OPINION: All 2nd Middlesex candidates are accomplished and worthy of consideration

By Prabitha Natarajan

If you are someone like me who is not too closely involved with the campaigns yet wanting to find out about other candidates running for office this year, then please read on.

We have had some very interesting articles and takes on one candidate recently, but here is the good news: we have several accomplished candidates to at least know and find out more about before deciding who to vote for. In my analysis, I have included some of their top accomplishments, the focus of their Senate race as primary issues they are running on, and their take on the Israel-Gaza war, as we have heard a good amount on this lately with regards to Christine Barber.

Christine Barber is a truly accomplished candidate for the state Senate and has won two big-name endorsements, but I want to channel our attention to the other candidates running for the 2nd Middlesex, who are also worthy of consideration and have significant accomplishments tied to their names.

Burhan Azeem (Cambridge vice mayor): Is a proud transit rider and the founder of Abundant Housing Massachusetts.

He grew up in a family that depended on Medicaid and food stamps and graduated from MIT. He became Cambridge’s youngest city councilor with affordable housing as one of his core focuses. Some of his important accomplishments include re-legalizing multifamily housing to address the housing crisis; establishing the program funding free, school-day preschool for all 4-year-olds and qualifying 3-year-olds.

The top issues that Burhan Azeem is focusing on for this Senate race include: fixing and improving public transit, affordability, climate change and working towards peace.

Azeem unequivocally condemned the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas as a "terrorist attack" and "indefensible." Azeem has also strongly advocated for Palestinian rights, freedom, and an end to civilian suffering in Gaza. He has said, “We must stand against the growing tide of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism in my community. I appeal to all of you to approach these times with understanding, patience, and compassion."

Erika Uyterhoeven (state representative): Erika is a democratic socialist, former antitrust economist, and the co-founder of the grassroots advocacy organization Act on Mass, a non-profit that tracks issues and actions in the State House in an effort to fight corruption in the State House.

She grew up as the daughter of a Japanese immigrant single mother and earned her MBA from Harvard Business School.

Some of her important accomplishments include co-founding Act on Mass to bring transparency to the State House, mobilizing a coalition of legislators and activists to block a $37-million tax break for large corporations that tried removing the limit of how much interest they can deduct from their debts.

The top issues for Erika Uyterhoeven in this race: government transparency, affordable housing and rent stabilization, lowering utility bills through clean energy, immigrant protection, and establishing safety/ethical AI governance. Uyterhoeven has been an outspoken advocate for Palestinian human rights and has called for an immediate, permanent ceasefire in Gaza, ending U.S. military aid to Israel, and thus protecting our tax dollars.

Matt McLaughlin (Somerville city councilor): Matt is an Army veteran, and long-serving Ward 1 Somerville city councilor.

He grew up in a working-class family with his mother working night shifts as a custodian at MIT to provide for his family.

Some of his important accomplishments include advancing municipal affordable housing initiatives, leading local neighborhood safety projects, and advocating for workers' rights, and he worked hard on drug-reform policies after losing some of his friends to the opioid crisis.

The top issues for Matt McLaughlin in this senate race: expanding state-level affordable housing strategies, working-class representation, public infrastructure and traffic safety, environmental justice, and regional substance-abuse solutions.

McLaughlin strongly opposed federal ICE raids and aggressive enforcement tactics. In response to heightened ICE activity in East Somerville, he helped lead grassroots initiatives to directly support and protect immigrant-owned small businesses and vulnerable community members.

McLaughlin had voted in favor of the Somerville City Council’s resolution calling on federal leadership for a ceasefire, release of all hostages, and the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

I am writing this so you can think about and do further research on the several other accomplished candidates and then vote for the one closely aligned with your values, as one candidate alone has grabbed our attention recently in the race for the 2nd Middlesex state Senate district.

Finally, let's not forget that we are also voting for U.S. representatives, attorney general and other key positions.

Prabitha Natarajan is a Medford resident.