Vote for Ted Steinberg for State Representative on September 4

We in Needham are fortunate to have two good candidates from our town running for our State Representative seat in the Democratic primary on September 4. For months I was on the fence about whether to return incumbent Denise Garlick to Beacon Hill or help elect a talented challenger, Ted Steinberg.

The disappointing - and, in many ways, disheartening - end of the state legislative session a few weeks back got me to leap off the fence. The failure to pass Safe Communities legislation to protect immigrants in our state, the failure to pass a long-overdue update to the school funding formula, the inability to pass a statewide plastic bags ban, and, finally, the passage of a weak and inadequate clean energy bill made it clear that we need to “clean house” on Beacon Hill. And I need to cast a resounding “vote of no confidence” in autocratic and uninspired House Speaker Robert DeLeo and his leadership team, who bear the brunt of the responsibility for these unacceptable defeats.

Since I am a Needham voter and not in DeLeo’s district, the only available way for me to vote “NO” to DeLeo is to support in my local district a progressive “outsider” who is committed to making the House more democratic, transparent, and reflective of the will of the Commonwealth’s citizens. Ted Steinberg fits that bill, and, for that reason, I am voting for him in the upcoming primary on Tuesday, September 4.

I had the opportunity to sit down for an hour-long chat with Ted Steinberg earlier this month. (And, by the way, I found him extremely accessible.) I found him earnest, well-informed, and truly committed to progressive causes and legislative institutional reform. He emphasized that he will “term-limit” himself to three terms to prevent his getting too tied in with “the system.” While Denise leans progressive in her votes, I fear she has become somewhat too tied in with House leadership and “the system.”

Ted is a Mom’s Demand Action “Gun Sense Candidate,” and he has staked out strong positions on civil rights, the environment, economic equality, and criminal justice reform, among other issues. While Denise does vote the right way most times, I believe Ted will do more; he will lead.

Please join me in voting for Ted Steinberg for State Representative on Tuesday, September 4 (the day after Labor Day). I believe he will represent Needham with energy, commitment, and, most importantly, independence in the next session on Beacon Hill. If you want to learn more about Ted’s candidacy, please visit Ted’s website at www.vote4ted.com.