Election 2018: Candidate Profile Of Danielle Gregoire

Incumbent Representative Danielle Gregoire fights to keep her seat in the Massachusetts House of Representatives for the 4th Middlesex District as she faces Republican Paul Ferro in the midterm election in November.

The 4th Middlesex District consists of Marlborough, Ward 2: Precinct 1, Wards 3, 4, 5, 6, Ward 7: Precinct 2; Northborough, Precincts 1, 3; Westborough, Precinct 1, 3.

Patch reached out to all of the contested candidates with a series of questions to help introduce voters to those candidates. Today we introduce readers to Gregoire, D-Marlborough, who is a graduate of Marlborough High School, received her B.A. in criminal justice from St. Anselm College and graduated from Suffolk University Law School in 2006. She's been a representative in the House for eight terms.

For Gregoire, the single most pressing issue the district faces is workforce development.

"This district has the lowest unemployment rate in the state," Gregoire said. "We are creating jobs at record levels and investing in our communities at unprecedented amounts. One of the challenges we face is workforce development, and we have and will continue to work with our technical high schools, community colleges and state universities to develop education programming to provide a 21st century workforce to area employers. Job creation and economic development aid in relieving local taxpayers of additional burden and lead to record investment in education and infrastructure."

Gregoire reminds voters that the House passed comprehensive legislation to address the costs of prescription drugs, the cost of preventative healthcare and the role the lack of availability of primary care has played in those issues. The state must do more to drive down the cost of healthcare for its residents, she argues.

"Massachusetts continues to lead the nation in combatting the public health crisis of opioid addiction," said Gregoire. "We have funded Narcan supplies to reverse overdoses, increased mental health and substance abuse counseling funding and we continue to add beds for treatment."

With years of ground experience, Gregoire said she has tackled a wide variety of issues.

"I will continue to lead on day 1, with no learning curve and on a firm foundation of relationships within state government," she said. "I have shepherded numerous pieces of local legislation through the process benefiting all three communities in the district and have existing, positive relationships with local officials both elected and appointed."

As a committee chair, Gregoire said she was able to pass a groundbreaking, nation leading bill to benefit residents of the Commonwealth suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers and healthcare providers.

"My opponent and I could not be further apart on issues that concern residents of the 4th Middlesex," said Gregoire. "While we are similar on tax policy (both of us generally in opposition to increasing taxes) we are far apart on civil rights, women’s rights and LGBTQ equality. We are also far apart in our demeanor and the way we think a state representative should work. I have time and again proven that I can and will put my own personal politics aside for the greater good and benefit of the district while my opponent has a proven track record of putting his party over all else.

"My campaign has always been and will always be about the residents of the district. Jobs, the economy, education, infrastructure and the public safety. I have proven accomplishments and a clear voting record on all of the above."

Gregoire said the best piece of advice she's gotten is to "never say never," and she passes this advice along whenever she can. She argues that she demonstrates knowledge on a wide range of issues, and has relationships that get results.

"From my bi-partisan voting record in opposition to tax increases to my success with local legislative initiatives and my relationships with local residents, and appointed and elected officials," she said, "I have a leg up on someone who would have to start from scratch and will continue use every tool in my toolbox for the benefit of Marlborough, Northborough and Westborough."

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