By STAFF WRITERS
Last modified: Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Eric Lesser, a Longmeadow native and former White House aide, announced Tuesday that he will run for Massachusetts State Senate in the First Hampden and Hampshire District.
Locally, the district includes Granby. Republican State Senator Brian Lees now represents the district.
"We deserve a strong, new voice to make sure we are never forgotten by Beacon Hill,” Lesser said in a statement.
In Lesser's announcement, he identifies the struggling economy, high-speed rail links to Boston, infratsrutctre improvements and higher and public education as issues he would tackle if elected.
"I’m a proud Democrat, but I will work with anyone – Republicans, Democrats, and independents, to bring fresh thinking to the challenges we face,” Lesser said.
According to Lesser's announcement, the 28-year-old began his political career working for President Obama, carrying suitcases during the 2008 presidential campaign. After the election, he became special assistant to White House senior adviser David Axelrod. Later, he served as director of strategic planning for the White House Council of Economic Advisers.
Lesser earned a bachelor’s degree from Harvard College, where he volunteered for Deval Patrick and led the College Democrats. He also created a public policy research program at Harvard’s Institute of Politics. Lesser returned to Harvard for law school. He is married to Alison Silber. They have a seven-month-old daughter, Rose, and a dog, Cooper.