State Representative Candidate Jeff Thielman

I am running for State Representative to repair the partnership between state and municipal government and to help make state government more compassionate.

I’ve served on the Arlington School Committee for the past five years, dedicated the past ten years of my life to establishing schools in low-income communities, and served as a Jesuit International Volunteer in Tacna, Peru for three years. Prior to being elected to the School Committee, I was President of the Friends of Spy Pond Park, and worked with town officials to refurbish the park, fortify the shoreline, and protect one of our town’s most beautiful natural resources.

Over the past several weeks I’ve enjoyed meeting and listening to many people in Medford as I’ve knocked on doors, shaken hands at train stations and bus stops, and introduced myself to parents picking up their children from school.

A few Sundays ago I attended the inauguration of Mayor McGlynn and members of the City Council and School Committee. The ceremony was a wonderful demonstration of the city’s civic pride.

While many things are going well in Medford, the city clearly needs to receive more resources from the Commonwealth. Medford saw its funding for education cut by 20% in 2003. The district has yet to return to 2003 funding levels, and Medford’s public schools have more students today than they had five years ago.

The city is shortchanged by a charter school funding formula that resulted in a $2.8 million reduction in state assistance this year. While I support charter schools, I am committed to working with colleagues across the state to change the funding formula to help Medford without harming charter schools attended by the city’s young people.

My primary priority as a member of the State Legislature will be to restore state aid to Arlington and Medford. In addition, I want to:

• Extend the “Circuit Breaker” bill so that all residents of the state, regardless of age, receive a refundable tax credit if their property taxes exceed 10% of their income.

• Work for additional funding for early education programs, funding for full-day kindergarten, and more assistance to cities and towns for special education.

• Close corporate tax loopholes and pass the remainder of the Municipal Partnership Act in order to generate more revenue for state programs and for cities and towns.

• Fully fund the new health care program, known as Chapter 58, and work to help all Massachusetts residents have access to quality health care.

• Restore safety net programs for low-income residents.

• Ensure sufficient community input into all discussions about the extension of the Green Line to Medford.

I have a proven track record of building coalitions to tackle difficult issues and have the energy and compassion needed to serve Medford well in the State Legislature.

I respectfully ask for your vote on Tuesday, February 5th. If you would like to get involved in my campaign or learn more, please visit www.jeffthielman.com.