Name
Laura A. Hadley
of Westport
Political party
Independent
Office sought
State representative, 8th Bristol District
Online
votelaurahadley.com
Q&A
Laura A. Hadley
Work and experience: Why are you qualified to run for this office?
My first job was washing dishes and peeling shrimp in Westport. I graduated from Bishop Connolly High School and UMass Amherst, and UC Hastings College of the Law. I worked in community resource centers, and externed at the federal court reviewing and drafting proposed orders for civil rights cases. I litigated property and employment disputes before moving home to Massachusetts.
By facilitating billion-dollar real estate projects at a large law firm, I learned how to do complex projects correctly. Negotiating contracts at a multinational company, organizing deal structures while overseeing bidding and procurement of public contracts with local, state and federal governments in the U.S. and Canada gave me the ability to collaborate with subject matter experts as we defended against cyber attacks and fraud in bedrock institutions.
Studying water and critical infrastructure resiliency led me to Denmark, where they dramatically fixed their infrastructure to survive and thrive for next 100 years. I recently obtained an OIT D1/T1, the qualification required to operate a water treatment facility/distribution network. Through practicing law, running a phytoremediation company, studying traditional and emerging water technology — and policy — I know real solutions, better solutions, are available for challenges we face looking forward into the next 100 years.
What is your main reason for running?
Hope for the future, and a realization that my knowledge and skills can help solve problems at the local and state level. Initially, the lack of transparency and accountability in our local and state government prompted me to run. Constitutional rights do not protect themselves. Water will protect itself, if we let mother nature help, and implement the technology and policy that are working all over the world. Unfunded mandates need to stop. We must look forward to the next 100 years, not backwards.
I was born and raised here. I love our small coastal communities. Democracy only works when local elected officials represent the interests of the people to the state, not the other way around. I am running because I know I can help to give people in our district a voice in the State House, as we work together toward a brighter future.
What key issue do you plan to address, and how will you do that?
Clean water, and transparency in government. Voters’ collective voice isn’t being heard or respected. For example: In Westport, after petitions, we voted down at the polls and voted down at Town Meeting the proposed water/sewer pipe on Rte. 6. The town and state are moving forward with the project anyway. That is unacceptable. A made-up “infrastructure oversight committee” ignores open meeting laws and is actively advancing the horse-and-buggy project against the express directives of voters. A new “water department” has no treatment facility, no distribution network, and most importantly no water — with limited exception, the water comes from private wells.
PFAS and other contaminants are a major problem, yet with 2.54 million everyone could be given on-tap activated carbon or RO filters, resulting in clean water immediately — with no new water bills. Any additional funding could go toward green infrastructure such as rain gardens, gray water systems, composting toilets, etc.
As representative for the 8th Bristol District, I will do everything possible to ensure money designated to improve water quality does improve water quality. A transparency facilitator could help our communities comply with open meeting law and public record requirements, ensuring projects intended to benefit our community actually do.
With the country splintered by partisan politics, what do you think needs to be done to get Democrats and Republicans to work together?
Remember our common humanity is key. No one is blue and no one is red. We are all humans. Having conversations and candid dialogues about the issues regardless of what hat someone wears is essential. The only way our government at the local state and federal level can fulfill their function is if we work together collaboratively to solve the challenges of today and the next 100 years.
Believe in our country and the foundational principles upon which it was based. In the words of some of the founders, “[Humans] are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among [humans], deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed …”
Most importantly, remember that all representatives are public servants.
Find more candidate profiles on The Light’s Election 2024 page.