Jen Benson Announces District-Wide Endorsements
Earns support from every town in district

March 3, 2008 — Jen Benson, candidate to represent the 37th Middlesex District in the State House, has secured the public endorsement of leaders from every town in the district. Benson has been reaching out to municipal leaders after announcing her candidacy on February 17th.

"It is critical to understand the needs of our towns in order to effectively advocate for them," said Benson. "I have been talking with community leaders throughout the district. State aid and education funding have been common concerns in every town."

Benson has received the endorsement of Mel Govindan, a Lancaster member of the Nashoba Regional School Committee. "Jen has demonstrated her leadership qualities as a member and current Chair of the Lunenburg School Committee," said Govindan. "As a fellow school committee member I understand the importance of such a position and what it takes to carry out the responsibilities well. Jen has done that in an exemplary manner and I am sure she would show the same kind of leadership in the State House. She has delineated a set of achievable goals and I firmly believe that Jen has the abilities to see these come to fruition."

Benson has also received endorsements from Boxborough School Committee member Bruce Sabot, Harvard School Committee member Stuart Sklar, Shirley School Committee member Don Parker, and Acton School Committee Chair Jonathan Chinitz.

The full membership of the Lunenburg School Committee, including Milree Keeling, Michael Mackin, David Reif, and Christine Tenneson, has endorsed Benson, as well as Board of Selectman members Thomas Mason, Robert Bowen, and Chair, Tom Alonzo.

"Jen knows the serious challenges facing our town, such as adequate and fair state-funding for education, over-reliance on local property taxes and skyrocketing energy and health insurance costs," said Alonzo. "She has consistently demonstrated her dedication, her willingness to get involved and her commitment to work hard in trying to reach collaborative solutions to these challenges. I believe Jen's experience, energy and commitment are exactly what we need to have our collective voices effectively heard in the State House."

Benson has also received support from State office holders, including an endorsement by Senator Robert A. Antonioni (D-Leominster), Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Education.

The 37th Middlesex District includes Acton (precincts 3, 4 and 5), Boxborough, Harvard, Lancaster (precinct 1), Lunenburg and Shirley. The seat has been held since 2002 by Representative James Eldridge (D-Acton) who recently announced he will be running for the Middlesex and Worcester state senate seat being vacated by Senator Pam Resor (D-Acton).

More information on Benson's candidacy can be found at www.jenbenson.org.