I first met Chelsea Kline, who will appear on the Democratic primary ballot for state Senate in many North Quabbin towns, over a year ago, and I have bumped into her a lot ever since then, probably because we both believe passionately in a vision of our political system that puts people first.
She was a young mom juggling family and school, who would not have succeeded without the help of various public programs (SNAP, Medicaid, community college), and this has made her an outspoken opponent of cuts to the social safety net. She also believes that we all have an obligation to help others and to pay forward the help that we received, and she does this tirelessly.
Her website, ChelseaKline.com, describes her positions on the issues facing western Massachusetts. I’d like to talk about her character. As a graduate of Greenfield Community College, then Smith College, then Harvard Divinity School, Chelsea serves as an advisor and mentor to today’s diverse students at Baypath University as well as at Smith College. Her lived experience informs how she understands others. As someone who once needed SNAP benefits, she now serves meals at Providence Ministries. Over the past year, she has learned about the needs of the area by serving on the Hampshire Franklin Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. She also serves on the Board of Directors of The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts, which has done so much to help the young women and girls of western Massachusetts, and she finds many other ways of being an advocate and champion for working families, small businesses and marginalized communities.
My friend, Chelsea Kline, will put her passion to work for the Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester Senate District in the same way she has in all her other endeavors. I urge my fellow Democrats and Independents to vote for Chelsea Kline in the Sept. 4 primary.
Margot N. Parrot
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