MA Patch Candidate Profile: Ted Semesnyei For State Senate

TEWKSBURY, MA — Massachusetts voters will head to the polls Nov. 3 to decide races for state House and Senate seats, along with several statewide contests.

Massachusetts Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and is publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Ted Semesnyei is running for state senator in the 2nd Essex and Middlesex District.

Age: 51

Position sought: Massachusetts State Senate, 2^nd Essex and Middlesex District

Party affiliation: Republican

Education: Master of Public Management degree from the University of Maryland and an undergraduate degree in economics.

Occupation: Economist

Previous or Current Elected Office: 8 years Amesbury Planning Board

Campaign Website: TedforStateSenate.com

Why are you seeking elected office? Very simply, I am running because existing state representation and leadership has failed the good people of our region. I’m concerned whether the four teenage kids in my household can make it and have a future in Massachusetts. It’s not just the cost of living in this state, but the stripping of our basic freedoms, increasing state mandates, layers of bureaucracy, and lack of transparency that 72% of us demanded that is crushing families, businesses, and communities. Nothing will change by sticking with the status quo. In fact, it will only guarantee conditions will get worse.

The single most-pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is __________ and this is what I intend to do about it.

Single most pressing issue is the high cost of living in the region in the form of high taxes, high fees, high utility bills, and high housing driving out residents and businesses. The starting point and only way to deal with this is by pushing for max transparency in our state government operations, which I will do, including the full audit of the Legislature that 72% of us voters demanded two years ago but have been stonewalled. Once we are treated like adults and have access to information related to our government operations we deserve, we’ll actually have a chance at eliminating the wasteful spending and politically motivated policies on Beacon Hill. In addition to this macro level fundamental need, there are many smaller actions that can be taken such as eliminating unnecessary fees on our utility bills that we are shooting ourselves in the foot with.

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

It’s time to move on from State Senator Barry Finegold, a career politician out of touch with the clear desires of voters, including his own base. How can he defend so publicly arguing with State Auditor Diana DiZoglio over the merits of state government transparency? How can he defend so brazenly courting dollars from out-of-region high-powered Boston-based lawyers, corporate CEOs, and, perhaps most shockingly, max donations from out-of-state Anthropic AI workers to the point Senator Finegold has received more individual donations from Anthropic workers this year than six of the seven communities in his Senate District!

Who is Senator Finegold looking to represent and work for? Follow the money. Cleary not District voters. Where has Senator Finegold been during difficult local budgetary debates and infrastructure issues such as last year’s Proposition 2 ½ override vote in Amesbury? He is nowhere to be found. Is it any surprise Senator Finegold is dodging a debate with me, just like he did with his previous opponent? Senator Finegold believes he is above it all, including answering to voters.

In contrast, I am a fighter that will fight for the average voters of our District. I refuse to accept the lazy establishment narrative that voters are satisfied with local and state conditions. This is not the message I have received from a broad spectrum of residents via the endless hours I have walked door-to-door for months. I will represent the desires and feedback I have received from District Democrats, Independents, and Republicans.

In short, I am a true outsider fighting for the interests of the District, while my opponent is fighting to represent insiders and help them maintain control.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

State revenues have exploded in recent years. Where’s all that money going? Not where it matters most, which is to properly support schools, local services, and improved infrastructure. An audit of the Legislature would help but entrenched politicians have circled the wagons to deny the will of voters.

Costs have skyrocketed but the amount of local aid from the state via Unrestricted General Government Aid is about the same compared to 20 years ago. And we wonder why communities struggle to balance the budget. To be clear, increased aid shouldn’t be achieved via higher taxes, which some promote, but rather addressing politically motivated state-level spending.

In short, our state tax dollars are best spent on services that matter most at the local level: schools, police, fire, senior services, roads, and sidewalks, not wasteful politically motivated Beacon Hill projects. I will fight for this shift in spending priorities.

The best advice ever shared with me was: Never put off until tomorrow what can be done today because you never know what tomorrow may bring.

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

So many of us want change in our communities or in the world itself but are not sure where to start. Our campaign is sending out a large ripple we have faith will grow into a tidal wave of support for a voice of common sense and strength.

Running as a political candidate, you inevitably either become an establishment politician who ultimately defends business as usual or you are a candidate that actually challenges the status quo, not only from the other party but importantly your own party as well. Political campaigns and races importantly are about figuring out if a candidate is strong enough to stick with his or her principles when the pressure inevitably intensifies to conform to the desires and thoughts of the traditional political power players.

I have a long history of challenging entrenched institutions and thinking on both sides. I will fight to bring strong and common-sense state leadership to the communities of the District.