BOSTON — Four Democratic candidates are vying to fill the 8th Essex District House seat that was left vacant when longtime state Rep. Lori Ehrlich stepped down on Jan. 31 to work for the federal government.
Ehrlich, who was selected by President Joe Biden to work as the Region 1 administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), had represented the communities of Marblehead, Swampscott and a portion of Lynn during her 14 years in the State House. Ehrlich, a Democrat, lives in Marblehead.
Two Marblehead residents, Jenny Armini and Terri Tauro, and two residents of Swampscott, Tristan Smith and Doug Thompson, have stated that they will run for the open seat. As all four are Democrats, they would face off in a primary; no Republicans have announced their intention to run for the House seat.
Armini, who describes herself as a community activist, kicked off her campaign on Thursday. She said her work as a local organizer and her experience in politics sets her apart from the rest of the field. She worked for the state Department of Revenue in the 1990s, and was a speechwriter for former Gov. Jane Swift.
“I love this district,” said Armini. “I lived in Marblehead for more than 16 years and raised a family here. I am driven to bring change.”
If elected, Armini, 55, said her focus would be on improving public-school education, and coastal resilience to lessen the effects of natural disasters brought on by climate change.
“We need the resources to protect seawalls and do it smartly,” said Armini. “It’s not just about building them higher, but building them smarter.”
Tauro, 55, is the president of the Marblehead Municipal Employees Union. If elected, she said her focus would be on improving jobs and labor practices in her district and throughout the commonwealth. She pointed to her experience in these matters, as president of the Marblehead union and as a member of the North Shore Labor Council, which is a coalition of 50 local unions.
“In my role as Marblehead Municipal Employees Union president and board member of the North Shore Labor Council, I have seen my community face many challenges,” said Tauro. “I have raised my voice against unfair labor practice and discrimination.”
She also pointed to her experience in community organizing and leadership as reasons why she would make a good state representative.
“I have organized our community for years and now it is time to take the next step and effect change on a higher level,” said Tauro. “I’m here to do this job.”
Thompson, 54, is the former chief financial officer for MassHealth. If elected, he said he would work to make healthcare more affordable for Massachusetts residents, particularly for those with low incomes. None of his opponents could deliver the same results on this matter, he said.
“We need to make healthcare more accessible,” said Thompson, who said the state has fallen behind on this issue. “We’ve done a great job expanding health-insurance coverage, but not controlling costs.”
Smith, 26, is completing his final semester at Suffolk University Law School. He said his youth is an asset in this race, as he believes he can bring a fresh perspective to the State House.
He said he grew up around politics, which prompted his interest in running for political office rather than looking to practice law after graduation.
“Everyone asked me what type of law I want to practice,” said Smith. “I want to create and shape law through policy.”
The Democratic primary is scheduled for Sept. 6. A special election date has not been set by the state legislature.
