Eldridge seeking Resor's Sen. seat
Matt Murphy, The Lowell Sun - 02/11/2008

BOSTON -- State Rep. Jamie Eldridge, a three-term legislator from Acton, will challenge for a seat in the Senate next fall to replace his longtime mentor, Sen. Pamela Resor.

Eldridge, whose upstart campaign for Congress last summer introduced his name to thousands of voters throughout the region, plans to formally announce his campaign today.

Since his Congressional bid, his name has been at the top of many observers' lists to replace Resor should the veteran lawmaker decide to retire.

Extremely popular in his district, Eldridge, 34, is hoping to use his base in Acton, Boxboro, Harvard and Shirley to win broader appeal throughout the district.

"My view on politics is that any opportunity to help more people is important to me," Eldridge told The Sun this weekend. "Being in the Senate, I'll have a better opportunity to create change."

Eldridge, a liberal Democrat who graduated from Acton-Boxboro Regional High School and earned his law degree from Boston College, said one of his top priorities will be to move the state's health-care reform system closer to universal coverage.

In his bid for Congress, Eldridge championed the single-payer government model of health care, similar to what is found in Canada and many European countries.

He said Massachusetts should raise the income cap to cover more residents under the subsidized MassHealth program, and raise the minimum employer contribution.

"It's really a question of fairness," Eldridge said. "The tab is really being footed by the taxpayers right now."

Eldridge also said he hopes to continue the work he started in the House to bring jobs and business to the state.

Eldridge helped to pass legislation that brought Bristol-Myers Squibb and Evergreen Solar to Devens, two projects worth more than $650 million that are expected to create 600 new jobs.

He also secured an agreement in the Bristol-Myers Squibb deal that made sure all construction jobs went to union labor.

"Hopefully, we'll establish Massachusetts as a leader in the country on clean energy and all the jobs that come with that," Eldridge said.

His third priority will be to pass reforms to the state's Chapter 40B housing laws to make it easier for communities to meet their goals for affordable housing by counting mobile homes and other moderately priced houses.

Similar legislation has passed the House before, but died in the Senate.

Resor, 65, announced her decision to retire last week after 18 years in the Statehouse. Before he ran for office himself the first time in 2002 with her support, Eldridge helped run one of Resor's re-election campaigns.

He called her one of the most honest, hardworking legislators on Beacon Hill. And though he said her departure from politics will be a "loss for the state," he vowed to continue her legacy of fighting for environmental issues.

"The biggest lesson I learned in my congressional campaign is that it is important to show your passion and stand up for your principles," Eldridge said.

Resor's Senate district includes Acton, Ayer, Boxboro, Harvard, Hudson, Littleton, Maynard, Shirley, Stow and part of Sudbury, all communities Eldridge became familiar with during his congressional campaign in the 5th District.

She also represents Marlboro, Southboro, Westboro and parts of Northboro.

Eldridge is the only candidate to officially declare his interest in the Senate seat. He already has the backing of 12 of the 14 Democratic Town Committee chairs in the district.

Rep. Stephen LeDuc, of Marlboro, told The Sun last week that he plans to consider launching a campaign of his own during the next month.