In Northampton, the Democratic Primary ballot has only two contested races. One is Senator Ed Markey and his opponent. The other is Tara Jacobs, our current Governor’s Councilor for District 8 and her opponent.
District 8 encompasses the four western Massachusetts counties, a lot of territory. Jacobs has been an exemplary Governor’s Councilor. Serving since 2023, she has met with her constituents throughout the district while bringing her intelligence, and compassion to learning about the consequences of substance misuse, mental health challenges and racial and ethnic inequities that can result in involvement with the criminal legal system.
Councilors vote on the governor’s nominations to be judges, magistrates and members of the Parole Board. In order to make her votes informed and meaningful, she not only meets with nominees, she has visited each of the western Massachusetts jails and our state prisons many times and attends parole board hearings. Meeting with incarcerated women and men she has been able to more fully appreciate what the decisions she makes to affirm a nominee means for people who come before judges, magistrates and the parole board. In these ways and others, Tara Jacobs has led the way for other councilors.
Her opponent serves on the Springfield City Council and has garnered his support from the Neal-Sarno alliance. His legal practice is in commercial real estate, business planning and commercial finance. As other Governor’s Councilors have done, I believe he looks to this position as a springboard to be nominated as a judge or magistrate. Tara Jacobs has dedicated herself more than full-time as a councilor and will continue to do so when re-elected.
All of these reasons and more make Tara Jacobs a Governor’s Councilor who truly represents all of western Massachusetts. (For more about Tara and what she has accomplished go to: https://tarajacobs.com/) Tara is an advocate with commitment, integrity and heart. Please join me in voting for her on Sept. 1.
Lois Ahrens
Northampton