TRURO – Cape and Islands State Senator-elect Julian Cyr says he is ready to hit the ground running on Beacon Hill when he is sworn in to office on January 4.
The Truro democrat, who replaces outgoing State Senator Dan Wolf, said his top priorities are affordability on the Cape, fighting the opioid epidemic, providing resources for seniors and environmental issues.
“[I’m] working actually right on legislation to file a bill to create a first-time home owner savings account,” Cyr said.
The senator-elect believes his transition will be smooth because of his time working as the deputy director for government affairs at the Department of Public Health under former Gov. Deval Patrick.
“The biggest transition for me is in seeing colleagues and friends who now start calling me senator,” Cyr said. “So that’s kind of odd.”
Cyr has already gotten a taste of representing the district during a daylong senate caucus to talk about priorities for the year. He also attended new legislator training.
Legislators have until January 20 to file priority legislative bills. Priorities that are budget focused will be taken up in May.
“So folks who have suggestions on legislation can reach out to me and my team between now and January 20,” Cyr said.
A policy summit will be held at Cape Cod Community College on Saturday, January 7 from 1 to 5 p.m. and Cyr is hoping many residents attend.
“This is an opportunity to take a lot of the priorities that I have been discussing and we’ve been talking about all along the campaign and get some feedback on some policy proposals and ideas that we are considering filing and moving on,” Cyr said.
Cyr has filled out with his staff with Cape Codders.
The five-person staff is comprised of members from Cyr’s campaign team as well as the current legislative director in retiring Senator Dan Wolf’s office.
Pat Johnson of Brewster will serve as Chief of Staff and has experience in past Massachusetts Senatorial campaigns.
Legislative Director Jordan Velozo of Buzzards Bay worked in her parents’ small business growing up, and is a recent graduate of Northeastern University School of Law.
Operations and Constituent Services Director Rachel Lake of Orleans has experience on Boston City Council.
Meaghan Callahan, Communications and Policy Director, originates from Harwich and is a Boston college graduate.
District Director Leslie Sandberg of Provincetown holds a 25-year career in the public sector.
“I’m really excited to have this really great team that are not only hard workers but really understand and know the district,” Cyr said.
As being someone who came to this work as a staffer, Cyr said it is important for him to foster new leadership on the Cape and Islands.
“We are going to need new leaders to step up and to really get this work done,” Cyr said.
Cyr defeated republican candidate Anthony Schiavi last month. Wolf did not seek re-election.
By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
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