Brownsberger Takes in $250K for Congressional Race

Belmont's state senator shows fundraising strength for run for 5th district if Markey wins special US Senate primary race this month.

In the first show of political muscle in a wide open race to replace Ed Markey, Belmont resident and State Sen. Will Brownsberger is showing every potential challenger he knows how to lift some serious fund-raising weight.  On April 15, the "Will Brownsberger for Congress" campaign will report raising $256,462.20 in February and March of this year, according to his campaign. So far, the attorney has spent less than $10,000 in the first quarter of 2013. “I am very grateful for, and heartened by, the outpouring of support my campaign has received thus far," said Brownsberger, who also represents Watertown. Brownsberger's total is approximately $100,000 more than State Rep. Carl Sciortino, the House member from Medford and Somerville and …

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Sen. Brownsberger Seeks More Funds for Transportation

Watertown's state senator blogs about the transportation plan in front of the Legislature.

Brownsberger: I Will 'Definitely' Run For Congress If Markey Wins

Belmont Democrat announced he would run for Congress if Markey wins the race for U.S. Senate.

  State Sen. Will Brownsberger has set his sights on Washington, if the opportunity to run for U.S. Congress arises.  Sen. Brownsberger told Patch on Friday that if current U.S. Rep. Markey wins John Kerry's Senate seat, he would launch a campaign to run for Markey's seat.  "Yes, definitely, if he is elected, I will be running for that seat," he said.  Brownsberger said that he hasn't always had his eye on running for Congress, but the possible opportunity to do so is too good to pass up.  "Honestly, I really love the job I have in the state senate and I feel very good about the work I'm doing there, and I'm making a lot of progress," he said. "But it is the kind of thing that happens once in my political lifetime and when I thought about …

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Watertown Residents Invited to Apply to Citizens' Legislative Seminar

State Sen. Will Brownsberger seeks those interested in taking part in the event at the State House in March.

The following information was provided by State Sen. Will Brownsberger's office: Senator Will Brownsberger invites residents in the Second Suffolk and Middlesex District to apply to attend the 70th Citizens' Legislative Seminar (CLS) to be held this spring on Tuesday, March 12 and Wednesday, March 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the State House. Each senator may nominate one constituent to participate with acceptance on a first come, first served basis. The deadline for applying is this Friday, February 1. A cover letter requesting participation may be emailed to Barbara.Miranda@masenate.gov or mailed to Barbara Miranda, Chief of Staff, Office of Senator William N. Brownsberger, State House, Room 413C, Boston, MA 02133. A nominee must be…

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Watertown's State Lawmakers Worry About How to Pay for the Governor's Budget

Going to the residents for more taxes may not be popular, but local legislators say they like that the budget focuses on education and transportation.

Watertown's state legislators like the areas that the governor's budget proposal prioritizes — education and transportation — but they worry about how residents will be asked to pay for the budget. The $34.8 billion budget filed by Gov. Deval Patrick on Wednesday includes an increase of the income tax along with a decrease in the sales tax, and has a focus on education and transportation. State Sen. Will Brownsberger, D-Belmont, agreed with the governor that money should be used to boost public transportation. "Like most legislators and most careful observers, and in fact, most leaders in the business community, I am convinced that we have to substantially increase our investment in transportation infrastructure, especially the MBTA," …

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OP-ED: Brownsberger Concerns for New Term - Economy, the MBTA and the Environment

State Sen. Will Brownsberger writes that the economy and its effect on public transportation are among the biggest challenges for the upcoming Legislative term.

  Thank your giving me the opportunity to serve as your state senator in the coming legislative session. Thank you also to my ballot opponent, Republican State Committeeman Steve Aylward, who ran a gracious and constructive campaign.  The next two years are likely to be tough financially. The economic recovery is still soft and some of the possible outcomes of the debate in Washington could be very costly to the state. Also, it seems clear that we are nowhere near the end of the long-term economic transformation that began several decades ago. Globalization and automation -- while providing us with all kinds of inexpensive goods and services – will hold down incomes for people at every education level. Check my website, willbrownsberger.…

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Sen. Will Brownsberger

4:15 pm on Friday, November 30, 2012

Thanks, John. We've taken that approach with the commuter rail and I'm not sure it has made a positive difference. But, I wouldn't rule anything out at this stage -- it's a critical problem and we need to be open to all approaches.   more ›

LETTER: Steve Aylward Congratulates Browsberger, Writes About the State of the Mass. GOP Party

Republican state senate candidate Steven Aylward writes about the campaign and the Massachusetts Republican Party.

Editor:   I would like to congratulate Will Brownsberger for his re-election to the State Senate in the recent election. I can honestly say that one of the best things about my race was getting to know the Senator. And while we may disagree politically, I must admit that I found him to be a sincere and genuine person who takes his position seriously, and who does in fact care deeply about his constituents. I wish him all the best in the future. Admittedly it was a rough year for the Republican Party. What we have been doing in the past clearly is not working. As a result, calls for swift and sweeping changes at the MA GOP are in the air. For too long we have been content to let our opponents to define us, and that is something that we must…

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Brownsberger Wins State Senate Race Over Aylward

Democrat Will Brownsberger wins the Second Suffolk and Middlesex state senate seat.

Belmont Democrat Will Brownsberger won the Second Suffolk and Middlesex state senate race over Watertown Republican Steven Aylward Tuesday night, according to unofficial election results. Brownsberger, who was elected to the state senate in January 2012, netted 15,966 votes to Aylward's 4,079, or 20 percent of the vote, according to results on the City of Boston website. In Watertown, Brownsberger picked up 11,021 votes, with Aylward getting 4,199. The district includes all of Belmont, Watertown and part of Boston, including the Back Bay, the Fenway, Kenmore Square, Allston and Brighton. "I'm very grateful for the overwhelming support that voters gave me," he said.  "I'm looking forward to diligently serving the community." Aylward is …

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Election 2012: Second Suffolk and Middlesex Senate Candidate Interviews

Belmont Democrat Will Brownsberger faces Republican challenger Steven Aylward for the senate district that includes Watertown, Belmont and parts of Boston, including the Back Bay, Kenmore Square and The Fenway.

Democrat Will Brownsberger of Belmont won the race for state senate in a special election earlier this year, and now faces a challenge from Watertown Republican Steven Aylward.  The district includes all of Belmont, Watertown and part of Boston, including the Back Bay, the Fenway, Kenmore Square, Allston and Brighton. Patch recently interviewed both candidates. Here's what they said: 1) What are your top three priorities? From a long term standpoint, my priorities are: 1) A vibrant regional economy that includes decent jobs for everyone. 2) Protection of personal liberty and privacy 3) Environmental sustainability   In setting priorities for the 2013-14 legislative session, I have to consider how those long term priorities interact with …

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Sen. Brownsberger Honored by the Environmental League of Massachusetts

The Belmont Democrat, who represents Watertown, received the award for his work protecting the environment and advocacy for mass transit.

The following information was provided by the Environmental League of Massachusetts: The Environmental League of Massachusetts (ELM) hosted a gathering in Belmont on Sept. 20 at the home of former Belmont State Rep. Anne Paulsen and her husband Fred. ELM is the oldest environmental advocacy organization in the Commonwealth, and the event introduced ELM’s work on environmental protection, climate change and mass transit.   In addition, State Sen. Will Brownsberger was honored by ELM as their “Environmental Champion” for 2012. The award was presented to Brownsberger by ELM President George Bachrach, a former state senator for the district Brownsberger now represents.     Bachrach noted: “Will Brownsberger has been an important leader for the…

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