Attleboro Councilor Seeks State Senate Seat

For the first time since 2010, a republican state senator with a few districts each in Needham and Wellesley may be given a run for his money. 

Since winning a special election to succeed Scott Brown as state senator, republican Richard Ross's term has renewed twice with no opposition. This will not be repeated in 2014 because at least one other person would like to represent the Norfolk, Bristol, and Middlesex District. Attleboro City Councilor Sara-Lynn Reynolds, who two weeks ago changed her voter registration status from independent to democratic, said Tuesday that she will run in the election.

Reynolds stressed she has not made a formal announcement, but there were rumors about her interest in being a Senate candidate, and she confirmed they were true when contacted by Patch.

She will not run for a second term as an at-large councilor because "I believe it is unfair to constituents to run for two offices simultaneously," Reynolds wrote in an email to Attleboro Patch.

Calling herself a fiscal conservative who is liberal on social issues, Reynolds wrote that as a state senator she would be a voice for middle America.

"These last five years have been difficult for many Americans," she wrote. "A troubled economy has left many scrambling to hang onto their homes and jobs. Others have experienced divorce and illness. Having not been immune to any of the above, I can state that I too know how most of the middle class is feeling."

In a memo, which is attached to this article, she wrote she supports the following:

• Allowing each healthcare applicant to access the system with a single point of contact, reassuring them they will need to tell their story just once and not multiple times, enhancing the chance of a speedy solution
• Funding needed for education, including secondary, K-12, alternative and vocational as well as school-to-career partnerships and retraining for seniors and/or those that have graduated with skills that need updating to compete in today's job market.
• Removing unnecessary regulation that hampers private business from entering or staying in Massachusetts. 
• Incentives for business that want to locate to Massachusetts  
• Encouraging stronger sanctions against businesses that fail to keep their promises of creating new jobs.  

She added that "more women in elective office would better represent the residents of this state."

The Senate district includes Attleboro Wards 1, 2 and 3A; North Attleboro; Franklin Precincts 1-4 and 7; Millis; Needham Precincts A, C, I and J; Norfolk; Plainville; Wellesley Precincts B, F and G; Wrentham; Natick Precincts 6, 7, 9 and 10; Sherborn and Wayland. Ross lives in Wrentham.