By Sam Lambert
I had almost forgotten what November could feel like.
At least when it comes to electoral politics.
This municipal election cycle in Massachusetts, while it rarely got the headlines it deserved, restored something in me. Hope? It doesn’t feel like the right word, but it’s close. Satisfaction? Eh, not really, Empowered? Getting warmer…
Across the Commonwealth, brave new candidates took on established leaders, volunteers hit the streets and the phones. In the face of Federal chaos, people sought solutions in their own backyards. Upstart campaigns fighting for local climate policy, transparency, and authentic community representation took on big money and established power. And won.
At the Massachusetts Sierra Club, a dedicated group of volunteers researched, interviewed, and endorsed 41 climate champions running for local office. 35 of those candidates will be sworn in this January. It’s an incredible accomplishment and a testament that climate policy wins. It affirms that affordability, housing, immigration, and health policy must include climate and environmental protection provisions. It concludes that embracing the reality of our climate and the solutions we need in Massachusetts is a winning strategy.
People power won over big spending. Honesty won over subterfuge. “Why not?” won over “I can’t”. Established power is not the inevitability we can sometimes believe it to be; a belief that can be self-limiting. We are so grateful to every candidate that shed that misconception and challenged us all to think bigger, to take action, and to have those conversations with our neighbors. Whatever the outcome of your race, you inspired us and you changed the conversation, simply by taking a chance.
I would like to personally thank each and every volunteer that gave of their time, their energy, and their expertise over the past year. You make an impact on our communities every day and we can not be more grateful that you chose to donate your most precious asset, time, to elect climate champions across Massachusetts. Thank you.
We have a lot of work to do, but the foundation has been laid. Get your sneakers ready ;)