Election 2018: Candidate Profile Of David Robertson

TEWKSBURY, MA -- There are now seven candidates running for the representatives seat that serves Tewksbury and Wilmington in the state legislature. Patch reached out to all of the candidates with a series of questions to help introduce voters to those candidates. This is the third in a series of candidate profiles we will publish leading up to the primaries in September and the general election in November.

Today we introduce readers to David Robertson, one of five Democrats running for the seat most recently held by James Miceli of Wilmington, who died in April. Robertson, 28, of Tewksbury, has a special tie to the seat: he was Miceli's longtime legislative aide at the time of his death. Robertson has a degree in political science and economics form the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

All of the candidates were asked the same questions. We are publishing their answers to selected questions as they were submitted to us, with some editing for space and style considerations.

The single most pressing issue facing our the 19th Middlesex District is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Route 38. This is the crux of so many issues, or at least a major component of it. It restricts housing, commercial properties, and erodes our quality of life. The state and both towns need to work in tangent, targeting intersections and securing funding from both levels to revamp them. As State Rep I intend to lobby for funding every budget and bond-bill, where the state allocates money for infrastructure.

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

I am the only candidate with any experience with the legislative process and constituent handling on the state level. As a lifelong resident I know how the towns feel about the issues, and more importantly I know how they are advocated for. There is no learning curve, I am ready to hit the ground running and get to work right away.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Housing, opportunity, and constituent support. Addressing the housing needs for our seniors, first time home buyers, and mitigating the rising costs for families who live here are a major concern of mine. Opportunity would be strong education in our local schools, and a business friendly environment which welcomes, promotes, and grows small businesses in the area. Lastly, and I am the only candidate from any and all parties that has any state-constituent experiences. I have navigated thousands of issues alongside local people, and would continue to do so each and every day. From helping straightening out constantly misplaced mail to finding detox beds to helping house homeless families I have seen it all "in the trenches" as a legislative aide.

If you gain this position, what accomplishment would define your term in office as a success?

A significant reduction in issues around Route 38 would be a great achievement in my book for us all. That would include improvements around intersections, decreased traffic time, and commercial development along the corridor in the vacant storefronts. Once people deem the Route 38 corridor good enough to risk their savings on and open a business, I will be satisfied.

Please share with voters a story about wisdom gained from a mistake you made in your life or career.

Failure is a great teacher, and it took me a few times to learn that controlling emotion in this job is absolutely key. Having passion is one thing, but I at times would get too wrapped up in being upset or frustrated alongside someone who was dealt a raw deal in life, treated poorly by the state or a company, or was put in an otherwise precarious situation. I learned this particularly hard once after I helped a parent (who only used to reside in the district) section their child for drug treatment. Their child fled out of state, as they got wind of what we were doing and I did not get the documentation done in time. I was devastated that this was the way things turned out after we put in so much work, and I had to really learn to keep my emotions in check then so that I could help those still calling for other reasons. It's a rewarding job to work on behalf of the public, but I'd be a liar if I said there weren't times that you had to keep your emotions in check and prepare for the next call for help, be it big or small.

Why should voters trust you?

I hold no allegiance to anyone but the town residents. I have spent years in this town, I know the streets, the people, and the issues. I am not new to politics, but I am not backed by a political machine, and only run because I have the qualifications and feel obliged to give back to the towns that gave me everything I could ever want growing up. It is time to return that favor. I am happy to sign or show off pledges like some candidates do, but people know and trust me enough to know that I don't need to do such stunts. My heart and spirit are already in agreement with those who live and work here, and I have spent years working on their behalf.

Share a quote that defines your philosophy.

It may be cliche, but I am partial to the JFK Quote "Ask what you can do for your country." Perhaps it stems from my days as a local boy scout, but the mantra "Leave things better than you found them" has stuck with me. I have the skills and ideas to give back to our towns, to make them better, and JFK's famous quote encapsulates that.

What questions should be asked of current government employees accountable to your board?

What can we do better? That's the goal of the legislature, to provide better, more responsible, and more effective services. We should lead by example.

Explain your attitudes toward fiscal policy, government spending and how taxpayer dollars should be handled by your office (or board)?

Government spending needs to be made more efficient. We in Massachusetts enjoy some of the best education, healthcare, and emergency services in the world. That being said, we have areas we can do better in many different areas. MassHealth and other welfare programs are implementing random banking checks to prevent fraud, other departments are electronically processing paperwork faster and more accurately, and even the RMV is offering more services online. We can cut government spending by investing in better systems that save us money while maintaining, if not improving, the overall quality.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have great experience in public service. During college I helped lobby to overhaul student health insurance for all students in Massachusetts, though I was not on any such plans. I also was tasked by the university as the sole student representative to Amherst to study, compile, and present to the town a plan of alternative anti-partying tactics that would prevent students from disrupting neighborhoods during weekends, to be employed by both the university and town's police departments. Shortly after graduating I was the guest of the Russian Youth ministry and several US Ambassadors to participate in a youth forum, centered around promoting democracy, international relations, and economic development.

Since then I have proudly served as Representative Miceli's legislative aide and Chief of Staff. I have, and am the only candidate, who has developed legislation, testified, and worked the state's legislative process. I have also helped our friends, neighbors, and families who live in town with state agencies across the board.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

"Always vote for those who vote for you." That was from Representative Miceli, and he did not mean a special interest group or your own party, he meant to vote the way the folks back home wanted you to vote. I don't parade the party line or repeat rhetoric, rather I know that even if I personally disagree with the vast majority of voters it is my job to fight for them and air their concerns. I intend to listen to the district, and vote the way they feel. It is literally the title of the job; to represent, not to decide on my own.

Previously in this series: Republican Erin Buckley (06/04/2018), who has since dropped out of the race, and Republican Pina Prinzivalli .

Are you running to represent Tewksbury and Wilmington in the state legislature? Contact Dave Copeland at dave.copeland@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Patch.

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Photo by David Robertson.