Senate Candidate Walsh Seeks Debates with Rush

Michael Walsh and Michael Rush are the Democratic candidates running for the Senate seat, that covers West Roxbury, Roslindale, Hyde Park, Westwood, Norwood and Dedham, and which is being vacated this year with the departure of Senator Marian Walsh after eighteen (18) years in office.

"Voters deserve the opportunity to hear from the candidates, and what we have to offer them, as their next Senator before they go to the polls in September." Walsh said, "This seat is too important to the future of our communities, and should not be limited to individual speeches and literature."

Rush has not responded to Walsh's direct request to Rush's campaign for debates.Mike Rush has not participated in any debates since taking office as a State representative in 2002, and Walsh wants to change that. "There is no rite of passage in elected positions, these seats belong to the people and they deserve the right to make an informed choice. Every candidate needs to work hard to inform the voters of their qualifications, experience, and positions on the issues to be our next Senator, and a debate face to face in response to voters' questions provides a unique and important opportunity in achieving their goal of being informed." This campaign is for one of 40 Senate seats in the Commonwealth, which is much more limited than the 160 positions of State Representative, which Rush currently holds.

Walsh is a resident of Westwood who grew up in Boston and lived in West Roxbury for years before moving to Westwood. Walsh has six children, all of who attended public school, with the three youngest currently attending Westwood public schools. "The future of our children directly depends on actions taken by the Legislature on local aid, and I will make education one of my highest priorities in office."

Walsh is an attorney with twenty-two (22) years experience, and he has his own law practice in Westwood. "I understand the difficulties facing small business owners and how the cost of doing business in Massachusetts is causing people to leave. This needs to change, and I will work to create more job opportunities within our communities and manage healthcare costs to enable businesses to stay here. As a lawyer challenging the decisions of insurance companies for decades, I understand the needs of our citizens and the affordable coverage they deserve."

I understand the issues that face families and small businesses in our communities, they are the same issue I face on a daily basis, and I want to use my education and experience to help make a difference and bring positive change to all of our citizens. We have many resources for debate forums in our communities and with local organizations, civic associations, league of women voters, town committees, and local media entities (Bulletin, Dedham Times, and the Transcript). The election of a new State Senator in our district after 18 years is an exciting opportunity for new leadership. The voters deserve to know what their options are and then make their own decision based on what matters to them.