Responsive & Transparent Government - Fifth Middlesex District
Effective, Accountable, and Accessible Government
Every issue on this site depends on a government residents can see clearly and hold accountable. Transparency and accountability are what let voters judge whether their representatives are actually delivering on housing, climate, health care, education, and other important issues. We need a well-functioning government in order to lead through this time of change.
At a Glance
Lipper-Garabedian points to her record supporting committee-vote transparency and remote public testimony at hearings. McDonald centers the stalled state legislative audit (which she notes 72% of voters supported) and having signed Act on Mass's Every District Accountable Pledge, and notes Massachusetts is the only state where neither the legislature nor the governor is subject to open meetings and public records law.
The Question Candidates Answered: "I support policies that make government more transparent, accountable, effective, and capable of delivering results."
Kate Lipper-Garabedian: I support this principle
How would you advance this principle if elected?
As a City Councilor and State Representative, I have raised the bar for transparency to ensure my constituents are part of the process of policymaking and so they can hold me accountable for the positions and votes I take. I host monthly office hours, write monthly newsletters, post daily on social media, create podcast and Community Conversation programming, and personally respond to nearly all constituent outreach and inquiry – more than 1,000 emails each year alone.
In my six years as a State Representative, I have worked to make the legislature less opaque. This includes supporting rules changes, like making Committee votes public and ensuring that any member of the public can participate in the Committee hearings by testifying virtually, rather than having to come to Boston. I will continue to press for policies that ensure our residents feel connected to and involved in the process of state policymaking.
At this moment in history, we see firsthand what happens when democracy is under attack at the federal level, our foundational constitutional framework of three co-equal branches of power is eroded, and government is weaponized. I believe strong democracy depends on trust, transparency, and accountability. I will continue to fight to protect voting rights, strengthen ethical government, increase civic participation, and ensure every voice is heard so our government works for the people it serves.
What would success look like? Transparent government builds public trust and strengthens our democracy, and I support making Massachusetts government accessible and inclusive to all. I will continue to lead with these principles as I have throughout my tenure as City Councilor and State Representative.
Carey McDonald: I support this principle
How would you advance this principle if elected? I fully support the state legislative audit, and making the legislature subject to public records and open meetings like we are in local government. These are basic issues for democracy. How can we hold our leaders accountable if we don't know what they're doing or where they stand? I signed the Every District Accountable Pledge from Act On Mass to show I would be an advocate for transparency as a state senator.
Massachusetts is the outlier here, the only state where neither the legislature nor the governor is subject to open meetings and public records laws. I've worked in another state's legislature, and seen that it's very possible to have these basic transparency laws.
What would success look like? Complete the state audit that 72% of voters supported, make the legislature subject to open meetings and public records, record all votes. I want to work with my colleagues in the senate on the systems of committees, bill reviews, stipends and leadership roles to make them more fair and effective.
I will personally commit to hosting town hall meetings, including in multiple languages, to ensure voters can access me as a senator.
Ryan O'Malley: not available