REGIONAL — Two years ago in her first race for the state legislature, Kristin Kassner won by one vote. Now running for reelection, Kassner has the endorsement of Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll.
In the 2nd Essex District, which encompasses the towns of Georgetown, Ipswich, Hamilton, Newbury, Rowley and Topsfield’s precinct 1, she is facing Republican challenger Mark Tashjian of Georgetown, who earned a place on the ballot with a write-in campaign.
“I am honored to be endorsed by Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll in my campaign for re-election,” Kassner said in a news release with the state’s senior leadership. “I have had the pleasure of working closely with the Governor and Lieutenant Governor to strengthen our economy and public education, protect key water sources in our community and invest in our infrastructure.”
In a joint statement, Healey and Driscoll said they were proud to support Kassner because the state needs leaders like her. “During her time on Beacon Hill, Rep. Kassner helped secure critical infrastructure investments and has been a vocal advocate for investments in clean energy and economic development. We need leaders like Rep. Kassner who will help us make Massachusetts a more affordable place to live.”
Tashjian, a former Libertarian Party candidate for Congress, is opposing state mandates like the MBTA Communities Law.
“Isn’t it incredible that Beacon Hill could take one of the best things we have – the MBTA –and flip it around so that now they’re going to hold it against us until a small town like Ipswich has to put 900 houses in,” he said.
Known as 3A, the controversial measure mandates that towns make zoning changes to encourage builders to create more multi-family housing.
The CEO and founder of the Boston Polo Club in Georgetown, Tashjian ran in 2022 against U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Salem, where he received less than 2 percent of the vote.
In her first term, Kassner says she secured more than $250,000 in direct funding for the district, supported millions in state and federal grants, putting resources into water infrastructure, public safety and public education.
Her priorities include protecting the health of our rivers and coastal ecosystems, increasing economic opportunities, especially in green tech, providing local tools to enhance housing opportunities and affordable and accessible child and elder care, supporting equitable funding in education, expanding access to affordable healthcare, maternal care and mental health services, and protecting our rights and freedoms.
Learn more about Kristin Kassner by visiting https://www.kristinkassner.org/.
Learn more about Mark Tashjian by visiting https://www.marktash.com/
