Joe Kearns Goodwin, a Democratic candidate for state Senate in the 3rd Middlesex District, is holding an official campaign kickoff/ice cream social today at the home of state Rep. Cory Atkins, D-Concord.

In addition to hosting the outdoor affair, Atkins is endorsing Goodwin for the seat long held by retiring state Sen. Susan Fargo, D-Lincoln.

Atkins has known Goodwin for years. He grew up with her son, Dean, and took a semester off from his undergraduate studies at Harvard to run Atkins’ first successful campaign for state representative in 1999.

“That’s only a small piece of it,” said Atkins, who is serving as Goodwin’s campaign chair in his first bid for elected office. “I’d be attracted to Joe anyway, as would a lot of people. He’s a motivator who can not only work with everybody, but really he sees the best in everybody.”

A former U.S. Army Captain, Goodwin enlisted after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and has served as a combat arms officer in the Iraq war, and also served in Afghanistan advising NATO investigating the deaths of civilians in the war zone.

“Right after 9/11, Joe was the only kid to sign up right away, before anybody knew what was going to happen,” Atkins told Patch. “I just think he has extraordinary leadership skills to be a part of the next generation of our leadership.”

The 3rd Middlesex District includes Bedford, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Concord, Lincoln, Waltham, Weston, and parts of Lexington and Sudbury. Goodwin one of several Democratic candidates in the race including Lexington resident Mike Barrett, Concord resident Mara Dolan, Weston resident Joe Mullin and Alex Buck of Chelmsford. On the Republican side, Sandi Martinez, of Chelmsford and Greg Howes of Concord are also running.

“It’s a big field,” said Atkins. “An open seat like this only happens usually once in a decade in a significant seat, so there’s a lot of interest in it. It’s a strong field, and Joe’s my pick. He’s the right choice for the long-term. We have a chance to groom a really strong leader here.”  

Goodwin, 34, is currently attending Harvard Law School and is a graduate of Harvard University. His father, Richard, was advisor to Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, and his mother, Doris Kearns Goodwin, is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and presidential historian.

What: Joe Kearns Goodwin for State Senate Official Campaign Kickoff and Ice Cream Social
When: 3 to 5 p.m., Saturday, May 12
Where: The Home of state Rep. Cory Atkins, 1540 Monument St., Concord