SWAMPSCOTT — Doug Thompson, a Swampscott resident, has officially entered the race for state representative in the 8th Essex District.
Thompson is vying to fill the seat vacated by state Rep. Lori Ehrlich, a Democrat from Marblehead, who took a job with the Biden administration. The 8th Essex District includes the towns of Marblehead and Swampscott, and part of Lynn.
Citing his experience as a healthcare policy expert and his success as an innovator and entrepreneur, Thompson promised to be an independent problem solver on Beacon Hill.
“As the chief financial officer of MassHealth, I worked closely with the legislature to manage the early years of healthcare expansion in Massachusetts from 2007 to 2009,” said Thompson, referring to his work implementing Massachusetts’ first-in-the-nation universal coverage law.
“In the private sector, I built a successful healthcare company, Perfect Health, that provided primary care to seniors at home, an innovative approach at the time that has since become the ideal. And now, I am running for the state legislature to bring my policy and financial expertise, and experience as an innovative leader to help make our state government more efficient and more effective.”
Thompson’s record of success in both state government and the private sector uniquely positions him to contribute on day one to address the important issues facing the 8th District and Massachusetts — economic opportunity, climate change, healthcare affordability, and government transparency.
“I came to Massachusetts, like so many others, to get a topflight education,” said Thompson. “I stayed because I love this place, the sense of community and the unlimited potential of its people. But we have much work to do — to address the existential challenge of climate change, to decrease the opportunity gap that has led to so much economic disparity, and to finally get the spiraling costs of health care under control.
“Massachusetts has always been a leader when it comes to policy innovation, so I know that we can tackle these big issues. I look forward to making a positive contribution to progressive change in collaboration with forward-thinking people in the district and on Beacon Hill.”
Thompson lives in Swampscott with his wife, Ingrid Strong, and their daughter. Strong is an architecture professor and a Swampscott Historic District commissioner. Thompson can often be found enjoying one of the district’s beautiful beaches with his dog or running or biking the Marblehead Neck or Rail Trail.
For more information, please visit https://www.doug4rep.com.
