I am proud to endorse Lori Streeter for Franklin County sheriff.

As the state representative for New Salem, Shutesbury, and Wendell, I have the privilege of representing three Franklin County communities and working on behalf of the residents who rely on the sheriff’s office and its services. That has given me the opportunity to see firsthand the important role the office plays in our communities.

The job of sheriff is about much more than what happens inside the walls of a correctional facility. It is about public safety, treatment and recovery, preparing people to successfully return to their communities, supporting the men and women who do difficult work every day, and being a responsible steward of public resources.

Lori Streeter understands every part of that mission because she has spent more than three decades doing the work.

Lori began her career as a correctional officer and worked her way through the ranks to become superintendent before being appointed sheriff in 2025. That experience matters. She knows the institution from the ground up, understands the challenges facing its employees, and knows that effective public safety requires both accountability and opportunities.

That approach is particularly important in Franklin County and the rural communities of western Massachusetts. Our sheriff’s offices are important partners in addressing substance use disorder, behavioral health needs, reentry, vocational training and the many challenges that can contribute to recidivism. Lori has committed herself to strengthening that work while maintaining the fundamental responsibility of the office to keep our communities safe.

Just as importantly, she understands that public institutions belong to the public. She has made fiscal stability, transparency and accountability priorities of her administration, including confronting the significant budget challenges she inherited when she assumed office.

There is something to be said for leadership that comes from experience rather than assumption. Lori Streeter has spent her career learning this work, earning greater responsibility and serving the people of Franklin County. She knows the employees, the institution and the communities it serves.

At a time when confidence in public institutions must be earned every day, Franklin County deserves a sheriff who understands that public office is a public trust.

Lori Streeter has the experience, perspective and commitment to carry that responsibility forward, and I am proud to support her for Franklin County sheriff.

State Rep. Aaron Saunders, 7th Hampden District

Belchertown