(As part of our continued efforts to bring you the most comprehensive local election coverage around, we invited each of the candidates vying for the Democratic Party nomination in the 16th, 17th and 18th Middlesex Districts to submit their “closing statement” as the campaign winds down. Below is the statement submitted, in its entirety, by the candidate)

Corey Robinson (16th Middlesex District)

Many residents of the 16th Middlesex District received a mailer from a special interest Political Action Committee based in Brooklyn, New York, advocating for my opponent. A separate PAC from Long Meadow has also contributed. A PAC whose founder had previously violated campaign finance rules and was forced to pay $190,000 as a penalty.

There’s nothing “grassroots“ about purchasing influence. Please ask yourself, If a candidate accepts these “gifts”, are they beholden to these PAC’s?

Yes, I voted against granting religious organizations the right to develop 50 units per acre. Furthermore, I advocated for blocking illegal injection sites from invading communities like Lowell and Chelmsford. (US District Attorney Leah Foley stated that “safe injection sites,” “harm reduction sites,” or whatever they are called by advocates, are categorically illegal and do nothing to help people overcome their addictions. In fact, they facilitate destructive behavior that ruins lives, consumes families, and devastates communities, not to mention the potential loss of funding our District could face.)

I support establishing a regional approach to addressing our mental health and substance use challenges. This approach would involve providing long-term living arrangements with wrap-around services to invest in building those who have fallen on hard times, rather than feel good, short-term enabling. I am seeking to do this by reallocating existing funding as opposed to increasing additional.

I have been an advocate for affordable home ownership over rentals because of the opportunities for generational wealth building (as I myself utilized MVHP to become the first in my immediate family to purchase a home).

Yes, I voted against granting religious organizations the right to develop 50 units per acre. I also don’t support by right housing policy that creates hardships on dense communities while the policymakers retreat to their spacious suburb. Some will try and spin it as “smart housing” yet there’s nothing smart about being able to hand your neighbor sugar for their morning coffee window to window.

I am offering to bring 22 years of advocacy experience as well as a resident led platform that’s looking to collaboratively work on proposed Legislation aimed at addressing prioritized challenges while holding the line on increased taxes.

I am providing a starting point to address our broken education (Chapter 70), and Unrestricted Local Aid (UGGA) formulas. I have provided a potential first step in the corrections required to lower our shared Utility and Healthcare cost burdens. I am also focused on advocacy around economic development, creating sustainable employment, empowering our residents through organized labor and trades, as well as continued support for our communities open space, arts, and recreational opportunities to improve on the quality of life in the 16th.

I don’t “go along to get along in the spirit of congeniality”, (that seems more like a follower than a leader). I don’t have the experience of working as an assistant to an elected official for seven months, with four of those months being out of session. I have been an elected advocate and official for 16 years now.

I lack the support of elected State Representatives that vote along party and special interest lines regardless of constituents concerns, fumble about blinded by identity politics, support harmful by right policy, and neglect the mental health and substance abuse challenges plaguing their district, (I encourage you to speak to the owners of the small businesses).

My community organizing efforts have been centered around assisting neighbors with various needs, ranging from providing school supplies to ensuring our neighbors have holiday meals. While expressing contempt for National injustices through poster board holding is important, it’s impossible to do so when you’re hungry or worried about your housing situation.

Yes, I’ve filed numerous motions (led by residents) while fulfilling my duties as an elected official. These motions have successfully addressed many longstanding issues our district has faced, including the first street boulevard drainage and resurfacing, speed bump installations, pollinator gardens, improved winter operations, enhanced green space maintenance, the installation of a splash park, upgraded basketball courts, new playgrounds, line painting, street sweeping, restroom facilities, and many other neighborhood concerns.

Over the past five years, the district I represent has successfully added over 130 units of additional housing. This housing development took into account the impact on an already burdened section of the city and addressed various concerns such as parking, pedestrian walkability, water and sewerage capacity, congestion, and overall quality of life. By collaborating with the neighborhood, we were able to effectively mitigate these impacts.

Throughout my lived political experiences, I’ve noticed that some people cling to candidates who check certain boxes, like skin color, minority status, party designation (City Council is non partisan), and ability to blindly follow instruction. However, when they realize that the candidate won’t pledge absolute support for their identity, party, or special interest agenda, they perceive the candidate as “confrontational, a bully, or out of step.” My loyalty is and always will be to our residents, my bosses.

My unwavering commitment is to address the genuine pressing issues our Chelmsford and Lowell residents face. Effective solutions to these concerns require providing a clear path to correction, rather than relying solely on dinner-club friendships and transactional acquaintances. I am outcome and results driven with a proven track record.

Please ask yourself whether we can afford to continue allowing these consultants and groups pushing feel good, fantasyland ideals to dictate where our hard-earned money is spent or if we need an experienced advocate that genuinely represents our majorities shared interest. With this job opening, I ask our neighbors to compare resumes of the applicants. Gauge your decision to vote on qualifications and experience. Your vote for Corey M. Robinson in or before September 1st allows us to go to work addressing the kitchen table issues plaguing our district. I am humbly asking for your vote.

Sincerely, Corey M. Robinson
16th Middlesex District State Representative candidate
District 2 Lowell City Councilor
49 year resident of the 16th Middlesex District.