Letter to the Editor: Sam Hammar Will Fight for Working Families

To the Editor,

Last week, I became a candidate for State Senate of the Fifth Middlesex District. I wanted to introduce myself and to let our community know why I am running.

I’ve been in public service most of my career, as a Boston Public High School teacher and later worked to improve the way the City of Boston and the Commonwealth serve constituents. I recently acted as the Chair of the Melrose Democratic Committee and on the Melrose Women’s Commission.

What has really motivated me to run for a seat at the table has been our family’s journey trying to make it in today’s Massachusetts. First raised by a single mother then by a single father battling chronic illness, I developed resilience and compassion for people struggling to get by. This passion for working families deepened after the birth of our twin daughters. While working hard to cover the costs of student loans and housing debt, we were faced with the new challenge of finding affordable childcare -- an all-too-common struggle for Massachusetts families. Without paid family leave or flexible scheduling at my job, I had to spend my entire paycheck on daycare so I could return to work to stay in a job that I loved. Each week turned into a battle, but one which inspired me to fight for policies that support all Massachusetts families.

Our State House needs to be more representative of the people it serves. It's long past time for working women and mothers to claim their seat at the table and advocate for the issues that affect all of us. My professional and personal experience gives me perspective that Beacon Hill sorely needs.

A new wave of political energy is sweeping America. We have the opportunity to make significant progress here in Massachusetts, but we leave working families further behind with each passing day. If we don’t raise our voices now, we may never be heard.

I look forward to meeting constituents and advocating for the issues which are most important to the families of Malden, Melrose, Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield, and Winchester. Constituents are welcome to reach out to me at 781-333-8552 or mail@samhammar.org if they have any questions or would like to talk about the issues that matter most to them.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to earning your support and your vote.

Sincerely,

Sam Hammar

Candidate for State Senate

Fifth Middlesex District of Massachusetts