Editor’s Note: This post is part of Village14’s ongoing series allowing 1 column from each candidate for Congress in the 4th District. – Bryan
Hi V14’ers, I’d like to share two stories that I believe highlight why I’ll represent you well in Congress. My website has more on my biography & policy positions.
The first is from winter 2013, in the woods of northern Maine. I was at SERE school, which trains Marine special operators in Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape – in other words, how to survive behind enemy lines and under enemy interrogation. After two weeks, I was famished, freezing, and bruised. In the debrief, one of the instructors sized me up. Auchincloss, he said, you talk too much. But you hold up well under a beating.
That’s when I knew I was fit for politics!
No, I kid – all I wanted at that point was a hamburger and a warm bed. But Democrats do need toughness, right now. Trumpism will not go down without a fight. It will be a brawl, all hands on deck. I’m no stranger to rough handling – as a Marine, and as a politician – and I’m ready for the heat. What’s at stake is the soul of our country.
The second story may be familiar to some of you. It was during the Northland negotiations, and I was a member of the Land Use committee. Generally, when debating large projects, city councilors find themselves ruffling feathers of either the developer or the neighborhood. I managed both!
I spearheaded an informal parking caucus that insisted on fewer parking stalls in the project. The developer didn’t like the pressure it put on them to make non-car options work. The neighbors worried about overflow parking. It was the right thing to do, though, for the environment and for transportation planning. The council found a compromise, and it’s part of the project, now.
Compromise is not the opposite of toughness. In fact, they are complementary. We must be ready to fight Trumpism tooth-and-nail, without flinching. But when the dust settles, we must also be ready to work together to rebuild this country: its institutions, its self-confidence, and its commitment to justice. I’m tough enough for the fight ahead, and I’m also ready to work together to heal from it.
I respectfully ask for your vote.
Jake Auchincloss
[email protected]
Hi Jake, although I’ve been critical of some of your past comments and political positions, I do admire your service to our country and I’d like to learn more about your experiences in the military –
1. Were you supportive or critical of the United States’ military intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan, and how did your position impact your decision to become a Marine?
2. How long did you serve in Afghanistan?
3. Is there an experience in Afghanistan which you believe exemplifies your leadership?
I have been backing Jake Auchincloss since he cold-called me about eight months ago. We had a nearly hour long conversation. He has very clear well articulated policies on transportation, housing, energy and taxes. His positions are always grounded in what is possible, unlike many of his opponents, who propose and back what is popular. I think Jake will make a great Member of Congress, and I have no concerns about the supposed mud that is being flung at him now.
I do not believe Jake will provide good representation in Congress. I would never vote for him. From the beginning of his race to defeat Marcy Johnson I followed his campaign model. It was most effective and Jake worked very hard to win. Kudos for this. Once elected Jake was a big disappointment for many voters in Ward 2. He let us down on his unflinching support for new housing development in village centers. On many issues Jake takes rigid, but passionate stands. He fails to compromise with those who do not agree with his positions. He can be dismissive and derogatory toward older more experienced former politicians who offer different views than him. Jake has some admirable qualities and is ambitious politically but I do not trust him to represent the voters. His goal is to enact laws based on his own personal beliefs.
@Coleen: Or perhaps you just heard what you wanted to hear because you knew you disagreed with then Alderman Marcia Johnson. Back when Auchincloss first ran for City Council I knew they were both strong advocates for housing and transportation.
@Colleen Minaker: please show me a lawmaker who enacts laws contrary to their personal beliefs. Most voters choose a candidate based in part on that candidate’s beliefs, and they expect that candidate to remain ideologically consistent.
Since Jake has posted here to ask for our votes and since his second “story” implies that he will take hard stands to reduce climate change, I think it’s fair to ask him to answer a related question:
Jake, why should voters trust your promises to reduce climate change when you went back on a pledge you made earlier in this campaign not to accept fossil fuel industry donations?
(See https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2020/07/27/massachusetts-4th-district-democratic-primary-debate.)