To the Editor,
As a Watertown resident, I find it deeply unsettling how little we actually know about what happens behind the closed doors of our State House. In 2024, I was among the 66% of Watertown voters —and the 71.5% of folks statewide — who voted in favor of a ballot question to finally allow an audit of the State Legislature. We spoke with a clear, united voice, yet years later, legislative leaders have consistently blocked that audit.
It is frustrating to live in a state that is consistently rated as one of the least effective legislatures in the country. To me, transparency isn’t just a political buzzword; it’s a major problem because, right now, we simply don’t know what our legislators are doing. We deserve to know how decisions that affect our families and our pocketbooks are being made. Despite the overwhelming support from people like you and me, legislative leadership continues to refuse any major transparency reforms.
This is exactly why I am putting my support behind Daniel Lander for State Senate. I’m supporting Daniel because he is truly committed to building a legislature that is more transparent and accessible to all of us. He isn’t interested in the status quo; he’s interested in making our government work for the people again.
As our Senator, Daniel will take the following steps to bring our government back to us:
First, he will support the audit of the legislature and push to subject it to public records laws. It’s hard to believe, but Massachusetts is an outlier here — almost every other legislature in the U.S. follows these laws so voters can understand what their government is doing every day. Daniel wants us to have that same clarity.
He will also push for legislative stipend reform. Right now, the system often forces legislators to choose between their constituents and leadership. Daniel wants to ensure our representatives are exactly that—representatives for us, not just for the powerful few at the top. He will also work to bring back term limits for the Senate President to ensure power doesn’t stay concentrated in the hands of one person for too long.
Beyond transparency, Daniel cares about the people who make our democracy and our economy run. He will advocate for common-sense laws like same-day voter registration to make it easier for everyone to participate. Furthermore, he will fight to support the State House union, standing side-by-side with workers seeking to organize for better conditions and fair wages.
We need a Senator who isn’t afraid to turn the lights on in Beacon Hill. Daniel Lander has shown he has the integrity to do just that. I hope you’ll join me in supporting a more open, honest, and effective government this election.
Sincerely,
Holly Cachimuel
Watertown, Mass.