Meghan Kilcoyne To Run For State Rep In 12th Worcester District

The following was submitted as a candidacy announcement by Meghan Kilcoyne. If you would like to submit a candidacy announcement to Patch, email samantha.mercado@patch.com.

Meghan Kilcoyne has announced her bid for state representative for the towns of Berlin, Boylston, Clinton, Lancaster, as well as areas of Northborough and her hometown of Sterling (12th Worcester District). For the past ten years, Kilcoyne has served as legislative director for State Representative Harold Naughton, who announced he will not run for reelection. Naughton has endorsed Kilcoyne’s candidacy.

“This community has always been my home, and in these uncertain and challenging times, I am ready to work as hard as I can to ensure the 12th Worcester District is heard on Beacon Hill,” Kilcoyne said. “I am so honored to have the support of Representative Naughton, as well as of members of the community who have encouraged me to run. Serving as legislative director, I have had the opportunity to work on policies that have bettered the 12th Worcester District and the commonwealth. My experience gives me a unique understanding of how to effectively get results for all of our towns and residents.”

“I’m incredibly happy that Meghan has decided to take on this challenge, especially at this time. We are in need of new, aggressive leaders to tackle the problems we are facing, including COVID-19,” said Representative Naughton. “Meghan has a deep knowledge of the people of this district and has been intimately involved in every major policy initiative in the last ten years. No one will be able to hit the ground running for the benefit of this district like Meg will.”

Kilcoyne began working for Naughton in 2010 and in her capacity as Legislative Director, she has worked directly on a number of policy initiatives, including veterans issues, reproductive rights, gun safety, and economic development. Kilcoyne also was responsible for shepherding dozens of local legislation for each town in the 12th Worcester District. As Legislative Director, Kilcoyne has also overseen Representative Naughton’s budgetary policy, which has brought millions in economic development to the district.

“My roots in this region run deep,” Kilcoyne said. “Three generations of my family lived in Clinton and I grew up down the road in Sterling. My parents taught me and my siblings the importance of giving back to your communities, and I have always carried that lesson with me. Berlin, Boylston, Clinton, Lancaster, Sterling, and Northborough deserve an advocate at the State House who will bring the best of our district to Beacon Hill. Our state representative must lead with integrity, reach across the aisle, find common ground, and carry forward the issues that matter most to us. I know I can be that voice for my neighbors. I am so grateful for the opportunity that Representative Naughton gave me, and even more grateful for his service to our communities, to our state, and to our nation. I know I speak for many of my friends and neighbors when I say we will miss him dearly.”

Kilcoyne, 32, is a graduate of Wachusett Regional High School and Stonehill College. She currently is an evening student at Suffolk University Law School where she also serves as section representative for her division with the Student Board of Governors. She currently lives with her sister in Northborough and was born and raised in the nearby town of Sterling.