Statements from the Candidates for the State Senate Election, 2020: Jarred Rose and Walter Timilty
Prompt by SSC Board Sustainable Sharon Coalition (SSC) sees great potential for more synergy among sustainability strategies by municipalities and the state senate position. Some of many examples that illustrate sustainability initiatives in our town are Sharon Green Day, Town Meeting’s resolution to reach “net zero” by 2050, the decision to double the insulation in the new High School, LED street lights, Sharon’s success with improving its water use efficiency by 30%, our success in becoming a Mass DEP SMART trash town, the restrictions on plastic bags, solar opportunities, municipal electricity aggregation, and Green Communities. With that in mind, if you are elected to the state senate, you will be in a position to introduce and help pass legislation that can help create a more sustainable state that will benefit all of Massachusetts’ residents. You can also create opportunities to strengthen environmental literacy and provide more resources to combat climate change throughout the Commonwealth. Environmental issues are not segmented by municipalities, so solutions should not be either. Some towns and cities in Massachusetts are making great strides, while others are not. Considering the climate catastrophe, the crisis in the recycling world, toxic contamination in poorer communities, and our ailing democracy, what urgent actions will you take, and what specific practices will you endorse by way of introducing or supporting bills that move our state toward a more sustainable future? Is there a way to align individual master plans so that each municipality is not reinventing the wheel to address sustainability practices and foster green infrastructure?
Response by Jarred Rose Thank you so much to the Sustainable Sharon Coalition for having me speak at their Wednesday meeting. For those that missed it, I'm Jarred Rose & I'm a former Senate aide, Green-certified Realtor, Stoughton Town Meeting member, husband, and soon-to-be dad. Here in Mass we have a unique opportunity to actually have a government that wants to push for sustainable practices and make change across the board. On Earth Day, I was excited to launch my Green New Deal for MA plan. It includes a lot of great plans for our state, including increasing solar, wind, and geothermal energy production. (You can read it here.) This COVID-19 crisis has highlighted many of the inequalities we already see everyday. We should use this moment to grow into something better, rather than reverting back to a normal that wasn't working. That's why I'm using my experience as a Senate aide to guide my new policies. While on Beacon Hill, I worked extensively on ending gas pipelines and gas leaks, cleaning up our rivers, expanding access to solar and reducing/removing net metering. We can translate this experience into real action as a State Senator. Now this is a primary challenge so let me address that directly. I have nothing personal against Senator Timilty, he seems like a perfectly nice man. However, the growing crisis of climate change requires people who actively want to be part of the solution and we simply haven't seen that level of leadership from him. He will tell you that he cosponsored a few environmental bills but he did so after we called him out for it. He will say that he voted for the climate action bill the MA Senate passed but he was nowhere to be found during the 7 hour debate, nor was he a sponsor of any of the 100+ amendments being considered. We should expect more leadership on this defining issue of our time. I promise to be the climate champion we deserve at the state house. I hope you will vote for Jarred Rose come September 1st.
Response by State Senator Walter F. Timilty Thank you to the Sustainable Sharon Coalition for this opportunity to introduce myself. It is a privilege to serve as State Senator and I am honored to represent the 10 towns in the Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth District. Today, more than ever before, we need experienced leaders serving on Beacon Hill who understand the unique challenges and qualities of the individual towns in our district. As a member of the Senate, I proudly serve as the Chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, and as Vice-Chair of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture. In addition, I serve on the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies; Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery; and Public Service. I am also a member of the Senate Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets. For this legislative session, I am a co-sponsor of many environmental pieces of legislation including: S453 - An Act relative to environmental justice in the Commonwealth, S464 - An Act relative to environmental justice and toxics reduction in the Commonwealth, S1935 - An Act establishing a net zero stretch energy code, S2005 - An Act to secure a clean energy future In February, I joined my Senate colleagues in advancing three bills that boldly tackle the contributing factors of climate change, chart one of the most aggressive courses of action against global warming in the country, and pave the way for a clean energy future for all of our residents. An Act Setting Next Generation Climate Policy and two companion bills — one dealing with converting state-owned vehicles and buses to electric energy and another updating energy efficiency standards for appliances — passed overwhelmingly and with bi-partisan support.In June of 2018, I voted with the Senate to pass S2545, An Act to Promote a Clean Energy Future. I am an unwavering champion of the environment and believe in the importance of addressing and combating climate change. I received a 100% rating by the Massachusetts Audubon Society for the 2015-2016 Legislative Session. Additionally, I was considered an “Ally” of the Environmental League of Massachusetts for the 2017-2018 Session. As your Senator, you may have met me at local select board or school committee meetings or perhaps at the various farmer’s markets, charitable events, and community gatherings. It is very important to me to regularly be engaged in the district with constituents to stay connected to the people I serve. In addition to meeting in the district with constituents, I work for the voters moving important legislation forward in the State House. I have dedicated my life to public service. Public service and community engagement have been central values in my family for generations. I am immensely proud of this legacy and remain committed to fulfilling it by serving the constituents each and every day. Thank you and I humbly ask for your vote in the Primary Election on September 1, 2020. For more information, please go to www.senatorwaltertimilty.com.