Phil Jack Announces Candidacy For State Representative

ASHLAND, MA - Former Ashland Selectman Philip Jack officially announced his candidacy for the 7th Middlesex District’s State Representative seat today, Dec. 8.

Rep. Tom Sannicandro, a Democrat from Ashland, announced he would not seek re-election in 2016, after a decade at the State House in November. Framingham Patch was the first news source to publish his decision.

The 7th Middlesex District includes Ashland and one-third of the 18 precincts in Framingham. They are 8, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18.

“Like everyone else, Tom’s decision not to seek re-election took me completely by surprise” said Jack. “He’s done an outstanding job representing the residents of both Ashland and Framingham over the last 10 years, and his leadership and commitment to our communities will be sorely missed.”

Jack, an attorney, is the managing partner at Wise & Jack, LLC with offices in Framingham and Boston.

During his tenure as Selectman he served a year as Chair, and also served as Chair of the Metrowest Regional Transit Authority and as Chair of the Metrowest Growth Management Committee. He is currently the Chair of the Ashland Zoning Board of Appeals, a Democratic State Committee member, and the immediate past Chair of the Ashland Democratic Town Committee.

“I have spent the last week reaching out to community leaders and activists regarding the top priorities in our two towns, and while I have many more to speak with, the majority of those conversations related back in one way or another to the economy – to jobs, wages and education,” Jack said.

“Those are the issues that have always been important to me, and they will form the centerpiece of my campaign,” he added.

That the economy remains a central issue doesn’t surprise Jack, as he believes that employment and income insecurity remain quite high, even in Massachusetts.

“Much of our country’s success was built upon the twin pillars of the American Dream and the American Promise,” said Jack. “It’s ingrained in our collective social fabric that regardless of a person’s race, gender, religion or socioeconomic background, their fate is in their own hands. That sometimes, through talent, ingenuity and hard work, a person may become wildly successful and live the American Dream – and good for them, as those are often the individuals who help our country move forward and scale new heights.”

“But, the American Promise stands for the proposition that no matter what, if you work hard and play by the rules, you and your family will live a comfortable and secure life. While the American Dream remains alive and well, for far too many for far too long the American Promise has been broken, including for many right here in Ashland and Framingham,” said Jack.

“I am running for state representative, and have been involved in politics and government for many years, because I believe government has the ability and the duty to enable and protect both the American Dream and the American Promise,” said Jack. “However,” he added “government isn’t an entity unto itself, and one of my goals during this campaign is to remind voters that government is really just people, all of us working together through elected representatives, trying our best to create a social and economic framework within which we can all realize the Founding Father’s declaration of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

“If you share those principles” Jack said, “then I hope you will join our campaign so that together we can do our part to make our towns and our state a better place to live.”

***

Editor’s Note: Jack is the second former Ashland Selectman to announce his candidacy for the state representative seat. Jon Fetherston, a Republican, announced his candidacy last week.

Nomination papers for the seat held by Sannicandro will be available on Feb. 16, 2016. The deadline to file papers is May 10. The election will be on Nov. 8, although there may need to be a primary in September.

***

Originally posted on Dec. 8. Updated on Dec. 13 to fix typo.