Timmy Sullivan: 2022 State Representative Candidate Profile

BURLINGTON, MA — Timmy Sullivan is one of two candidates on the ballot this year in Burlington seeking the Democratic nomination to represent the 21st Middlesex District in the state House of Representatives.

The 24-year-old is running against incumbent Ken Gordon. Redrawn for this year's election, the 21st Middlesex District will now include all of Burlington and Bedford as well as parts of Lexington.

The executive director of the Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts, Sullivan holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

The state primary election is set for Sept. 6. Before that, early voting will wrap up in Burlington on Friday. The general election is then set for Nov. 8.

Patch sent candidate questionaries to each of the candidates running in next month's primary in the 21st Middlesex District state representative's race.

Here's how Sullivan responded:

Campaign website

votetimmysullivan.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am a life-long Burlington resident, and I want to be a champion for the residents of our district. Massachusetts is facing bigger challenges than ever before– we have the fastest growing average of student debt in the country; Burlington perennially faces a water crisis, and our energy costs are too high; and the Massachusetts legislature is one of the least transparent in the country. I am running for State Representative to strengthen our public schools and colleges, win an affordable, green future, and take on political corruption.

I’ve spent the last six years advocating for my community. I played a critical role in pushing UMass Amherst– the state’s largest public emitter– to be on track for 100% renewable energy by 2032! As the Executive Director of a state-wide education nonprofit, I’ve helped bring Massachusetts closer to guaranteeing debt-free public college for all residents. It’s time to bring a fresh perspective to the State House. I will tackle corruption in the legislature, invest in our infrastructure, lower our energy costs with renewable energy, and help families afford the growing costs of childcare and healthcare. I am glad to be part of our community, and I want to make sure we continue building a Burlington where every family can thrive.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Cost of living. Too many families in our community are struggling with rising utility and electric bills; high medical expenses, co-pays, and deductibles; struggle to afford childcare and pre-kindergarten, or take out astronomical debt to attend public college; many are being priced out of their homes in our district; and inflation is hitting working families hard. Our campaign is one that is focussed on reducing costs for families and delivering better services so everyone can afford to live and thrive here. We have robust plans for investment in public education, universal childcare and pre-kindergarten, and debt-free public college (and a plan to pay for these without taxing working families!). Our plan for solar energy over the commercial district of Burlington has the potential to lower energy costs for folks in the district while converting to 100% renewable energy. I am also a strong proponent of single-payer healthcare which will save costs on health insurance and eliminate out-of-pocket payments like co-pays. And I will be a strong partner with housing advocates to ensure that Burlington residents are not priced out of the place they call home.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

1. I am the only candidate promising to publish 100% of my voting record online and fight to change the rules so that no State Representative can hide their votes. My opponent has twice voted against making Committee votes public, and admitted during our BCAT forum that this was at the behest of the Speaker of the House. As your State Representative, I will publish 100% of my voting record online so you know I am always working for YOU– not the Speaker of the House. I am the only candidate in this race who rejects lobbyist money, and I pledge to make my entire voting record public and fight to reinstate term limits for the Speaker.

2. I am the only candidate with a published plan for climate action (and we earned the endorsement from the Sierra Club)! In 2022, we must elect candidates who have a proven track record on climate action and are willing to fight for a livable and affordably green future for all of us. In 2019, I led the effort to get the state's largest public emitter to commit to be 100% renewably powered by 2032– 20 years ahead of schedule! This is the type of bold leadership I will bring to the State House to fight for the people of our district.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

In 2017, Rep. Gordon's voting record was a 100% match with the Speaker of the House; in our BCAT forum, he admitted to voting against policy he "supported" because the Speaker did not think it should pass; and he twice voted to keep the committee voting records of State Representatives private. This is not leadership that is accountable to constituents, but it is emblematic of complacency to the will of the leadership at our expense. I will be a different kind of leader– I will publish my entire voting record online so that you always know I am working for you; I have rejected lobbyist money throughout this campaign; I will push to reinstate term-limits for the Speaker of the House; and I will always remain accountable to the will of the people of this district, not special interests or the "State House Bosses."

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I will be a champion for our public schools and colleges; win an affordable, green future for our community; and take on political corruption. I will fight to strengthen our public schools and colleges, reduce education costs for families, and enshire public education as a right for all residents. Doing this entails passing universal child care and pre-kindergarten; guaranteeing debt-free public higher education; increasing mental health resources in schools; hiring and retaining more educators of color; and supporting teachers’ right to bargain for fair contracts.

I am the only candidate with a published plan for the environment– and my plan will reduce energy costs for residents in our district. To save families money while protecting our natural resources means that we need to transition to 100% renewable energy, and create a regional public energy grid. I think we have a great opportunity to build a ton of solar in Burlington’s commercial district that all our residents could benefit from. I also have a plan for our water– I will prioritize safe drinking water in schools, fight to bring at-home filtration systems to the district, target the root causes of elevated PFAS in our water, and invest in water-capture systems at our public buildings to save as much of the limited MWRA safe drinking water for consumption.

It’s also time for us to take on political corruption. State Representatives have exempted themselves from public records law. The Massachusetts legislature lets State Representatives take private votes within committee, keeping constituents in the dark and leading to undemocratic decision making. This is wrong. I am the only candidate in this race pledging to make every vote I take a matter of public record and on my website– because it’s your right as a constituent to know how I will vote, and I honor that right.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

In 2019, I led the effort to get the Commonwealth's largest public emitter of carbon to dramatically change its sustainability targets from "carbon neutral by 2050" to 100% renewable by 2032– which it is now on track for.

Also, as the Executive Director of a state-wide nonprofit which files and supports legislation, I have experience working with members of the legislature to craft and move legislation, as well as partnering with constituent advocacy groups to build public support. Through this process, I have seen firsthand how our constituents are disempowered by legislators who would rather follow the orders of the Speaker of the House rather than take bold positions on policies that will help all of us.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

This is a grassroots campaign fueled by the aspirations and best intentions of our community. If there is change you would like to see made here, it is possible! Please reach out to me and my team so we can best support you: votetimmysullivan@gmail.com