Rausch, Ross Vie For Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex Senate Seat

In one of the more hotly contested legislative primary races for the Democrats, Rebecca Rausch won 53 percent of the vote, winning the right to take on incumbent Republican Richard Ross for the state senate seat representing Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex. The district includes part or all of Natick, Wayland, Franklin, Wellesley, Millis, Attleboro, Needham, Norfolk, North Attleborough, Plainville, Sherborn and Wrentham.

Rausch, of Needham, graduated with a B.A. from Brandeis University in 2001, received a J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law in 2004 and an LL.M from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2011. Rausch is a Town Meeting member since 2017 in Needham. She's been a licensed attorney for 14 years and a law professor for two years.

Ross, who attended American University and the New England School of Anatomy, has owned the RJ Ross Funeral Home for the last 40 years. He's been a state senator since 2010, and previously was a state representative from 2004 to 2010. He was a member of the Wrentham Board of Selectmen from 1999 to 2003.

"My number one focus is getting local aid back to our towns," Ross told Patch when asked to list the most pressing issue for his district. "My goals are not only to fully fund Chapter 70 education reimbursement, but to supplement that funding with other unrestricted government aid (UGA)."

For Rausch: "I will advocate for universal health care, updated school funding, investment in transportation infrastructure, environmental justice, increased transparency, improved voting rights/access, family supports and waste reduction."

Asked to list critical differences between her Ross, Rausch said, "I possess the skills and experience in both the state and local levels of government to be an effective voice for our shared values starting on my first day in office. I have been advocating for social justice, fairness and equality my whole life."

Ross said one of the main differences between him and Rausch is that he is the only candidate who has served the district already. "Having been elected to local office, and then in the State Legislature, the people of this district know me and know my commitment to serving them," he said.

Ross said his accomplishments include bringing critical infrastructure projects back to his district. He also said he has been at the front lines in crafting laws such as the CARE Act to fight opioid addiction, the BRAVE Act to assist veterans funding for police training and several initiatives to help families with autism and other challenges.

"I have led bipartisan efforts to develop and fund a competitive grant program for public schools to offer courses on healthy relationships and teen dating violence," said Ross.

Rausch said she has spent more than three years working for our state government, as the first ever Electronic Discovery Attorney for the MA Executive Office of Health and Human Services.

"I am also an elected member of my local legislative body, with direct experience hearing constituents, voicing their concerns, and advocating for change that makes our community stronger," she adds.

See also:

>>> LETTER: 'Ross Refuses To Debate Democratic Nominee'

>>> Election 2018: Candidate Profile Of Richard Ross

>>> Election 2018: Candidate Profile Of Becca Rausch

Letters to the editor welcome to charlene.arsenault@patch.com.

Photos submitted.