Jason Lewis for State Representative

Background:

I was born in South Africa in 1968. At age twelve I moved with my family to the United States where I attended public high school in New Jersey. With the help of merit scholarships, I graduated from Harvard College in 1990 with a degree in economics with high honors.

I worked for McKinsey & Company in global management and strategy consulting, developing strong problem solving, negotiation, and analytical skills. I then went on to attend Harvard Business School. From there, I launched a highly successful career in management and marketing in the software industry, with RSA Security in Bedford and later Endeca Technologies in Cambridge.

I have been highly involved in my community and in non-profit grassroots organizations including:

-Winchester Finance Committee.

-Winchester Master Plan Steering Committee, responsible for developing a comprehensive master plan to guide residential and commercial development in the town.

-Superintendent Selection Committee for the Winchester public schools.

-Board of Trustees for the Winchester Foundation for Educational Excellence, where I led the corporate sponsorship program for the Celebration of Education, an event that raised $50,000 for the public schools.

-Mass Audubon, a nonprofit organization that works to protect the nature of Massachusetts for people and wildlife.

-Stand for Children, a nonprofit grassroots group that advocates for adequate state funding of education.

Goals:

I'm running because Winchester and Stoneham need a strong advocate in the State House to bring back the local aid our district needs.

I have three concrete goals during my time in the statehouse:

(1) Help solve our fiscal crisis. I will work to significantly increase local aid and find new ways for our communities to raise revenue, better manage their expenses and reduce our reliance on residential property taxes.

(2) Expand state healthcare to make it truly affordable for all. I will work with consumers, businesses, healthcare providers, local government and state government to curb the rising healthcare costs.

(3) Improve the quality of education in Stoneham and Winchester. I want to adequately fund our schools to bring class sizes down. I want to secure funds to attract and retain excellent teachers. In addition, it is important to expand access to early childhood education, provide full-day kindergarten and expand access to public higher education.

Issues:

I have three cornerstones to my campaign: fiscal responsibility, education, and healthcare.

I will also work for smart economic growth, pursuing investment in education, training, and workforce development. I want to promote research and innovation in industries like alternative energy which will create jobs, grow our economy, and help heal our planet.

Grassroots Support:

This campaign is fueled by grassroots volunteer efforts. We already have a highly energetic team of volunteers of all ages from 9 to 90. I plan to bring this campaign personally to every door in every precinct. There is no substitute for volunteer, direct voter contact.

Already, our grassroots effort has achieved the following:

-We've spoken with more than 2,000 voters and reached out to thousands more
-Mobilized about 250 volunteers
-Launched a summer intern program which has engaged over 20 high school students to get involved in the political process
-Received financial donations from about 450 donors

This campaign is about all of us working together for the common good. I firmly believe in grassroots organizing.

DFA Values:

My experience in business, as member of the Winchester Finance committee, and the Winchester Master Plan Steering Committee have all given me the skills to bring fiscal responsibility back to Winchester and Stoneham. I believe I am best equipped to handle the tough budgetary and economic challenges my district faces.

Also, the Democratic Party must stay true to our core principles and fight for the common values we share. I will work tirelessly to clean up our environment, to ensure that marriage equality stays the law of the land here in Massachusetts, to protect the right to organize in the workplace, and to secure a woman's right to choose. The endorsements I have already received underscore my progressive values, and they have helped allow me to run a truly grassroots campaign. Being progressive means listening to the entire district and building a strong coalition for change.