2024 State House Seventh Essex District
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is comprised of 160 members, each representing a district of approximately 40,000 people and each elected for a two-year term. As required by the Massachusetts Constitution, the House meets year-round in either formal or informal sessions to consider legislation. The Massachusetts House is led by the Speaker of the House who is elected by the members of the body at the beginning of each two-year legislative session. Base salary for each representative is approximately $66,256.
Click a candidate icon to find more information about the candidate. To compare two candidates, click the "compare" button. To start over, click a candidate icon.
-
Manny Cruz
(Dem)
Do you support election day voter registration? Why or why not?
What actions should the legislature take to address the climate emergency?
What should the legislature do to increase the supply of affordable and middle-market housing in Massachusetts?
What measures would you support to deal with the needs of the large number of immigrants coming to Massachusetts?
What are your priorities for dealing with transportation statewide and in your district?
Campaign Phone
9783046870
I fully support same day voter registration because I believe that it would broaden the scope of who can engage in our democracy, it will modernize our elections, and it will strengthen our democratic institutions. Same day voter registration is most likely to benefit those who are historically underrepresented and hard to reach voters. Specifically it would provide a positive benefit to youth, BIPOC individuals, low income working class individuals, new residents and naturalized US Citizens. I have numerous experiences with individuals who despite recent efforts to enhance access to the ballot box either miss the deadlines to register to vote or find themselves purged from the voter rolls. Same Day registration is vital for our democracy.
The Climate Crisis remains one of the most pressing issues in our Commonwealth. We must continue to build upon the arc of climate emergency response by passing both legislation and budgets that continue to invest in our clean energy future, create clean energy jobs, modernize our siting and permitting, uplift and center our environmental justice communities, and mitigate the devasting impact of the climate emergency by making our communities more resilient. I firmly believe we have an imperative to return for a special legislative session to enact a deal on the climate bill that's being negotiated by TUE. This is a huge opportunity to make progress towards our clean energy and environmental justice goals.
I was proud that we took the first monumental step to address the supply of affordable, and middle market housing in the Commonwealth by passing the Affordable Homes Act. However, there is more work to be done. I firmly believe that in the next iteration of our work we must focus on tenancy preservations, increasing pathways to affordable homeownership, provide additional zoning tools to local communities, and preserve naturally occurring affordable housing in our communities. I believe we can achieve this by passing the YIMBY bill filed by Rep Vargas to end exclusionary zoning, barring the use of credit reports in housing screening, establishing a recurring fund for down payment assistance, & statewide policy to slowing condo conversions
I believe that in this session we have taken necessary steps to address the family shelter crisis. However, I reject a portion of how this question is framed. We do not need to simply "deal with" the large number of migrants coming into our Commonwealth. We need to embrace our new neighbors by continuing to pass budget and supplemental appropriations to address the family shelter crisis while we accelerate the pace in which we are developing housing in our Commonwealth. I also believe advocating for comprehensive immigration and asylum reform at the national level and to advocate for work authorizations so folks can more rapidly exit the shelter system, and contribute to our local economies.
My statewide priorities are to accelerate the pace at which we are electrifying the commuter rail and our public transit system, continuing to address the deficiencies in the chapter 90 formula, and to continue address the well documented safety deficiencies of the MBTA. While I am excited about the continued promise of the Fair Share Dollars for transportation for investments, its very clear that we must continue to do more as a state to identify revenues and increase efficiencies in our public transit system. In my district, I am a firm supporter of the Salem South Station Stop. Adding this additional stop in Salem will both create equitable access to Salem State & Salem Hospital, & also is key to electrifying the entire Newburyport line.
To make a selection for a candidate you must first find your races. Would you like to find your races now?
You have already selected the maximum number of candidates for this race.
You must uncheck an existing selection before making another selection.