Election 2018: Candidate Profile Of Michelle Ciccolo

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 second in a series of candidate profiles will look at Michelle Ciccolo. Her campaign website is here.

Ciccolo, 51, lives in Lexington with her husband, Phil Jackson. They have two sons, ages 17 and 20. She has a master's degree, a graduate certificate and a bachelor's degree and has served multiple terms on the Lexington Board of Selectmen, Planning Board, Town Meeting and the Local Government Advisory Council to the Governor.

Ciccolo was also a three-term president of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council and provided consulting services as a small business owner.

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.

Income inequality and the high cost of living in Massachusetts are the overarching problems facing the Commonwealth. These are multifaceted and complex issues needing to be addressed through changes in a wide range of policy matters especially, in our education systems, public health, transportation systems, and in energy efficiency. In the 15th Middlesex, transportation might arguably be the most plaguing issue in our district. We are boxed in by four major highways including I-93, Route 3, I-95, and Route 2. Congestion, cut-through traffic, speeding on local roadways, and deteriorating infrastructure are serious matters. Moreover, our transportation systems are not keeping pace with the development of new jobs in the district and if left unaddressed will cause a decline in our regional economy. Transportation issues, impact every aspect of our lives, including affordability, job access and family time. Rapid growth in our region demands creative approaches, increased investment, intentional planning, and better use of new technology. The Anderson Transportation Center, right here in Woburn, is underutilized and offers some potential solutions. Having worked extensively within transportation development and planning, I will apply solutions that have worked elsewhere and bring fresh creative ideas to the forefront. I am already involved in authoring legislation to facilitate the expansion of local shuttle bus systems. I will also pursue something I helped drive in MetroWest, and in the Minuteman region which helped facilitating collaborations among existing private shuttle services with government run shuttles to expand transit opportunities and make them more efficient and open them to the public. I also have years of experience working with state boards and commissions concerned with Transportation, and have developed a network of transportation experts spanning the Commonwealth. Most importantly, we must be smart about planning for the new autonomous vehicles that are in our near future, making sure that thoughtful regulations are developed now that will result in less congestion. If we don’t do excellent planning now, all those cars circulating by themselves, looking for parking spaces will only make congestion much worse. I will invest in transportation and transit in particular, as this will reduce congestion and a robust transportation system is critical to a stable economy.

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

Of the five candidates running for this position, I have the broadest and deepest experience in the issues facing our Commonwealth. I am also the only candidate currently serving in a town-wide elected position, serving the district and doing constituent services which I have been doing for nearly 8 years now.

I’ve also passed legislation and assisted in rolling out statewide programs resulting from this legislation. The Complete Streets legislation was my brainchild, and spearheaded its successful adoption. It has delivered millions across 206 cities and towns to improve their streets to accommodate all users such as pedestrians and bikes. As current Chair of the MAPC Legislative Committee, I engage actively in the review, adjustment and promotion of legislation currently working its way through our legislature. I have done significant work and been recognized by my peers with more than a handful of awards, in the areas of Environment, Transportation, Public Health, Affordable Housing and Economic Development. I have worked closely with virtually all of our state’s agencies, advocacy groups and many current legislators to create successful outcomes. I have built important relationships that will enable me to be very effective as a legislator from day one.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

I believe that effective local, regional, and state government can make a real and positive difference in people’s lives. The next State Representative for the 15th Middlesex District must stand up for the values that make Lexington, Woburn, and the entire Commonwealth of Massachusetts such a desirable place to live, work, raise a family, and retire. Massachusetts leads when we support justice and equality for all our neighbors -- regardless of their gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identification, or immigration status. We must embrace our political, cultural, ethnic and religious differences because our diversity makes us strong. As a Commonwealth, we must stand up for our values and push back on the regressive efforts coming out of Washington. This includes fighting for our civil rights, reproductive freedom, LGBTQ rights, the reduction of gun violence, progressive taxation, fair labor standards, a living wage and protection of the environment.

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

I have demonstrated the ability to be effective both politically and in the practical world. As a Selectmen, I work directly with a 200-person elected Town Meeting which serves as our Legislative Body. In order to pass budgets, by-laws and implement policy, we must work with our Town Meeting and over 100 committees in Town. I have honed my ability to work collaborative and be successful in an environment which respects multiple viewpoints, works across the aisle, and achieves consensus.

In my professional work, over my career, my projects have achieved tangible results and been recognized by a number of significant organizations which have given me awards over the years. My experience includes: building 3 senior/community centers, building a regional rail trail, revitalizing a downtown, cleaning up a hazardous waste site, building highway expansion projects and bridges, restoring historic structures, installing energy efficient systems and renewable energy projects, and more. Over the course of my career, I have worked with almost every state agency implementing projects using the widest range of state and federal grants, line items in state and federal budgets, and with public/private partnerships. Please go here to see learn more about what I have accomplished and the awards that I have received: http://www.michelleciccolo.com...

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

This advice was passed down from my Grandfather to my Dad to me: he always emphasized that you should treat everyone like you yourself would want to be treated. It's pretty simple and often seen as trite, but it worked for him and it works for me. If you approach your life and your work with concern and respect for others, you will see that what you do every day has real ramifications and impacts upon other people. This causes not only personal satisfaction, but you also will make a real difference in the lives of others. And that is what true and effective government service is all about.

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

I’ve dedicated my entire adult life to public service. It’s not a good day for me unless I’ve helped someone individually or worked on developing solutions to complex problems. I am driven by a need to see that my work and efforts have made a difference in the world around me by improving people’s lives and making things just a little bit better today than they were yesterday. What invigorates me is when we work collaboratively as a community of people to solve problems and advance issues. The sense of boundless possibility that is achieved when people work together fuels me with hope and optimism for the future but is anchored with a practical approach that gets real things done intentionally, and incrementally. No one will work harder or with more dedication and determination than I will for the people of the 15th Middlesex District.

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