Ken Announces Run for U.S. Senate and More from Beacon Hill

Catching Up

With Ken

Rep Reports from Beacon Hill

Burlington, Bedford and Wilmington's voice on Beacon Hill

April 1, 2013

Ken Announces Run for U.S. Senate;

Supporters take a Powder

In a somewhat surprising and unforeseen announcement from a freshman state representative, Kenneth Gordon of the 21st Middlesex District announced today he is mounting a run as a write-in candidate for the Democratic nomination for the open U.S. Senate seat, joining two sitting congressmen in a crowded field.
"We have 30 days to get out the word so we can collect the

Before they were rivals

signatures we need to win the primary," said Gordon. "We won the last primary we entered in almost half that many days. I don't know what we'll do with all that extra time!"
     Reminded that a state-wide election covers an area that is far greater than a race for state representative, Gordon appeared confused. "You mean Massachusetts goes beyond Route 495? Can somebody call Rep. Aaron Vega and ask how long it takes to get to Holyoke?"
   Those who helped to engineer Gordon's victory in the state representative race did not appear to share his enthusiasm.

Ernie Grasso: "Give This Idea the Hook!"

Said seasoned political strategist Ron Cordes, "Oh, God, he said what? Cathy, I told you we created a monster. Just tell him we're busy on town business."
    Former County Commissioner Tom Larkin pondered the concept for a fleeting moment. "Well, it's not completely impossible. Actually, yeah. it's impossible. Ann, hang up the phone."
     Gordon's reception in Burlington was not much different. Located at a Democratic town committee meeting, Joanne Fristaci said, "Tell Ken we have a great candidate for Senate."
     "Him?" asked a surprised Jack Kelly.
     "No, Ed Markey. Maybe Steve Lynch. What do you take me for?"

Cathy Cordes: You're joking, right?

     Political leaders in Boston appeared less than concerned by the news. Said Speaker Robert DeLeo, "I have to admit, I'm afraid I'll be losing members to openings caused by the Senate race. Members will fill in open seats and run for Congress, Middlesex DA and Boston mayor. Ken is not one of those members I'm worried about losing that way."
     In the upper chamber, Senator Mike Barrett was overheard asking his colleague Sen. Ken Donnelly if Gordon had been sampling the medical marijuana that was left in the member's lounge.

Murphy: Ken Should Only

Know What I'm Thinking Now.

Interrupted as he was leaving for a Costa Rican vacation, former Rep. Charles Murphy added, "Do me a favor. Tell Ken I changed my phone number. Ken's got about as much chance of going to Washington as he has of playing for the Red Sox. Even this year. You see that picture of us to the right of this quote? There's a reason my coat is on. Good bye."
The only people who seemed supportive of Ken's decision to run for the Senate seat were his aide Rob Peterson, who eyed a move to the desk two feet to his left and toward the window, and his wife Breena, who said: "One thing I've learned is never to count Ken out. He's no fool. Except here. Here he's an April fool."
Happy's April Fool's Day everyone, and we hope you enjoyed your Passover or Easter holidays if you observed them, and your weekend in any case.

Celebration to Honor Retiring Burlington Baseball Coach Jim Curtin

Ken will help Burlington celebrate the retirement of long time baseball coach Jim

Curtin, who is hanging up his spikes after 52 years at the helm of the Red Devils' varsity program .

Friends of Coach Curtin have organized a sendoff at the Cafe Escadrille on Cambridge Street in Burlington April 4 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $50 and available at the Recreation Department office at Burlington Town Hall, or at Brian Curtin's Town Hall office.

Bedford Third Grader Amelia Dyer
Honored at State House

Amelia Dyer, a third-grade student at

Bedford's Lane School, was the Division II winner of the 2013 Massachusetts School Libraries Association bookmark contest. Amelia and her family came to the State House last week and were honored at a lunch in the Great Hall.

Amelia's bookmark featured a design of superman and reflected her love of reading. We are proud of the excellence and commitment to education reflected by Amelia and her family, the Lane School, and the School Library Association, and are proud to have presented Amelia with a citation signed by the Speaker of the House and by me, her Representative in the legislature
.

District Will Honor Charley Murphy

Charles. A. Murphy, who represented Bedford, Burlington and precinct 3 in Wilmington with honor and success in his 16 years at the state capital will be honored for his service April 10, 2010 at Burlington's Cafe Escadrille starting at 6 p.m.
Former Rep. Murphy was the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, thereby becoming one of the most powerful legislators in the state capital. He was responsible for assisting in the construction of school buildings in Burlington and in Bedford, and in helping Wilmington's high school funding process.
He retired to work in the private sector. Anyone interested in attending the send-off for Charley please contact the offices of Shea, Murphy & Gulde, 35 Center Street in Burlington. Tickets are $30 per person or may be purchased at the door.

Serving the Community; Quite Literally

The Burlington Council of Aging invited its senior citizen members to a lunch hosted by Sen. Kenneth Donnelly and Rep. Ken Gordon last week, to discuss the effects of the Circuit Breaker relief for seniors facing increasing costs of local property taxes and utilities. Also on hand to discus the taxes from the town perspective was Assistant Assessor Jim Doherty.

Two Pols Dishing: Rob Peterson (l) with Ken Gordon.

     Ken, and his trusty assistant Rob Peterson, along with Sen. Donnelly's assistant Hannah Buntich served a lunch of pasta and salad, and Ken's wife Breena provided home-made Key Lime Pie and Blueberry Pie. As much as the catered main courses tried to compete, it was the Key Lime Pie that proved to be the memorable part of the meal.
During lunch, the group discussed the state law that reimburses seniors for payments to local property tax and utilities that exceed certain income levels. They also discussed Burlington's new provision that reimburses property tax paid by active military personnel (retroactive to 2003) serving in a war zone.
    Rep. Gordon then repeated the topic at a meeting of the current events group at Bedford's COA, inviting assistant tax assessor Bruce Morgan and treasurer Victor Garafolo. The subjects of exemptions from Community Preservation Act assessments for seniors, should they qualify and choose to apply for them, was also discussed at that meeting.
     If you think you may qualify for these reimbursements please see your tax preparer or call either Jim Doherty in the Burlington assessors office, Bruce Morgan in Bedford or Wilmington's assessor's office.

Health Care Concerns Top
Ken's Late March Agenda

        Ken met with a group of physicians and professionals from Harvard Vanguard in Burlington last Friday, capping a week in which he also invited a representative from Health Care for All -- a patient advocacy group -- as a guest to his "Rappin' With the Rep" cable show.
    "It is important to me that as we discuss health care finance on the government level, the residents of Bedford, Burlington and Wilmington know where to go to access the medical treatment they need," Ken said. "So this week my focus has been on learning the options open to people who may have avoided an appointment with a doctor or other medical provider simply because they don't think they can afford it."
     Ken welcomed Hannah Frigand, the Help Line Director at Health Care for All, who talked about the various public and private insurance options available to people who want to see a doctor, dentist or mental health provider. Also on the show was Marge McDonald, director of the Burlington COA, who asked Hannah about the particular needs of seniors in the community. The show is broadcast most evenings on Burlington and Bedford cable access TV, or call it up at www.bcattv.org.

Ken with folks at Harvard Vanguard

A few days later, he attended a meeting on Wall Street of Harvard Vanguard professionals who talked about the services they provide. Harvard Vanguard, which is not affiliated with Partners Health Care or Harvard Pilgrim HMO, is a treatment facility with specialties that include pediatrics, women's health and other focuses. Primary Care Physicians are assigned to its network. It had a particular interest in speaking with Ken about closing loopholes in coverage that make it difficult for some people to afford prescription medication, and other inefficiencies. They discussed their interest in pediatric specialties, such as childhood obesity.

Lost and Found

    Ken is helping Treasurer Steve Grossman identify residents of the district who have unclaimed money held by the treasurer. More than a million dollars is sitting with the Commonwealth, waiting to be claimed.
    We have been given a list of residents who have money waiting to be claimed, and will be contacting those folks directly. However, we also urge you to visit www.findmassmoney.com to see if there is lucre awaiting your claim. It is easy, and certainly worth the effort.

Please Help Us Keep Up the Good Work

     All kidding aside, Ken and his aide Rob have spent the past few weeks meeting with the Department of Transportation, community leaders and others in Beacon Hill to set up the mechanisms to continue Rep. Murphy's efforts to make our district a better place to live. We have been working with fellow Representatives including Committee Chairmen and leadership so our district's concerns are front and center
    But we can't do it without your help. If this newsletter made you laugh, maybe you can put some change in our internet hat. If it did not make you cry, well, coming from a politician at least that's something. If you can see fit to provide a donation, however small, or you know someone else who may be able to donate, we would appreciate your help. Thank you. Please follow this link, or send your check to the address that follows.

In This Issue

Ken Announces April 1 Run for U.S. Senate

Help Send Off Coach Curtin

Bedford Third Grader Amelia Dyer Honored at State House

Kens Serve Burlington Seniors

Health Care on Ken's agenda

Helping Reunite People with their Property

Plea for Support

Upcoming Events

April 1, 2013, 7:30 p.m,, Bedford Town Meeting.

April 4, 2013, noon, Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce, 17th Annual duLong Scholarship Luncheon, Landana, Burlington.

April 4, 2013, 6 p.m., Retirement Dinner in Honor of Burlington Baseball Coach Jim Curtin, Cafe Escadrille, Burlington.

April 10, 2013, Celebration and appreciation to Charley Murphy for 16 years of service as State Rep for 21st Middlesex. 6 p.m. at Cafe Escadrille, Burlington.

April 29, 2013, noon, Burlington COA.

April 29, 2013, State House, Great Hall, 1 p.m., Sonia Rollins and Cheryl Shafman honored among Commission on Status of Women's Unsung Heroines.

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