State Sen. Susan Fargo Backs Joe Kearns Goodwin

(EDITOR'S NOTE: The following was submitted by Don Siriani.)

State Sen. Susan Fargo (D-Lincoln) recently named Joe Kearns Goodwin of Concord as her pick to succeed her as the Third Middlesex District’s voice in the Massachusetts State Senate. Fargo, who has served 16 years as State Senator, noted that Goodwin has demonstrated a sincere commitment to, and concern for, the residents of the Third Middlesex District throughout his campaign.

“To be effective, a senator must listen, learn and lead and that is what I have done throughout my time in the Legislature. I have listened to each of the candidates in this race, I've learned how they evaluate the responsibilities of this office and how they treat voters, and that is why I am proud to offer my support and endorsement of Joe Kearns Goodwin. He will truly be an honorable member of the State Senate,” said Fargo.

“From her landmark achievements in public health to her stalwart advocacy on behalf of seniors and military families, Sen. Fargo has been a champion for our District and the state’s most vulnerable at the State House. She leaves very big shoes to fill, and I will work with her in order to build on the incredible progress she has made for the working men and women of our communities and the Commonwealth,” said Goodwin.

Fargo is the longest serving woman in the State Senate with the exception of Senate President Therese Murray. She is the only woman in the legislature to be selected to Chair the Caucus of Women Legislators twice. In addition, she was the first Chairman of the Public Health Committee and the Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Council.

"Joe's priorities and values reflect the heart of my work; helping our Commonwealth to be a great state by supporting public education, providing strong constituent service, and delivering what the people of this district need, providing excellent healthcare," said Fargo.

In 2004, Fargo wrote the landmark Workplace Smoking Ban law which has been widely hailed as a major public health triumph. Studies conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health and Department of Public Health confirm that 600 lives are saved annually as a result of the law citing it as the single strongest factor that marked a sharp decline in cardiac disease deaths.

As State Senator, Fargo also wrote and passed the first major reform to the state's organ donor law in 50 years, co-authored the Circuit Breaker Tax Cut law saving seniors $60 million each year and wrote the law to grant free higher education for children of fallen soldiers, which provides full cost waivers to state colleges and universities of charges for tuition, fees, and room and board. Fargo also worked with the late Sen. Edward Kennedy to save Hanscom Air Force Base from closure, helping to retain more than 44,000 high paying jobs.