North Shore’s freshman reps are quick studies

It is the year of the freshmen for Lynn area legislators and newcomer state Reps. Brendan Crighton, RoseLee Vincent and Leah Cole have hit the ground running with ideas for helping their constituents and the cities they represent.Cole of Peabody took office in 2013, winning a special election and then last year?s state election, but Crighton and Vincent entered the Massachusetts House last year.Crighton?s first three months in office saw him straddle his role as a Lynn city councilor at large and new legislator. He focused these dual roles on crafting “transformative development district” legislation aimed at providing the city with new tools to develop Lynn?s downtown.?We were one of only three communities awarded a fellowship from (state) Mass Development that will focus on economic development issues,” he said.Like Crighton, who formerly worked for state Sen. Thomas M. McGee, Vincent of Revere brings past experience as a legislative aide to bear on her work as an elected official. She is helping to sponsor legislation regulating short-term residential rentals that would hold property owners “accountable for any impact the rentals may have on the community.”Vincent wants to increase hazardous waste transportation regulation to require plans to be filed with communities detailing any arrangement to ship waste through a city or town. Revere Beach is Vincent?s self-admitted passion and she heads up the Metropolitan Beaches Commission with McGee.Cole?s background in nursing and elder care medicine have helped shape her legislative decisions. She wants to update child protection laws and has proposed legislation outlining how unused, unexpired bulk medication could be recycled.Like her freshman colleagues and veteran legislators, she is preparing to focus on budget-crafting discussions.?This is going to be a very tough budget year,” Cole said.State Rep.s. Lori Ehrlich and Robert Fennell represent Lynn with Crighton and state Rep. Donald Wong. Attempts to reach Wong for a three-month review of his legislative goals and priorities were unsuccessful, but Ehrlich said her 2015 focus includes reforming noncompete agreements.?Noncompetes have gone way beyond their original intent and are now showing up in every sector of the economy,” Ehrlich said.She said noncompete reform legislation must be aimed at ensuring workers? future employment opportunities are not restricted by agreements.She is also involved in analyzing public education financing formulas “to meet 21st-century needs.” Fennell said Lynn received $223,000 through a state assistance fund set up in the wake of winter damage. His efforts also helped the city land $1.5 million in state transportation money.In the face of drug overdose and fatal overdose reports, Fennell is supporting legislation to give law enforcement officials more information about someone who overdoses and to provide protective custody arrangements for overdose victims.Fennell said leaving-the-scene-of-an-accident laws must be updated. He would boost the penalties for drivers arrested and convicted for leaving the scene of property damage and personal injury $5,000 to $10,000 with a one year minimum state prison sentence.