Busse, Eldridge Vie For Middlesex & Worcester Senate Seat

A Harvard Business School graduate who now works as an administrator for the school is trying to unseat the longtime state senator from Acton, who is considered one of the state's most progressive Democrats.

Margaret Busse, a Republican from Acton, is running for the Middlesex & Worcester District Senate seat held by Sen. Jamie Eldridge for the last 10 years. Patch reached out to both candidates, who shared their views on pressing issues, their differences and their goals if they are elected.

The Middlesex & Worcester District includes Marlborough, Acton, Ayer, Boxborough, Hudson, Littleton, Maynard, Shirley, Stow, precincts 2 and 3 in Sudbury, Harvard, precinct 3 in Northborough, Southborough and Westborough.

While both candidates cite education as a pressing concern for the district and the state, Eldridge and Busse emphasize different aspects of the issue.

Busse sees the overarching concern as too much governmental intrusion: "Our communities and schools are currently burdened by many unfunded mandates and other regulations."

Eldridge says education should receive more support from the government.

"While the state has increased funding for Chapter 70 education aid over the past 10 years, we need to do more for Special Education Circuit Breaker, regional school transportation and schools, English Language Learner (ELL) students, healthcare costs, and low-income children," he said.

Busse argues that she would be more focused on district-centric issues, rather than those that are more the concern of the U.S. Congress.

"(Eldridge) spent the last year advocating for sanctuary state legislation, which ultimately failed, and which tied up the entire state budget process this summer and placed at risk the critical state monies that help even the most unfortunate out," Busse aruged.

Eldridge countered by saying, "I'm proud of my legislative accomplishments, and that I work on such a wide variety of policy areas, to make a difference in the lives of every constituent in the Middlesex and Worcester district."

Eldridge spotlights his accomplishments, and sayshe would continue fighting "to make a difference in people's lives, including state funding for education, investing in transportation, expanding clean energy, protecting the environment, improving access to quality healthcare, and creating jobs."

But Busse, who spent the last eight years active in Acton's town government, says that after ten years it's time for a change.

"My main motivation to run for office was because of the divisiveness that exists in our political process right now," said Busse. "l am passionate about bringing people together to solve our problems and move forward."

>>>>>>See Jamie Eldridge's candidate profile here.

>>>>>>See Margaret Busse's candidate profile here.

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