Massachusetts Candidate Page

Q2 What specific forms of AI regulation do you support, and where would you draw the line between necessary oversight and overregulation that could slow innovation?

I believe that Artificial intelligence presents enormous opportunities, but innovation must be accompanied by accountability. I support a risk-based approach to AI governance that focuses oversight where potential harm is greatest. Systems used in healthcare, housing, employment, education, criminal justice, and financial services should meet standards for transparency, privacy, cybersecurity, and independent evaluation to reduce bias and protect civil rights. Massachusetts should encourage responsible AI development while supporting our world-class research institutions and technology companies. Regulations should be flexible enough to evolve alongside technology rather than creating unnecessary barriers for startups, researchers, and entrepreneurs. I also support strong protections for personal data, disclosure when AI is making or significantly influencing important decisions, and safeguards against the misuse of AI-generated misinformation and deepfakes, particularly in elections and fraud.

Q2 What specific forms of AI regulation do you support, and where would you draw the line between necessary oversight and overregulation that could slow innovation?

As someone who worked for years in IT & now serve on school committee, it is a real issue. School districts need to create guidelines on use for students, teachers and administrators. This needs to be done with instruction on critical thinking and appropriate use. Technology is never something people stop, education is something we can do.

Q2 What specific forms of AI regulation do you support, and where would you draw the line between necessary oversight and overregulation that could slow innovation?

Artificial intelligence has alot potential to improve things like healthcare, education, public safety, and government services, and I support responsible innovation. However, innovation shouldn’t come at the expense of our communities, our environment, or working families. I support reasonable safeguards that require transparency when AI is used in decisions affecting employment, healthcare, lending, or public services. People deserve to know when AI is making decisions that impact their lives and should always have the right to meaningful human review. Coming from a social services background , in particular, where there are limited HIPAA protections in AI, we must protect people’s privacy. I’m also concerned about the rapid expansion of AI data centers. These facilities consume huge amounts of electricity and water, placing added strain on our power grid, natural resources, and climate goals. My district is already under some serious strain from drought. I would support Massachusetts requiring environmental impact reviews, responsible siting, and investments in energy efficiency before approving large-scale AI infrastructure. Finally, we have to protect workers as AI becomes more common. Technology should enhance jobs, not simply replace them. I support workforce retraining, upskilling programs, and policies that encourage employers to invest in their employees as they adopt AI. The goal should be thoughtful oversight that protects people, promotes responsible innovation, and ensures AI benefits everyone, not just the companies developing it.

Q2 What specific forms of AI regulation do you support, and where would you draw the line between necessary oversight and overregulation that could slow innovation?

I believe our government’s job isn’t to subsidize corporate automation; it is to protect the working class. As a Representative, I support specific, aggressive forms of AI regulation focused on: protecting Union Jobs and Labor: such as strict legislation that prevents corporations from using AI to unilaterally automate away good-paying, unionized jobs or to lower wages. AI should be a tool that assists human workers, not an excuse to mass-lay off the people who power our economy. As well as banning biased algorithmic discrimination, we must regulate AI tools used in corporate hiring, housing applications, and loan approvals, which have consistently been shown to bake in racial and economic biases and worker surveillance guardrails: I will fight to outlaw invasive, AI-driven electronic surveillance and data tracking used by mega-corporations to police workers on the job. My goal is to draw the line at protecting human capital. “Innovation” is meaningless if it leaves thousands of working families paycheck to paycheck while funneling millions to tech billionaires. Necessary oversight means ensuring that technological growth serves the common good and is shaped by workers and labor unions.

Q3 What policies, if any, do you support or envision to manage land-based resources in your state (water, open-space preserves, parks, etc.)?

Massachusetts should continue investing in clean drinking water infrastructure, watershed protection, flood mitigation, and the restoration of rivers, wetlands, and forests. These natural systems help reduce flooding, improve water quality, support biodiversity, and strengthen our resilience to climate change. I’m a supporter of preserving parks, farms, and open spaces while ensuring equitable access to safe recreational areas. Communities like Springfield deserve the same access to quality green spaces as every other part of the Commonwealth because parks improve physical health, mental well-being, and community connections. Environmental justice must remain a priority. Historically underserved communities often bear a disproportionate burden of pollution and environmental hazards. Decisions about land use should be informed by scientific data, public health evidence, and meaningful community engagement. Expanding urban tree canopies, promoting climate-resilient infrastructure, encouraging sustainable agriculture, and investing in renewable energy projects that protect sensitive ecosystems should all be priorities when it comes to land-based resources.

Q3 What policies, if any, do you support or envision to manage land-based resources in your state (water, open-space preserves, parks, etc.)?

I’m fortunate that in the 3 towns of my district, 30% or more of the land is protected. But we also live over a sole source aquifer, so water protection is critical. I have testified at the local level and state level about the need to restrict pesticides. There is a bill to prohibit the state from using them on state lands, I support this. We are also blessed with well used and supported open space for residents and visitors, which should of course continue.

Q3 What policies, if any, do you support or envision to manage land-based resources in your state (water, open-space preserves, parks, etc.)?

Massachusetts’ land-based resources are some of our greatest assets, and we have a responsibility to protect them for future generations. I support policies that balance responsible growth with preserving the character, natural resources, and quality of life that make our communities special. I have publicly opposed misplaced large-scale development that do not consider the impact on our roads, infrastructure, water resources, environment, and surrounding neighborhoods, and will continue to do so. Development must be thoughtful, properly planned, and aligned with the needs and capacity of the community, not simply driven by short-term interests and development profits/real estate profits. I strongly support protecting open spaces, farmland, and right-to-farm communities. These areas provide environmental benefits, support local agriculture, preserve our history, and contribute to the unique identity of our towns. We need to continue investing in programs that help communities preserve conservation land, support farmers, and maintain access to parks and outdoor spaces. Protecting our water resources must also be a priority. I support investments in modern wastewater infrastructure, including replacing aging systems that contribute to environmental challenges and implementing solutions that reduce or eliminate nitrogen from groundwater discharge. These improvements protect drinking water, coastal ecosystems, and the long-term health of our communities. This is currently a issue that is very real and very soon for my district. As our state grows, we have to make decisions that allow for economic opportunity while protecting the places that make the state and my district, great places to live. Smart planning and responsible investment today will ensure future generations inherit communities that are both thriving and sustainable.

Q3 What policies, if any, do you support or envision to manage land-based resources in your state (water, open-space preserves, parks, etc.)?

For too long, the political establishment has allowed corporate interests, luxury developers, and private polluters to compromise our public commons. Clean water, thriving state parks, and protected open spaces are fundamental rights that belong to every working-family, not bargaining chips for the wealthy. We must fund a modern Civilian Climate Corps to put local residents to work restoring our state parks, expanding open-space preserves, and building resilient flood protections in our coastal and river communities. This ensures conservation translates directly into high-wage, union jobs. Additionally, land and water management policies must prioritize communities that have historically borne the brunt of pollution and industrial neglect. I support strict federal oversight to protect our clean water supplies from corporate chemical dumping (like PFAS contamination) and will fight to ensure that green open spaces are heavily expanded in urban and working-class neighborhoods, not just affluent suburbs. I strongly oppose the privatization of public lands and the selling off of open spaces to luxury real estate developers. Our parks and preserves must remain permanently protected public trusts, fully funded by federal and state investments rather than reliance on corporate donors. I will fight to reallocate resources away from corporate handouts and toward the preservation of our land, ensuring our natural resources are protected for generations to come.

Q5 Do you have any policies or programs in mind to reduce the financial burden for students wanting to attend college?

As someone who is currently pursuing my doctorate, I understand both the value of education and the financial barriers many students face. I strongly believe Massachusetts should strengthen partnerships among schools, employers, labor unions, and research institutions to create clear pathways into high demand careers in healthcare, education, clean energy, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing. I support expanding need-based financial aid, increasing funding for MassGrant and community colleges, strengthening work-study opportunities, and investing in apprenticeship and workforce training programs that allow students to earn while they learn. I also support expanding paid internships so students can gain meaningful experience without sacrificing income. We must continue investing in public colleges and universities to reduce tuition pressures while ensuring students have access to affordable housing, transportation, childcare, and mental health services. These supports are especially important for first-generation students, student parents, and adult learners.

Q6 How will you support fellowships and training grants that promote the development of graduate students and other early career scientists in your community?

Massachusetts is a global leader in research and innovation, and we must continue investing in the people who make those discoveries possible. I support increasing state investment in competitive fellowships, research training grants, and partnerships among universities, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, and industry. Graduate students and early-career researchers deserve opportunities that allow them to develop professionally without facing unnecessary financial hardship. I’m also in support of expanding paid research positions, interdisciplinary collaborations, and mentorship programs that connect emerging scientists with experienced researchers, clinicians, entrepreneurs, and public servants.

As someone who is completing a doctoral degree, I understand the importance of research opportunities, faculty support, and stable funding. I also recognize that many graduate students balance research with employment and family responsibilities. I support policies that promote fair compensation, access to health benefits, family leave, and professional development opportunities for graduate researchers. Massachusetts should continue building a diverse STEM workforce by investing in students from historically underrepresented communities and creating pathways that keep talented researchers in our state.

Q5 Do you have any policies or programs in mind to reduce the financial burden for students wanting to attend college?

I would like to see free community college extended past age 25 in MA and provide some type of “last dollar” program based on need that would cover tuition and fees to public 4 year schools on a sliding income scale. The state also needs to rededicate itself to overall public higher ed funding to levels similar to the early 2000s.

Q6 How will you support fellowships and training grants that promote the development of graduate students and other early career scientists in your community?

This goes hand in hand with the increased financial support I want to see from the state. The focus on that increased support must be aimed at providing opportunities and access such as this.

Q5 Do you have any policies or programs in mind to reduce the financial burden for students wanting to attend college?

Every student deserves the opportunity to pursue higher education without worrying that the cost will put their future out of reach. That’s why I strongly support continued funding for free community college. It’s one of the best investments Massachusetts can make in our people, our workforce, and our economy. Whether someone is graduating from high school, changing careers, returning to school after raising a family, or serving our country, community college should remain an affordable path to success.

We can do more than just make tuition affordable. I want to expand need-based financial aid, strengthen apprenticeship and internship opportunities, and encourage partnerships between our colleges, unions, vocational schools, and local employers. When students can earn valuable experience while they’re learning, they graduate with less debt and stronger job prospects.

I also support targeted loan repayment or tuition assistance for graduates who choose careers where Massachusetts has the greatest need, such as teaching, nursing, behavioral health, and public safety. Helping graduates stay and work in our communities benefits everyone.

I believe education is one of the best investments we can make. By continuing to support free community college and creating more affordable pathways to good-paying careers, we can give more people the chance to succeed while building a stronger Commonwealth for the future.

Q6 How will you support fellowships and training grants that promote the development of graduate students and other early career scientists in your community?

Massachusetts has some of the best healthcare education programs in the country, but too many students face barriers to completing their training, and too many communities struggle to recruit and retain healthcare providers. We need solutions that strengthen both education and patient care.

I have proposed a pilot program that encourages experienced Physician Assistants (PAs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) to become clinical preceptors. Clinical placements are one of the biggest bottlenecks in training new providers. By supporting more preceptorships, we can expand opportunities for graduate students and help prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals.

I also support a service-based scholarship program that would provide tuition-free PA education at Massachusetts public colleges and universities. In exchange, graduates would commit to five years of service in public healthcare within the Commonwealth. Those who choose not to fulfill that commitment would repay the cost of their education.

These proposals reduce financial barriers, expand hands-on training opportunities, and help address critical workforce shortages while ensuring taxpayers receive a clear return on their investment. I believe this type of partnership—investing in students while asking for a commitment to serve—is a practical, fiscally responsible way to strengthen our healthcare workforce and improve access to care for communities across Massachusetts.

Q1 Both research universities and government-funded research programs play a critical role in advancing scientific discovery, training the future workforce, and driving economic development. How would you approach funding and oversight of research universities and government-funded research programs, and what outcomes would you hope to achieve through those investments?

The fundamental question is who is this innovation actually serving? Right now, the billionaire class and corporate monopolies are co-opting public resources. Taxpayers fund groundbreaking research at our universities, only for Big Pharma and Silicon Valley to privatize the patents, jack up prices, and shut out working families. I will fight for a research ecosystem centered on moral clarity, worker power, and public equity. Such as, Funding the Public Good: I will fight to expand federal funding for foundational science through the NSF and NIH. However, public dollars must come with public-interest conditions. If taxpayer money funds a medical breakthrough or a green technology, the resulting patents must remain affordable and accessible to everyone, not locked behind a corporate paywall. Secondly, democratizing opportunity where talent is distributed evenly, but opportunity is not. We must diversify federal research investments away from just elite institutions and toward public universities, regional hubs, and minority-serving institutions (MSIs), creating a diverse, localized STEM pipeline. Lastly, pro-Worker oversight oversight shouldn’t mean bureaucratic red tape for scientists; it means putting strict ethical guardrails on emerging tech like advanced AI

Q4 What policies do you support to secure affordable and ready access to healthcare services for your constituents?

As a mental health clinician, I have seen firsthand how delays in care, provider shortages, and financial barriers negatively affect individuals and families. I support expanding access to primary care, behavioral health services, reproductive healthcare, maternal healthcare, preventive care, and substance use treatment. This includes strengthening community health centers, increasing the healthcare workforce, and expanding telehealth where appropriate to improve access, particularly in underserved communities. I also support policies that reduce prescription drug costs, improve insurance affordability, and eliminate unnecessary barriers to evidence-based care. Mental health should be treated with the same urgency as physical health, with continued investment in crisis response, early intervention, and integrated care models.

Q4 What policies do you support to secure affordable and ready access to healthcare services for your constituents?

I support single payer. MassCare recently put out a report that show that this can be a cost saver to the state also, so I am on board with efforts to move this forward.

Q4 What policies do you support to secure affordable and ready access to healthcare services for your constituents?

As I have indicated on my website, pachecoforthepeople.com Access to affordable, quality healthcare should be a basic expectation for every resident of Massachusetts. I support the goal of healthcare for all and believe we can continue moving toward a system where cost is not a barrier to getting the care people need. At the same time, we should take practical steps to improve affordability and access today. I support expanding programs that reduce prescription drug costs, strengthen primary care,(like my NPs and PAs pilot program) investing in behavioral health services, and addressing healthcare workforce shortages, (PCA’s, Nurses and more) that create delays and limited access in many communities. We also need to ensure that rural and underserved communities are not left behind. Supporting community health centers, expanding telehealth options, and developing innovative workforce programs can help bring care closer to the people who need it most. A healthcare system should focus on patients, not just costs. As we continue working toward broader healthcare access, we must also protect healthcare workers and provide support for those whose jobs may be affected by changes in the industry. My goal is a healthcare system that is affordable, accessible, and sustainable, one that provides quality care to every resident while being responsible with taxpayer resources.

Q4 What policies do you support to secure affordable and ready access to healthcare services for your constituents?

Your health should never be a source of financial ruin. Right now, the political establishment accepts hundreds of thousands of dollars from Big Pharma and private health insurance HMOs, leaving us with a system rigged to prioritize corporate profits over human lives. Too many working families in Massachusetts’s 5th District are forced to ration lifesaving medication or skip doctor visits because of out-of-control premiums, deductibles, and co-pays. I fully support a single-payer, universal Medicare for All system. Healthcare is a fundamental right, not a commodity. We must eliminate the private insurance middleman to ensure every constituent has comprehensive coverage that is completely free at the point of service: covering medical, dental, vision, mental health, and reproductive care with zero deductibles or co-pays. Additionally, I will fight for robust antitrust laws to break up healthcare monopolies and give the federal government the absolute authority to negotiate all prescription drug prices. No senior or working-class family should be forced to choose between buying groceries and paying for insulin while pharmaceutical executives rake in record billions. True access requires robust public infrastructure. I support significantly expanding federal funding for regional community health centers, mental health clinics, and mobile health units, particularly in our underserved and working-class neighborhoods. Furthermore, we must protect and empower our frontline healthcare workers by ensuring safe staffing ratios, fair wages, and the universal right to unionize. We have the money to fund a humane, compassionate healthcare system. I will vote to reallocate excessive military funding and corporate tax loopholes directly into our local public health systems, schools, and affordable housing, because true public safety and wellness start by meeting people’s basic material needs. I will not accept corporate PAC money, which means my only obligation in Washington will be to the health and well-being of working families, not insurance company boardrooms.

Q6 How will you support fellowships and training grants that promote the development of graduate students and other early career scientists in your community?

Massachusetts is a global leader in research and innovation, and we must continue investing in the people who make those discoveries possible. I support increasing state investment in competitive fellowships, research training grants, and partnerships among universities, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, and industry. Graduate students and early-career researchers deserve opportunities that allow them to develop professionally without facing unnecessary financial hardship. I’m also in support of expanding paid research positions, interdisciplinary collaborations, and mentorship programs that connect emerging scientists with experienced researchers, clinicians, entrepreneurs, and public servants.

As someone who is completing a doctoral degree, I understand the importance of research opportunities, faculty support, and stable funding. I also recognize that many graduate students balance research with employment and family responsibilities. I support policies that promote fair compensation, access to health benefits, family leave, and professional development opportunities for graduate researchers. Massachusetts should continue building a diverse STEM workforce by investing in students from historically underrepresented communities and creating pathways that keep talented researchers in our state.

Q6 How will you support fellowships and training grants that promote the development of graduate students and other early career scientists in your community?

This goes hand in hand with the increased financial support I want to see from the state. The focus on that increased support must be aimed at providing opportunities and access such as this.

Q6 How will you support fellowships and training grants that promote the development of graduate students and other early career scientists in your community?

Massachusetts has some of the best healthcare education programs in the country, but too many students face barriers to completing their training, and too many communities struggle to recruit and retain healthcare providers. We need solutions that strengthen both education and patient care.

I have proposed a pilot program that encourages experienced Physician Assistants (PAs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) to become clinical preceptors. Clinical placements are one of the biggest bottlenecks in training new providers. By supporting more preceptorships, we can expand opportunities for graduate students and help prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals.

I also support a service-based scholarship program that would provide tuition-free PA education at Massachusetts public colleges and universities. In exchange, graduates would commit to five years of service in public healthcare within the Commonwealth. Those who choose not to fulfill that commitment would repay the cost of their education.

These proposals reduce financial barriers, expand hands-on training opportunities, and help address critical workforce shortages while ensuring taxpayers receive a clear return on their investment. I believe this type of partnership—investing in students while asking for a commitment to serve—is a practical, fiscally responsible way to strengthen our healthcare workforce and improve access to care for communities across Massachusetts.

Q1 Both research universities and government-funded research programs play a critical role in advancing scientific discovery, training the future workforce, and driving economic development. How would you approach funding and oversight of research universities and government-funded research programs, and what outcomes would you hope to achieve through those investments?

The fundamental question is who is this innovation actually serving? Right now, the billionaire class and corporate monopolies are co-opting public resources. Taxpayers fund groundbreaking research at our universities, only for Big Pharma and Silicon Valley to privatize the patents, jack up prices, and shut out working families. I will fight for a research ecosystem centered on moral clarity, worker power, and public equity. Such as, Funding the Public Good: I will fight to expand federal funding for foundational science through the NSF and NIH. However, public dollars must come with public-interest conditions. If taxpayer money funds a medical breakthrough or a green technology, the resulting patents must remain affordable and accessible to everyone, not locked behind a corporate paywall. Secondly, democratizing opportunity where talent is distributed evenly, but opportunity is not. We must diversify federal research investments away from just elite institutions and toward public universities, regional hubs, and minority-serving institutions (MSIs), creating a diverse, localized STEM pipeline. Lastly, pro-Worker oversight oversight shouldn’t mean bureaucratic red tape for scientists; it means putting strict ethical guardrails on emerging tech like advanced AI