Dear Editor,
Long before I set foot in the Massachusetts State House as a legislative intern this summer, I knew the name and face of the man I’d be working with. Politics were on the periphery of my life, but this elected official was not- I already knew Representative Kenneth I. Gordon to be a part of his district’s fabric, to be a visible leader whom everyone could look up to.
As early as my middle school graduation, I could see that Rep. Gordon embodied the democratic spirit of working from and for his constituents. His frequent appearances and participation at school and town events cemented his place in my mind as a politician whose first priority was not his party or his politics, but his people and their well-being. Massachusetts’s strength in our challenging economic and social landscape stems from the tireless efforts of officials like Rep. Gordon to put their constituents’ needs first.
And indeed, how tireless his efforts are! During my tenure in his office, the representative would have me and my fellow interns research a wide range of issues faced by communities all around Massachusetts, from the recent opioid scourge, to higher education access programs, as well as anticipating future challenges, like the integration of driverless cars into existing infrastructure, all to stay up to date on problems facing Massachusetts residents. No matter how diverse the issues were, however, Rep. Gordon would always tackle them from his district’s perspective, developing unique solutions and resources to help ensure that the 21st Middlesex district was ready to meet the bevy of challenges facing Massachusetts communities today.
In a time of uncertainty and political gridlock in Washington, D.C., officials like Rep. Gordon helped revive this apathetic student’s faith in the effectiveness of civic institutions. I never worked for Ken Gordon- I worked with him, because his work ethic is one of fostering inclusive, co-operative solutions to problems that effect a wide range of people. His is an M.O. of civil service in the truest sense of the term, and American democracy is all the better for it.
Sincerely,
Pranav Menon
Burlington
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