With a successful amendment last week, state Sen. Mike Barrett inserted the issues of climate change and carbon-based taxation into the State Senate version of transportation finance legislation.
Check out this roundup of the year's best political stories.
2012 was a wild year in local, state and national politics. From the presidential election to state and local elections, 2012 brought readers some fun and interesting political news. Check out our review of the top five below.
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A Boston Phoenix blog post casts the Lexington Democrat as ‘an unapologetic liberal’ committed to environmental gains. But what are your expectations from the Third Middlesex District's incoming state Senator?
In the leafy suburbs of the Third Middlsex District, which includes Waltham, quite a bit of attention was paid to the race for the state Senate seat claimed by Mike Barrett, the Lexington Democrat replacing retiring state Sen. Susan Fargo. So much so in fact that, in the lead up to Election Day, incumbent state Sen. Ken Donnelly, an Arlington Democrat, joked he was Lexington's other candidate for state Senate, despite the fact that his Fourth Middlesex District includes six Lexington precincts compared to the three in the Third. But for those looking at the bigger picture, it seems the Third Middlesex race—with its densely populated Democratic primary and polar opposites facing off in the general election—may have been lost in the shuffle …
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2:39 pm on Sunday, December 2, 2012
Since Mr. Barrett is interested in environmental issues, I hope he will advocate saving the open space at the Fernald Center, and restoring the illegally filled wetlands on the site. more ›
Lexington Democrat Mike Barrett defeats Chelmsford Republican Sandi Martinez to claim seat long held by retiring state Sen. Susan Fargo.
While they’re saying goodbye to Susan Fargo, the Democrats aren’t ready to let go of her seat in the state Senate. Lexington Democrat Mike Barrett, after outlasting four challengers from his own party in the primary, has defeated Sandi Martinez, a Republican from Chelmsford, to claim the Third Middlesex District seat Fargo, a Lincoln Democrat, held tightly for eight terms before deciding to retire. “I’m excited about returning to the Senate,” said Barrett, who was a state Senator from Cambridge from 1987 until a failed bid for governor in 1994. “Eighteen years older, probably not 18 years wiser, but I think smarter and I’m looking forward to it.” The Third Middlesex District represents Bedford, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Concord, Lincoln, …
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11:39 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
I will wait and see if you are a follower or leader in providing a debt free State and legislation for small business creation and passing legislation that serves the people and not your party leaders.......but thats really to much to ask a Democrat is it not????? more ›
See why one Waltham residents supports Mike Barrett for state senator.
The following is a letter to the editor from a Waltham resident: Waltham’s Democratic Primary race for state senate is over, and Mike Barrett emerged the winner! Mike’s winning campaign was grassroots, door-to-door with many volunteer supporters and based on clear, thoughtful, and independent positions. Barrett drew upon support from legions of ordinary citizens. He couldn’t have done it without the tremendous grassroots help he got throughout the district, but especially from Waltham. In both campaign work and from individual financial donations, we elected a candidate who steadfastly refuses PAC and lobbyist dollars, and despite that, won. But the fight is not over and Mike still needs our support – volunteering and making donations. …
5:41 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2012
Mike Barrett, in his own words, shows to be another tax and spend liberal. Sandi Martinez has consistently stood for reduced taxes and spending, which is sorely needed in our Commonwealth. Heaven knows we already have a prolific legislature of spenders. Let's give our overtaxed citizens a chance. Let's vote for Sandi Martinez. more ›
The Lexington Democrat and Chelmsford Republican will face off in the general election after emerging from a field of seven candidates seeking the seat retiring state Sen. Susan Fargo, D-Lincoln, will leave behind after eight terms.
Looks like it’ll be Mike Barrett vs. Sandi Martinez for the right to replace retiring state Sen. Susan Fargo as the Third Middlesex District’s next state senator. According to the unofficial numbers Thursday night, Barrett, a Lexington resident, bested a field of four other Democrats, while Martinez, of Chelmsford, defeated Republican opponent Greg Howes. Interest is almost always high around an open seat, and true to form, the Third Middlesex race heated up early and the field and plots thickened over the winter, spring and summer. Martinez has challenged Fargo in the past and was a presumed opponent. But the first new candidates to emerge were Howes, a Concord resident, and Lexington's Barrett, both of whom announced their intentions …
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11:46 pm on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
September 2012 First, I would like to thank all of my supporters for their incredible hard work throughout this campaign. It is honor to be the Republican nominee. I am committed to running hard for the next 54 days to win this important race. We need a fresh voice at the State House with the courage to fight the status quo, restore integrity and revive our faltering economy. Second, I would like… more ›
The following is a letter to the editor from the daughter of Mike Barrett, a candidate for state representative.
The following is a eltter to the editor: As I go door-to-door in Waltham for my dad, Mike Barrett -- Democratic State Senate candidate for the 3rd Middlesex -- on a boiling hot day, I hear, "Your dad must be a great guy if you're out in this heat!" It's true: my dad's a great guy. And here's what I really want you to know. As a former State Senator and longtime resident of the area, my dad gets it. He clearly understands the problems facing his community and his state. As the father of two recent college graduates, my dad knows firsthand the challenges confronted by young people in this economy. Living in a town affected by Hanscom plane noise, he's an ardent environmentalist. Surrounded by three strong women -- my mother, my twin …
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Mike Barrett is running for the 3rd Middlesex State Senate seat.
Mike Barrett, a Democratic candidate for the 3rd Middlesex State Senaate seat, will hold an "Educate the Candidate" event in Waltham on Aug. 4, acording to this campaign. Residents will have the chance to meet with Barrett to discuss issues they are concerned about. The meetings will be held outside the Hannaford grocery store on Main Street, according to the campaign.
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11:36 pm on Sunday, July 22, 2012
Mike Barrett is determined to increase gasoline taxes in order to save the MBTA... Save the MBTA.... Instead of holding them accountable and cleaning house? Rather than double-post please see my comments at: http://www.wickedlocal.com/waltham/news/x691230956/Democratic-state-Senate-candidates-square-off-in-Waltham#axzz21PRnnv9W more ›
The Concord-Carlisle League of Women Voters plans to hold a candidates' night for those running for the 3rd Middlesex State Senate seat.
The Concord-Carlisle League of Women Voters plans to hold a candidates' night for all the candidates running for the 3rd Middlesex state senate seat, the group announced in a press release. The event will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 15 at the Harvey Wheeler Community Center at 1276 Main St. in Concord. It is free and open to the public. The Democratic candidates are Mike Barrett, Alex Buck, Mara Dolan, Joe Kearns Goodwin and Joe Mullin. Republicans Gregory Howes and Sandi Martinez also plan to attend. Nancy Carapezza, the former president of the LWV, will moderate, according to the press release. Voters wanting to ask questions can email them to VoterService@lwvcc.org by Aug. 15.
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The following is a letter to the editor from former state Sen. Carol Amick.
The following is a letter to the editor from former state Sen. Carol Amick submitted by the campaign of Mike Barrett. As a resident of the 3rd Middlesex District and former State Senator from Waltham, I have a favorite in the Democratic primary to choose a successor to Sen. Susan Fargo. I support Mike Barrett. Why do I – and Cong. Barney Frank and State Rep. Jay Kaufman -- believe in Mike? Because we know him and we’ve worked with him. Mike served in the Mass. House with Barney and in the Mass. Senate with me. He left the Legislature in 1994 to run for Governor and, with his wife and two daughters, moved the next year from Cambridge to Lexington, where he’s lived for 17 years, building a successful consulting practice focused on …
Steven Cavaretta
9:59 am on Tuesday, January 1, 2013
China isn't red anymore it's green with our money more ›