Barrett Wants to Ban 'Toxic' Takeout Containers

Concord's state Senator is backing a bill that would institute a first-in-the-nation statewide ban on the use of take-out containers made of polystyrene -- the main ingredient in Styrofoam.

Barrett Says Constituents Largely Support Guv's Tax Proposal

Of those who have reached out to state Sen Mike Barrett, the Lexington Dem says 315 constituents support raising new revenue to invest in transportation and education, while 42 have written or called against any tax increase.

Support Builds for Conroy-Barrett Anti-Climate Change Bill

At last week’s meeting of the Legislature’s Revenue Committee, a star lineup of legislators, environmentalists and economists rallied behind a new concept to fight climate change in Massachusetts.

Barrett Meets with Blind Constituents

Concord's state Sen. Mike Barrett recently met with Bob Hachey of Waltham and his guide dog Xane, and then spoke to workers from Watertown’s Perkins School for the Blind, which serves many residents in the Third Middlesex District.

Barrett Talks to METCO Students From Third Middlesex

“The most important thing I can do is listen to students and parents involved in the program,” Mike Barrett, a Lexington Democrat, said to the group. “Getting up at 5:30 a.m. every day to get to a school out here is tough but you kids do it.”

What are Your Expectations for Mike Barrett as Concord's New State Senator?

A Boston Phoenix blog post casts the Lexington Democrat as ‘an unapologetic liberal’ committed to environmental gains. But what are your expectations from the Third Middlesex District's incoming state Senator?

In the leafy suburbs of the Third Middlsex District, quite a bit of attention was paid to the race for the state Senate seat claimed by Mike Barrett, the Lexington Democrat replacing retiring state Sen. Susan Fargo. So much so in fact that, in the lead up to Election Day, incumbent state Sen. Ken Donnelly, an Arlington Democrat, joked he was Lexington's other candidate for state Senate, despite the fact that his Fourth Middlesex District includes six Lexington precincts compared to the three in the Third. But for those looking at the bigger picture, it seems the Third Middlesex race—with its densely populated Democratic primary and polar opposites facing off in the general election—may have been lost in the shuffle of higher profile races…

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Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III

5:54 pm on Thursday, November 29, 2012

Barrett will demonstrate the perils of climate change by exhaling excessive amounts of hot air on this subject and others. I expect his agenda to include numerous new taxes and other schemes for redistributing wealth. Barrett will continue the rich and mindless tradition of Susan Fargo. Lord help us. Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III   more ›

Barrett Bests Martinez for 3rd Middlesex State Senate Seat

Lexington Democrat Mike Barrett defeats Chelmsford Republican Sandi Martinez to claim seat long held by retiring state Sen. Susan Fargo.

While they’re saying goodbye to Susan Fargo, the Democrats aren’t ready to let go of her seat in the state Senate. Lexington Democrat Mike Barrett, after outlasting four challengers from his own party in the primary, has defeated Sandi Martinez, a Republican from Chelmsford, to claim the Third Middlesex District seat Fargo, a Lincoln Democrat, held tightly for eight terms before deciding to retire. “I’m excited about returning to the Senate,” said Barrett, who was a state Senator from Cambridge from 1987 until a failed bid for governor in 1994. “Eighteen years older, probably not 18 years wiser, but I think smarter and I’m looking forward to it.” The Third Middlesex District represents Bedford, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Concord, Lincoln, …

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Patch Facts

Five Things: Keeping Your Family Safe Online and a Candidates Night

A quick look at what you need to see, do and know today in Concord.

1. Keeping Your Family Safe Online: At 9:30 a.m. this morning at Concord-Carlisle High School, MyUntangled Media, is hosting an adults only class will teach you the tools to set up a safe online world for your family by developing a strategy for managing and monitoring your household’s technology, learning how to identify cyberbullying and predators, establishing time and use limits, and using social networks safely by controlling privacy settings. Costs $15. 2. Town Meetings Posted for Today: According to the town website, public meetings posted for today include the Board of Selectmen at 7 p.m. and the Community Preservation Committee at 7:30 p.m. 3. Third Middlesex Candidates at LWV Forum: Lexington Democrat Mike Barrett and Sandi …

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LETTER: Barrett Continues Winning Womens' Votes

Whit's End Road resident Deena Whitfield writes in support of Lexington Democrat Mike Barrett in the race for the Third Middlesex state senate seat opening up with the impending retirement of state Sen. Susan Fargo, D-Lincoln.

To the Editor, As a long time activist for women’s issues, I have followed the conversation regarding the underrepresentation of women and minorities in our state legislature with interest. While I would like to see more women in office, I strongly support Mike Barrett because he supports and cares about the issues that affect all of us, especially women and minorities. Unlike his female opponent, Mike has been an unwavering advocate of a woman’s right to choose. In fact, the Massachusetts Family Planning Association honored Mike for his "long and outstanding work in support of comprehensive family planning services” in the state senate. While a state senator, Mike focused on problems of crime and violence against women and children and …

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Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III

1:14 pm on Thursday, October 11, 2012

If Tsongas, Atkins, Fargo and Jacques are your models, then we've been way over-represented by women. Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III   more ›

LETTER: Barrett 'Will Champion What Is Important to You'

Allen Farm Lane resident Norma Shapiro writes in support of Mike Barrett, a Lexington Democrat seeking the state Senate seat representing the Third Middlesex District, which includes Concord.

To the Editor: Some men are better supporters of women’s issues than some women are.  During his years in the Massachusetts legislature, Mike Barrett has proven himself to be one of those good men. Perhaps it is growing up with five sisters, or raising two daughters with his wife. Whatever the reason, Mike is a feminist who has demonstrated his understanding through leadership on Beacon Hill where he won plaudits for his support for women. Mike has been a leader on health care issues including his promotion of comprehensive family planning and reproductive choice. He wrote and championed the first law in the nation to require that judges asked for restraining orders be networked to criminal records to see if there was a record of past …

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