In The Clinton Item | September 12, 2008

By Donna Roberson

Danielle Gregoire, 29, said she is running for state representative of the 4th Middlesex District because, “I have a passion for the community.”

Gregoire is a lifelong resident of Marlboro and graduated from the public schools there. She earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from St. Anslem’s College and a law degree from Suffolk University Law School She has also served as a legislative aide for former Rep. Stephen Leduc for the past five years. She is unmarried and has no children.

Gregoire said she would like to see economic development in the 4th Middlesex District – which includes Berlin, Marlboro and precinct 1 of Southboro – become a priority, including business and manufacturing jobs, for which, she said, Marlboro already has the infrastructure to support. For Berlin, she said, burgeoning development could mean opening the town to the film industry.

“All of that money gets funneled into our communities,” said Gregoire, adding that she would like to stop Massachusetts’ “brain drain.”

She’s also like to encourage communities in the 4th Middlesex District to join transportation authorities, both for the sake of its residents and for the environment. Marlboro, she said, has joined the MetroWest Region Transit Authority, which helps provide transportation throughout the area. She said Berlin could benefit from such an alliance, creating greater opportunities for transportation for the elderly and the poor.

“Of course, I have a lot of environmental concerns,” Gregoire added. She said she’d like to see “green” jobs and renewable energy come to central Massachusetts, but also would watch to ensure that environmental requirements aren’t onerous on businesses or make no real contribution to improving the environment.

She also said she was concerned about Berlin’s fight for a new library, with some residents favoring a new structure while other residents would like to see the old library preserved.

“That’s something I’m looking toward,” she said.

She said that Tahanto Regional High School and the school’s ongoing facilities concerns speak to a wider issue in the state – the need to reform school building aid. Berlin, she said, shouldn’t have to consider leaving the school district because of poor facilities.

“There’s no reason that any of our schools should be in that bad shape,” Gregoire said, adding she is proud of her public-school experience and would like to see all children have quality education.

But mostly, she said, voters should look at her past work with former Rep. Stephen Leduc.

“I’m really just focusing on my experience,” she said. She said after five years as a legislative aide, she worked on acquiring grants for the restoration of Berlin’s old town hall, has written legislation and reviewed budgets.

And, she said, she’s willing to listen to what the people of her district want.

“I fight for what the people I represent want,” she said.

To learn more about Gregoire, visit www.daniellegregoire.com. 

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