DANVERS — After a 23-year absence from the state legislature, state Rep. Sally Kerans, whose district includes parts of West Peabody, needed no time to shake off the cobwebs and get back to work.
“People have been really welcoming and it’s been very busy even though we are working totally remotely, which is fine,” Kerans said. “It’s just different, but we are getting it done. Everyone is doing what everyone else is doing — bending, flexing, adapting. It’s different in that you just can’t walk down to a colleague’s office, but we are facing the same typical things that everyone is facing.”
While Kerans is still waiting for her committee assignments, she has already reached out to fellow legislators on what she considers to be an important issue — funeral home directors’ status vis-a-vis distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Kerans and Sen. Anne M. Gobi collaborated Friday morning on a letter, signed by 115 colleagues, asking Gov. Charlie Baker and Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders to give Phase 1 vaccine distribution priority to funeral home directors, who are currently assigned to Phase 2.
“Funeral home directors are the only group of frontline COVID-facing workers that are not in category or Phase 1 in terms of priority,” Kerans said. “Given what they do — in and out of nursing homes, in and out of hospitals and hospice settings — if they don’t remain healthy, then we’ll have another type of problem on our hands. The fact that we got 115 people to sign the letter is a terrific response to this request.”
Kerans said the directors were originally assigned into the general public pool, but, earlier this week, were moved up to Phase 2. She is optimistic the letter might help the state reassess and move directors into the top-priority group.
“Thirty-three other states categorized them with health care workers,” Kerans said. “There are so many moving parts to the vaccine, so it could very well be that they just needed more information and I think that’s what we did with this letter to help them make that determination.
“I mean, these are the folks who handle the deceased. I think many people think of them as handling the wake and funeral only, but once people understand the important public health role they play, I am optimistic. It’s in all of our best interests to keep them healthy.”
Other local leaders who signed the letter included Sen. Joan B. Lovely, Sen. Brendan Crighton, and Reps. Paul Tucker, Peter Capano, Daniel Cahill, Donald Wong and Bradley H. Jones, Jr.
Kerans’ first day on the job last week was about as far from normal as it gets.
Just minutes after being sworn into the 192nd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with 16 other newly-elected members of the House of Representatives on Jan. 6, Kerans emerged from the chamber at the Statehouse to learn the unimaginable news that a murderous mob had stormed the Capitol in Washington, D.C.
“This was a disgraceful and disturbing attack on our democracy, incited by the president of the United States,” Kerans said. “One of our most sacred principles as a democracy is the peaceful transition of power after elections, and this attack was an active threat to that principle. I strongly condemn this insurrection against our nation. During this dark moment, we must come together to affirm our democracy. I support any and all measures to remove the president from office as soon as possible.”
On Friday, Kerans expressed her outrage over the fact that Vice President Mike Pence did not invoke the 25th Amendment to oust President Donald Trump.
“I am in disbelief and outraged that Vice President Pence had the ability to stop this reckless president from doing further damage to our democracy and chose not to invoke the 25th Amendment,” Kerans said. “There’s some satisfaction that the House adopted articles of impeachment, but shame on the Republicans who continue to support this menace in the White House.
“The pleas of unity ring pretty hollow coming from people whose own ambitions overrode our national interest and led them to continue to support Trump and his lies, which fueled seditious insurrection.”
Kerans said she will prioritize COVID-19 relief for families, individuals and small businesses. Her other priorities include transportation, climate change, education, healthcare, and racial justice. While she will be working remotely for the foreseeable future, Kerans encourages her constituents to email her with any questions, concerns, or requests for assistance at [email protected] or email her legislative aid, Katherine McGee, at [email protected]. Kerans has not yet been assigned an office phone number, but will make it available as soon as possible to ensure that she is accessible and open to her constituents, she said.
“I am very proud, honored, and humbled to represent my community, and I am excited to get to work for my constituents,” Kerans said. “I really look forward to working with the people of my district, and I encourage my constituents to reach out to my office if they have any questions, concerns, or if they need assistance during these difficult times.”
