Child care for candidates

A recent article published in the Boston Herald pushed back on a budget amendment proposed by Sen. Pat Jehlen (D-Somerville) that would allow candidates to use campaign funds to offset the cost of child care services.

This budget amendment would open the door for many more talented candidates who may not have the means — or capacity — to seek public office. To use the argument that many candidates, women specifically, with families are already in elected office and didn’t have this benefit afforded to them is counterproductive. The fact that other elected officials have reached elected office without this “luxury” is absurd. If we operate with that mentality, we halt forward progress. There is nothing wrong with wanting to make it easier for more parents with young children to run for office.

Let’s take this a step further and expand this benefit to include other groups, such as primary caretakers of elderly parents or family members with severe disabilities.

Scoffed at as yet another “perk” for lawmakers, I see opportunity. The strongest outcome from this amendment is people having more options in the voting booth.

I am a single parent running for state representative (Arlington and West Medford). As a candidate for office, you attend many events, late-night meetings and door-knocking for hours on end. I have an 8-yearold daughter, and although it is important to have her involved in this process, she shouldn’t come with me to everything. I am fortunate enough to have a strong network of support, but this isn’t an option for everyone.

In order to diversify our representation in all elected offices, it is our responsibility to remove roadblocks, even if they don’t impact all of us, to ensure we all have a fighting chance.

— Lori Lennon, candidate for state representative,

Arlington