Catia Sharp Announces Run For Somerville State Rep.

SOMERVILLE, MA — Somerville resident Catia Sharp announced her run for state representative in the 27th Middlesex District. Sharp is looking to fill the seat being vacated by retiring Rep. Denise Provost.

Sharp, a Somerville resident since 2013, works for the Middlesex Sheriff's Office in a diversion program that aims to keep people with behavioral health conditions from being incarcerated by providing them with health care.

"I am eager to tackle an entrenched bureaucratic machine and produce real positive change in an incredibly tough environment, like I have done for my entire career," Sharp said in a statement. "We need a government that puts people first and addresses the root causes of problems."

Sharp previously worked under Gov. Deval Patrick to create permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless people and use data and evidence to improve government responsiveness to the needs of the people it serves. She holds a Masters degree in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.