. I already have many of the connections and know the procedures needed to be effective. I am the only candidate with a proven track record of innovative thinking and consensus building at the State House. I have shown that I am able to stand firm for what I believe in while effectively working with others in state government.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

Follow the Golden Rule. As it is expressed in my heritage, do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you. We have an obligation to think about our fellow human beings and to ensure that all are treated fairly and justly. We must make opportunities available so that each of us can reach our full potential through hard work and commitment.

As a State Representative, I will always listen to my constituents so that I can learn from them and address their concerns and work to ensure they have the opportunities to improve their lives and well-being. I have already started this process by personally knocking on roughly 10,000 doors over the course of this campaign. I know what matters to those living in this district because I have engaged in personal conversations with them. I will take what I have learned to the State House. I have the experience to translate expressed needs into actions to improve lives.

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

I was born in Lexington, and my wife and I are currently raising our 8 year old daughter and 4 year old son here. I love this district, and I want to give back for all it has given me. Serving as your State Representative is the best way I can do so.

I am the candidate with the most relevant experience, the proven ability to think outside the box, the passion to get this job done well, and the ability to do it from day one. I have worked at all levels of government, including over 7 years as a Research and Budget Director at the State House. Additionally, I have spent my life, including nights, when I was at the State House, studying government, having earned my BA and MA in political science and recently completing a PhD in political science.
If elected I will focus on improving education across the Commonwealth, making sure the economy works for everyone, assuring access to quality healthcare, protecting the environment, and ensuring the government serves all residents, of all backgrounds and all ages.

I will be an effective voice for our community and its needs. Based on strong principles and input from constituents, I will make your voices heard: the parents who want the best public education for their children, the seniors who cannot afford to stay in their homes, the workers who deserve a fair wage, those who are addicted or have a family member suffering from drug or alcohol addiction, our minority populations with their diverse needs, those concerned about the devastating impact of climate change or rising health care costs, and for each and every person in this district and Commonwealth.

And, I pledge to remain committed to transparency and good governance. I am the only candidate who has placed my statement of financial interests on my website for all to see. We are currently seeing the damage that financial conflicts of interest can do, and I want all to see that I have none. I will not make decisions based on obligations to special interest groups, but, rather, on all constituents’ needs, and I will be forthcoming about my decision-making processes.

As State Representative, I could not, and would not want, to do this job alone. I would remain true to focusing on the needs of my constituents. Mine has been a 100% grassroots campaign – with no consultants, no organizational sponsorship, no political machines. I would continue to listen to people (as I have done going door-to-door since January of this year) and to make sure all voices are heard. I will continue to meet with constituents and, as our current representative does, hold public meetings to share information and points of view.

Photo submitted by Matthew Cohen