UCANE Interview

RepResentative John Mahoney (D-Worcester)

Representative John Mahoney is a lifelong resident of Worcester, where he attended the Worcester Public School (WPS) system. He met his wife there and together they raised their four children who have also attended WPS. Their youngest child will soon be graduating from High School and three have already graduated and gone on to Massachusetts state schools. Representative Mahoney and his family love living in the City of Worcester and are proud to call it home. Prior to being elected to the House of Representatives, he owned and operated several pubs in Worcester for many years. As an entrepreneur and small business owner, Representative Mahoney always followed politics and had a deep interest in it, and he saw that there were some needs in his city that were not being met.

He ran for State Representative because the City of Worcester needed new school construction, roadwork development, and major investments in the infrastructure systems. Representative Mahoney said, “Every day, I work to ensure that anyone who chooses to live in Worcester has the ability to comfortably and affordably raise a family here, so that future generations will have the opportunity to succeed.”

Q: With citizens being asked to stay at home more during the pandemic, access to clean drinking water and proper management of wastewater is critical. Please give us your thoughts relative to the importance of maintaining water, wastewater, and utility infrastructure.

A: As a small business owner prior to entering politics, I followed and watched Worcester’s excellent Public Works’ Commissioner Bob Moylan. Bob is now retired, but in the 90s he led us through the process of building a new water filtration plant for the city. He did a great job articulating the need for the facility, and why water projects are so critical and important to our public health. We take a lot of this infrastructure for granted, but you realize quickly why these issues are so vital. Clean water and proper sanitation are basic and essential human rights. During the pandemic, many people have stayed at home to remain safe and were reliant on the proper local maintenance of water. That is why it’s critical to invest and ensure that water and sanitation is safe, accessible, and affordable to all.

Q:

What do you believe will be the greatest challenge for your district and region with regard to economic recovery?

A: We have a big hill to climb to help people get back to work. This will definately be a challenge. Whether it be in our life sciences industry, the service industry, or in retail, we have a lot of work to do in Worcester. Beyond this, I believe the biggest challenge we’ve faced in the pandemic is education. Ensuring that our students, K-12 and beyond, get back to a normally scheduled academic year will be a key part of the road to economic recovery. We know how crucial in-person learning is for students and as we integrate back into a “new normal” we have to make sure we’re doing everything we can to prepare them to enter and compete in a global workforce. continued on page 27

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Q: As we continue to recover from this crisis, please give us your thoughts on how our State will continue to provide local aid to cities and towns to help support basic municipal services, specifically our water and utility infrastructure.

A: In the FY21 Budget, we were able to level fund all local aid to cities and towns, including significant support for municipal services, and in some instances, we were able to increase funding to targeted programs. As we formulate the FY22 Budget, we will do our best to ensure that we maintain all critical funding.

Q:

How has your job changed with the requirements of social distancing and working remotely?

A: I have greatly reduced my in-person meetings in Worcester with constituents and other interested parties. We’ve also had very limited access to the State House during this time. In the House, we shifted to virtual formal sessions and voting. As House Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Health, our committee successfully hosted public hearings virtually. Like many workplaces, we are doing the majority of our meetings on Zoom or over the phone. Fortunately, most constituents who contact my office do so by phone or email, and we are always accessible for any questions or concerns that may come up. I’m grateful that technology has enabled us to stay connected to our communities. n

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