(Courtesy photograph.)
State Sen. Barbara L’Italien Wednesday said she has formally launched an exploratory committee—the first step toward running for the congressional seat currently held by Rep. Niki Tsongas.
L’Italien, of Andover, is the first woman and only elected official to take this step toward a run to succeed Tsongas. Tsongas has announced she is not seeking re-election when her term expires next year.
“Our country is facing some of the biggest challenges we’ve ever seen,” L’Italien said. “The working families of this district deserve someone in Washington who’s shown fearless, proven leadership.”
In a statement, L’Italien said she has been a leader in the fights for equal marriage, health care access for all, quality public education for all children, better services and supports for seniors, health insurance coverage for people with Autism and other disabilities, and against the Kinder Morgan Pipeline.
Andover native Daniel Arrigg Koh, former chief of staff to Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh, last week was the first to formally set up a committee to seek the Third District seat. Others said to be weighing a run are Haverhill Mayor James J. Fiorentini, state Sen. Eileen Donoghue and Steve Kerrigan, who previously ran for lieutenant governor.
L’Italien served as a member of the state House of Representatives from 2003 to 2011 where she represented six communities including Andover, Haverhill, and Methuen and was the vice chair of the Ways and Means committee. She has served in the Massachusetts Senate since 2015, and represents the residents of Andover, Dracut, Lawrence and Tewksbury.
She chairs the committees on Elder Affairs and Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, and formerly chaired Municipalities and Regional Government. L’Italien has also served as an Andover School Committee member and as government affairs director under former Treasurer Steve Grossman. Previously, she was a social work case manager at Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley.
Can this woman EVER find employment in the private sector? Barbara is the classic opportunist political hack who will jump from job to job and take any office she can find that the low information voter will support her for.
In the past when I have tried to engage her on issues or issues she either refuses to answer an email or phone call.
Barbara L’Italien has ONE special interest – and that special interest is Barbara L’Italien.
The Third District, as well as Massachusetts is screwed.
The only person that has the financial firepower to run against the Democratic machine in MA would be Rick Green. We’re not even sure if he will run. If not, we are not only once again stuck with a Party ideologue, but we will be stuck with hacks who will us sell out in the name of money, power, and special interests. In L’Italien’s specific case, she is as arrogant as they come, and while many pols contain a certain amount of hubris, hers has no bounds.
“was the vice chair of the Ways and Means committee.”- Any one else remember the self-raises she championed & voted for Chairs back in the day? Like the rest, she enjoys the taxpayer trough.