Taxes are necessary to fund the government, but not all taxes are created equal. The sales tax is a regressive form of taxation, which means that it disproportionately impacts those with the least income.

Whether someone only makes $50k per year or they make $500k (or even $5 million) per year, they are likely to pay a relatively similar amount of sales tax per year on basic necessities. Even when someone makes 10 times as much money, they don’t typically spend 10 times as much money on medication, restaurant meals, or even appliances. This means a relatively higher share of the income from a someone who makes less is being paid out as sales tax.

Even though some items are exempt from sales tax, such as certain foods purchased in the grocery store, there are many more common items that are taxed at 6.25% in Massachusetts. For example, here are just a few items required for survival and basic human dignity that are taxed: vitamins, antacids, baby lotions and powders, bandages, bedpans, breast pumps (without a prescription), pregnancy tests, respirators, and non-prescription medications.

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For too long, the City of Waltham, the MBTA, and the incumbent State Rep have failed to prioritize public transit along Trapelo Rd for residents in North Waltham. Sean believes that all Waltham residents should have direct access to public transit options that run at least once per hour during the day and more frequently during rush hour.

Sean proposes the 73T bus route extension to connect residents along the full length of Trapelo Road to the same direct access to the Commuter Rail and broader MBTA bus network that the rest of the city already enjoys.

At a minimum, there should be a shuttle or pilot service for at least a year to understand the potential ridership and congestion relief in North Waltham.

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Our faith in the American system of government is based on a separation of powers and a system of checks and balances. No one should be in a position to be both the regulator and the regulated! This is why I have made a firm commitment to quit my job at a regulated utility company if I am elected as a State Rep.

However, the incumbent State Rep is also serving on the City Council, which should require him to recuse himself from all city business put in front of the state legislature (and vice versa). This is particularly important, because that should include legislative votes on any home rule petition requests on behalf of Waltham!

Very notably (under EEA Article 97 obligations) the proposal to disposition city-owned land on the Fernald property along Waverley Oaks Rd to the MWRA requires approval from BOTH 2/3rds of the state legislature AND approval from 2/3rds of the city council. This means incumbent Tom Stanley has a clear conflict of interest! How can Waltham expect the incumbent to ethically represent citizens’ interests while double dipping?

It is very likely that during the next legislative session the Federal Government whether judicially, legislatively, or via executive order may attempt to impose new nationwide restrictions on reproductive agency. Massachusetts needs to be proactive in defense of and prepared to move swiftly to avoid undue interference in the reproductive agency of its residents, including appropriate protections for families, communities, medical staff, and relevant supply chains.

While some look at reproductive agency purely as a “pro-life” or “pro-choice” issue, as recent actions by other state governments have shown, it is so much more than that. The same experts, medication, and procedures that are used as contraceptives and to perform abortions are also necessary for safe sex, healthy pregnancies, and saving lives. If elected, Sean would work with other legislators and state agencies to safeguard reproductive agency for everyone in Massachusetts.

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From Beacon Hill to 610 Main St in Waltham, a combination of single-party rule, multi-decade incumbents, and a general complacency about keeping the public properly informed has resulted in many residents being unaware of local government decisions and actions. As a first step to resolving this, if elected Sean would setup regular in-person sessions in Waltham for constituents to hear updates and provide input on upcoming legislative bills.

In an official capacity, Sean would look to pass legislation that updates open meeting laws for the digital age and requires state legislative bodies, state agencies, and municipal governments to create and maintain mobile-responsive websites that meet accessibility best practices and make meeting notices, agendas, minutes, and other relevant public documentation about government owned properties, regulatory proceedings, and initiatives more accessible and transparent.

As a personal request to anyone with limited visibility or other accessibility concerns, if you find anything about this website that doesn’t meet accessibility best practices please use the contact form to let us know! Also, if any bilingual volunteers are willing to help translate campaign content into other languages, Sean would be especially grateful.

From generative AI technologies to the attention consuming ad-based business model of most social media companies, society is at an inflection point that may prove to be even more impactful than the Industrial Revolution. While Sean does not have specific technical policies to propose at this point about how to govern the advance of technology, he recognizes that Massachusetts is well-positioned to lead the conversation about rethinking what technological progress looks like with local tech and biomedical industry hubs and world renowned universities.

However, if the yardstick for progress remains extracting attention to generate ad revenue rather than delivering solutions that provide users with respect, dignity, and self efficacy, our society will be forced to digitally repeat the toxic history that accompanied the Industrial Revolution - experiencing an intolerable level mental and social pollution.

It is time to change the incentives that have prompted Silicon Valley tech companies to implement psychologically manipulative and addictive designs that increase the frequency your phone buzzes, maximize the amount of wasted time scrolling in your social media feeds, and negligently reinforce body image issues and social anxieties in our children (and frankly users of any age).

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Democracy is fundamental to human dignity, and regardless of what happens in the rest of the world, Massachusetts should be prepared to safeguard democracy for the coming century. If elected, Sean would pursue every opportunity to defend every citizen’s right to vote and have their voice heard, including lowering barriers to entry for non-incumbent candidates in state and local elections, ensuring that the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office takes all appropriate precautions to avoid election interference from malicious actors, and passing legislation to update Massachusetts campaign finance laws and election infrastructure for the digital age.

While the path forward is not clear, Sean also recognizes that a local and active free press is a key component of any vibrant democracy. To that end, if elected, Sean would propose legislation to create the Minuteman Local News Consortium to re-invigorate independent hyperlocal journalism in the 21st century.

In many parts of Waltham, a city of over 60,000 residents, many high traffic and neighborhood streets are not lined with ADA compliant sidewalks. Where sidewalks do exist, they are often made of crumbling asphalt, missing appropriate curb cuts, or blocked by utility double poles and other obstructions that force even able-bodied pedestrians into lanes of traffic.

As a State Rep for Waltham, Sean would look at all available options to prompt improvements by the City, local utility companies, the MBTA, and other institutions to ensure the appropriate multi-modal infrastructure is available to everyone, especially along any roadways with painted lines! Additionally, Sean would look at options for ensuring that all commuter rail stations have a safe, efficient, accessible, and dignified way to board MBTA trains in Waltham and surrounding communities.

To be clear, from personal experience moving into a property that was missing any sidewalk for many years, Sean also understands that many residential property owners in the more suburban parts of the city are not in control of the right-of-way where sidewalks belong. As such, Sean would also look into legislative options to prevent municipal officials from enforcing violations, fees, and other costs upon residential property owners where the municipality has failed to properly construct or maintain ADA compliant curbs and sidewalks.

With degrees in physics and climate change science, as well as over a dozen years working in renewable energy and utility companies, Sean is extremely familiar with these topics and would take all necessary legislative measures to ensure a smooth transition to a carbon-free utility grid and pollution-free transportation and heating. While Sean’s policy ambitions in this space could fill several webpages, Massachusetts passed 2 rounds of climate and clean energy legislation in 2021 and 2022, which have yet to be fully implemented.

If elected, Sean would closely monitor the state’s (and utility company) progress on implementing the existing legislation and recommend appropriate changes and interventions as the need arises.

Sean’s approach to addressing affordable housing emphasizes reducing minimum parking requirements to lower construction costs and increase flexibility for architects, property developers, and urban planners. It also aims to increase flexibility for unrelated tenants and maximize the use of our existing housing.

Importantly, it excludes ineffective policies that fail to address the root causes of housing affordability issues or result in unintended consequences. Instead, by focusing our energy on implementing more effective strategies, we can move toward a more building a more inclusive and affordable community.

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If you have innovative ideas to improve housing affordability, I welcome your input and look forward to working together to make Waltham more accessible for everyone.