Experience matters in life, and experience is especially important in the Massachusetts Legislature.
Dave Rogers has delivered that experience in his 14 years representing Belmont in the House, and he deserves to be reelected in the Democratic primary.
In my career working on Beacon Hill, I learned to identify those few legislators who put in the hard work, rose through the ranks, and produced meaningful legislation while meeting their district’s needs.
Dave stands out. He led the successful effort for free community college, an achievement that made it possible for thousands of residents to attend college. He spearheaded legislation to protect the rights of minority groups and has been a champion of immigrant rights. He has also made major contributions in affordable housing, clean energy, and transportation, among other areas.
A second important measure of legislative success is one’s contribution to the district, and Dave has delivered time and again. He, along with Sen. Brownsberger, has obtained money for a long list of local projects, including the Chenery Park revitalization, the community path, the new rink, and time and again for the schools.
Dave is a constant presence in Belmont and his district. He is friendly and accessible, holding regular office hours and always responding to constituent concerns.
It’s popular to call for new blood in elections. But that only makes sense if the incumbent has fallen short and Dave has excelled. It would take at least a decade for any newcomer to come close to reaching his level of success, with no guarantee that the newcomer would ever be skilled enough to match his contributions.
Over my career, I worked with hundreds of state legislators on innumerable issues. Dave stands out for his legislative achievements, his contributions to his district, and his ready access and responsiveness to his constituents.
Dave is at his prime and promises to add to his long list of accomplishments. He deserves our vote on September 1 for the benefit of the Commonwealth and our community.
Michael Widmer, Gilbert Road
