If you live in the 21st Middlesex district here in MA – that’s Burlington, Bedford, and a corner of Wilmington – please vote to re-elect State Rep. Ken Gordon on Nov. 4.
There haven’t been many times in my life where I’ve felt fortunate to be represented by the person who did/does. I feel fortunate to be represented by Ken. In fact, with apologies to Sen. Warren and State Sen. Mike Barrett, I can’t think of an elected representative that I’ve felt better about. Not only does Ken do a great job representing the district but, as a fellow Bedford resident commented several months ago, he’s one of those rare people who can sit down with someone who has fundamentally different beliefs, talk through the issue at hand, and come up with a solution which all are pleased with. We need more of that.
From his website, some of Ken’s accomplishments during his first term in office:
Traffic
Ken worked with The Middlesex 3 Coalition to reduce the traffic problems in Burlington and throughout the district, and has been honored for this work with its 2014 Economic Development Advocate Award:
“When it comes to addressing traffic concerns in our area, nobody has worked harder,” said Buckley, who is also on the board of Middlesex 3, a group of business and municipal leaders. “He realized early on that addressing our traffic problems required a regional approach, and Middlesex 3 is a consortium from various towns that is set up to address it. Rep. Gordon came to all our meetings, and pitched right in. He helped us obtain one round of state funding and is working with us on another. We can count on him to follow through.”
Ken obtained funding so that The Middlesex 3 Coalition could form a Transportation Management Association to reduce the number of cars on the road, by offering an alternative to business owners such as bringing their employees to work through shuttle buses and ride shares.
Jobs
Ken partnered with The Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce, which has honored him with its 2014 Partners in Prosperity Award for his work bringing new businesses to Burlington, thereby creating new jobs:
“Representative Gordon has worked tirelessly and effectively for the businesses in Burlington and we want to recognize him for it,” said the Chamber’s outgoing president, Jim Murphy. “He came to us early on and we knew we had an open door. He has proven to be an effective advocate for the businesses and the residents of Burlington and we are proud to recognize him with our Partners in Prosperity Award.”
Ken steered Burlington’s request for additional liquor licenses through the legislature, overcoming opposition from House leadership by drafting original language that satisfied all parties. The new licenses helped Burlington welcome several new restaurants in the past two years.
Schools
Ken won increased state aid and school funding for Burlington, Bedford and Wilmington. Ken worked with Sen. Mike Barrett to win permanent funding of more than half a million dollars annually to reimburse Bedford for the education of children of military families at Hanscom Air Force Base.
Homelessness
Ken delivered on his pledge to have the Department of Housing and Community Development find families more permanent housing in or near their home communities. This reduced the number of homeless families temporarily housed in Bedford from 88 to 24, putting it in the middle of the range of municipalities in Massachusetts. Ken championed an increase in the state budget that will allow Massachusetts to provide housing facilities for homeless families that are more appropriate than suburban motels. Ken’s leadership significantly reduced costs to the town, while enabling the families to move more quickly into suitable affordable housing that can be a springboard for future success.
Seniors
Ken won funding for programs that allow seniors to continue to live independently and avoid costly nursing homes.
Veterans
Ken helped pass the Valor Act II that helps returning servicemen with education, job benefits, and home modifications. Ken brought his son Brandon to contribute to the weekly “Local Heroes” volunteer group in Wilmington, packing relief boxes filled with goodies for our troops. He and Brandon dressed the graves of our veterans in Wilmington on Memorial Day weekend.
Health Care
Ken led as the primary sponsor of a new law that will bring transparency to the way mental health coverage is administered, reducing tax burdens for all of us. Ken helped influence the Substance Abuse Act that was signed into law this summer and will help reduce the waiting time at Lahey Clinic in Burlington and at other area hospitals with First in the Nation provisions that will by pre-authorize transfers of those suffering from substance abuse to more appropriate treatment centers.
Worker Security
Ken led the way for new laws that will strengthen our unemployment insurance system by reducing premiums for small business without reducing any recipient’s eligibility or benefits. Ken helped draft new minimum wage legislation that benefits both workers and employers. Ken championed unemployment insurance reform as part of this legislation. As a result of Ken’s leadership, workers will enjoy an increased minimum wage and most small businesses will see reduced premiums to offset any increased labor cost. Ken led the way in enacting the Uniform Wage Compliance Act, which will allow minimum wage workers to have the same rights to bring wage claims and claims for overtime pay as everyone else, and protects small business owners who play by the rules from competitors who do not.
Accessibility
Ken holds monthly gatherings, open to all residents, at coffee shops and libraries in Bedford and Burlington and has regularly scheduled office hours in Wilmington, where constituents can bring their questions and concerns.
See also the Issues page on his website here.
Questions about any of the above? Contact info is on his website. See also the list of upcoming events where you can meet Ken here. If you’re local and would like a lawn sign send me an email. (I’m not sure if bumperstickers are still available but if you’d like one I’ll ask.)