Beacon Hill Needs Leaders Who Lean In

The following was written by Tiffany Kirk, Reading, MA

This fall the 5th Middlesex District will have a chance to vote for a leader who leans in by voting for Erin Calvo-Bacci for State Senate. Erin lives the challenges hard working families face every day as a wife, mother and small business owner. Erin Calvo-Bacci is the only candidate who has been an active voice working as a small business owner and mother to find the best solution for all. As a grassroots advocate she worked with the National Retail Federation to defeat Trump's Border Adjustment Tax which would have been a $5 trillion tax hike on consumers placing a larger burden on hardworking families.

Erin knows firsthand the unintended consequences of "feel good legislation" such as increasing the minimum wage without a student wage hurt access to low skilled first time jobs. She and her husband Carlo Bacci through their small family business have worked closely to give their employees opportunities and helped them by going above and beyond. Employees are an extension of their family and they treat them as such. I have been very fortunate as someone who has worked for the Bacci family. When I began working for Erin Calvo-Bacci, I was only 15 years old and going into my sophomore year of high school. Today I am a recent college graduate waiting to hear back from graduate school. Many of the skills I used to get through my undergraduate studies, I learned from Erin. When I was working for her at The Chocolate Truffle (which I did for many years even well into college) it was always more than just a customer service job; she really cared about me as an individual and accepted me as a part of her family. Every day after school when I would go to work, I knew that there would always be a new learning experience. I also felt like I could go there as a place to escape home and everyday life and really just have someone to talk to and learn from. She taught me many things about community involvement and the importance of local government by including me in not just a few but ALL things she did for the community. I truly learned from her how to have a professional and political conversation with adults. Once again this was at just the age of 15, when I was learning the importance of education, community and the well being of our society. Today as a 23 year old that is about to be a part of the working class, I know how important it is to have someone who has been in our shoes to represent our voice in state senate. Erin and her family will always be a part of my life and my upbringing and I am very thankful for that.

The 5th Middlesex district needs legislation with representation which is why I'm proud to vote for Erin Calvo-Bacci for State Senate and I encourage you to vote for her too.

Tiffany Kirk

Reading, MA