Medford Leaders Endorse Christine Barber for State Senate

State Rep. Christine Barber has picked up the endorsement of a coalition of Medford leaders in her campaign for State Senate in the 2nd Middlesex District, including State Reps. Paul Donato and Sean Garballey, Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn, School Committee Vice Chair Jenny Graham and members Jessica Parks and Aaron Olapade, City Council Vice President Emily Lazzaro, and City Councilor Liz Mullane.
Barber has represented Medford as a State Rep. since 2015. The endorsements put the city's State House delegation, the Mayor, the Vice Chair of the School Committee, the Vice President and a member of the City Council squarely behind her campaign to succeed retiring state Sen. Pat Jehlen.
“As mayor, I work with a lot of legislators," said Lungo-Koehn. "Christine Barber is the one who picks up the phone, shows up, and delivers. She secured over a million dollars for the Main and South Street Revitalization and has been a real partner on housing, transportation, and investments across Medford. She doesn't just share our values, she delivers for our city, and I'm proud to endorse her for State Senate."

Donato, the second assistant Majority Leader of the House, who represents Medford and Malden and previously served as mayor of Medford, echoed Lungo-Koehn.
“I’ve worked alongside Christine for years on behalf of Medford, and I’ve seen firsthand what she delivers," he said. "We partnered to secure the funding for the Main and South Street Revitalization, rebuilding one of our city’s most important corridors, and we worked together on legislation and funding to address domestic violence and support survivors."

Donato said for the seniors, Barber has been a true champion: she eliminated copays for insulin and inhalers, raised wages for the home care workers our seniors count on, and fought to protect the services that let people age in the community they love.

"Medford’s seniors and families deserve a senator who delivers, and that’s why I’m proud to endorse Christine Barber.” Donato said.

State Rep. Sean Garballey, who represents West Medford and Arlington said he's worked alongside Barber in the Huse and has seen what she's capable of: capping drug costs, expanding housing access, and standing up for working families.

"She gets things done," he said. "She'll bring that same drive to the State Senate
and will be ready on day one."

City Council Vice President Emily Lazzaro said she was proud to endorse Barber because she's spent over a decade deliver, what she called real results on some of the toughest issues facing the community. Those issues included healthcare, immigration, housing, and more, Lazzaro said, adding "I've seen how she shows up and never stops fighting for the people she serves."

“A strong Medford school district is only possible if we have strong partners on Beacon Hill who know how to deliver state dollars, not just talk about them," said Jenny Graham, Vice-chair of the School Committee, and Chair of the Medford School Building Committee. "Christine has already brought millions home to Medford, and we’ll need a senator who can help deliver the new Medford High our kids need and make it affordable for us all. Our students need a Senator who gets results, and that's Christine Barber.”

Barber said she's been proud to fight for Medford every day for the past decade.
“From the Main and South Street Revitalization to the Green Line Extension to funding for our schools and parks, I've worked with Mayor Lungo-Koehn, the School Committee, and the City Council to deliver real results for this city. I'm
honored to have their support, and as State Senator, I'll keep delivering for Medford's families, seniors, and students," she said.
Barber is running in the September 1 Democratic primary for the 2nd Middlesex State Senate seat, which includes Somerville, Medford, and parts of Cambridge and Winchester. She has passed laws allowing all Massachusetts residents to apply for a driver's license regardless of immigration status, and requiring employers to post salary ranges, and she has secured millions of dollars in local investments across Medford and Somerville.