Don't miss the opportunity to make your voice heard! Polls are open until 8pm today. Many races are contested this year, so it is more important than ever to get out and vote.

You can learn more about candidates here: Election Guide 2025 - The Lexington Observer

Sample ballots can be found here: Document Center • Lexington, MA • CivicEngage

You can find your precinct and voting location here: Precincts & Voting Locations | Lexington, MA

All campaigns, Town Meeting members, and interested citizens are welcome to join in to watch the results at Revolution Hall, beginning at 7:30pm this evening. Candidates for town-wide offices will also have the opportunity to speak. This wonderful coming together with our friends and neighbors as voting results come in is one of my favorite traditions in our community and I hope to see many of you there this evening.

Winchester's election will be on March 22nd.

2025 ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION | Winchester, MA - Official Website

Last week, House and Senate members received their committee assignments for the 194th Legislative Session.

This session, I was honored to be named Vice Chair of the House Committee on Climate Action and Sustainability. I will also sit on the Committees on Aging and Independence, Public Safety and Homeland Security, and Public Health. I am greatly looking forward to working with my colleagues on so many important and timely issues.

I recently dragged my son Foster Jackson down to the #Lex250 countdown sign since I missed the group photo of all of us who have been in town for more than 50 years on Saturday. Then, because he joined me, we got a selfie (thank God for his long arms) with the hope and prayer that he will be here in 50 years to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution. I can vividly remember 1975 when I was just a child during the 200th anniversary celebrations. How cool would that be for him to be present for the 300th as a 4th generation Lexingtonian who will be age 73 in 2075?

February 5th was Go Red for Women Day at the State House! Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women, but many instances can be prevented through education and a healthy lifestyle. I joined my colleagues in wearing red to support @AmericanHeartMA and raise awareness. Together, we can make a difference. #WearRedDay - #HeartMonth is an important reminder that YOU can be the heartbeat of our community. @American_Heart is sharing resources to learn how to save a life. Visit cpr.heart.org

Many homeowners experienced dramatic increases in energy costs this month.

While rising energy costs are largely due to multinational market and geo-political forces, we can and must act locally at the state level to enhance our electric grid and develop sustainable clean energy resources to prevent our reliance on external international market-driven petroleum prices. By building out our local resources we strengthen our Commonwealth in the long term and help keep prices from rising.

I joined with my colleagues in calling on the Governor and Attorney General's offices to address these rising costs. As a result of advocacy from many different sectors, the state Department of Public Utilities has ordered the state’s five natural gas utilities to reduce average residential gas bills by at least 5 percent in March and April. This will help but there is more to be done.

I will continue to work with my colleagues to develop mechanisms to lower the cost of living both in regard to energy costs and across all sectors. Our system relies on utility companies to efficiently deliver electricity. That does not mean that the government relinquishes its responsibility to our constituents.

This year I had the honor of nominating Bryant McBride for the 2025 Black Excellence on the Hill event for the 15th Middlesex District. This packed event celebrated Black leaders from around the Commonwealth.

Bryant McBride is an entrepreneur, filmmaker, and leader who has proven remarkable resilience, adaptability, and fortitude in both the business and sports arenas. From an early age, Bryant showed greatness, having attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Trinity College, and Harvard University. He was the first Black class president at both West Point and Trinity and continued to make history as the first Black executive in the National Hockey League. Since leaving the NHL, Bryant has turned to entrepreneurship. He has founded and sold seven companies in addition to producing the documentary "Willie" about the Hockey Hall of Famer Willie O'Ree. Outside of his professional life, Bryant has completed more than twenty-five marathons. Bryant is a remarkable role model and openly shares his wisdom and expertise in many different areas.

Regardless of immigration status, all people have certain legal rights within the United States. With the increased likelihood of ICE raids, including untargeted raids in areas like schools, hospitals, and places of worship, it is important for everyone to know these rights. The accompanying graphic is from the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA). MIRA has extensive resources in many languages; I highly recommend taking a look.

As always, there is far more going on than I have time to write about, but I wanted to share some photos from recent events including the Zero Waste Caucus Introduction Meeting, the Black History Month Celebration, and the recent Lexington Rotary Club meeting.

With so much going on right now, and decreased content moderation across some of the most powerful platforms in our world, it is more important than ever to carefully consider the information we receive and the messages we take away.

One of the best ways to protect yourself is to ensure that you have a varied media diet with multiple trusted sources. For that reason, I've included materials from several different organizations on how to recognize and process fake news, misinformation, or biased sources. Click the buttons below this chart for more details suggestions.

Like many of you, I am following the developments in Washington with a great deal of concern and anxiety. Unlawful interference in essential government processes by unelected, unaccountable, untrained, and unqualified people is unacceptable. 250 years ago, we decided what kind of government we would accept, and it was not oligarchy.

I still believe in the power and importance of democracy, and I will continue to do everything in my power to support and protect those who will be the most vulnerable in the coming months and years. I will not try and appease you by claiming that it will all be okay. It won't; many people will be harmed by what's going on at the Federal level, and by the many, many cuts in essential services, especially cuts to medical and scientific research. That is why it is so important right now to take care of one another as best we can. 

Right now, we must do everything in our power to resist the most egregious violations of our rights and to be deliberate and thoughtful about which voices we uplift, and how we allocate our resources. Thankfully, we do have excellent representatives at the Federal level as well as incredible non-profits and advocacy organizations already challenging the legality of these actions and preparing to mitigate harm. 

Here in Massachusetts, I will continue to work with my colleagues to do our best to insulate Massachusetts residents against what is to come. 

I don't have easy answers, but I keep coming back to the quote from MLK Jr.: "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” It's good to remember though that we all play a role in bending that arc. It will not bend on its own and the universe requires constant awareness to refute the influences of misinformation, greed, and fear. I believe our values are correct. Our policies are more popular and better supported by science and expertise, but we are failing to effectively communicate that and demonstrate how our values address the real struggles faced by everyday Americans of all colors, backgrounds, and identities. 

It is on all of us, in this increasingly fractured media ecosystem, to speak calmly and openly with those who disagree with us as much as we can. It's also important for all of us to avoid name calling and ugly rhetoric. Still, ignorance will not be eliminated by ceding space. There are people who we will need to reach to build a robust, more powerful coalition. We must grow our strength by being positive and hopeful and sharing a better vision for tomorrow.

Please do your best to take care of yourself in the weeks and months ahead. We need one another, now more than ever. 

I will leave you with a quote from President Ford, on the 200th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord.

"We have inherited a great tradition, but it is our job – older and younger people joining together – to see to it that when our ancestors meet here 100 years from now, they can say that what was done here on this date was the kick-off for a new century of unity, and progress, at home as well as abroad."

Tuesday, March 11th at 4:30, I will host office hours over Zoom! Please drop-in if you have a specific policy question, an issue you're concerned about, or just want to get to know your representative!

Please email victoria.beyer@mahouse.gov to RSVP and receive the Zoom link.

If you'd like to discuss something outside of office hours, please never hesitate to reach out to me or my aide, Victoria Beyer. We can be reached at: Michelle.Ciccolo@mahouse.gov / Victoria.Beyer@mahouse.gov

Should you want to host a meet and greet or another forum for your group, network, or neighbors; I am always happy to attend!

Representative Michelle Ciccolo | Website

Thank you for your ongoing support so that I may continue doing this important work.