ATHOL — Starting visits early as a candidate for state Senate, Rep. Lindsey Esser introduced herself to the Athol Selectboard recently, saying she has filed the necessary papers to run in the fall election.
Esser, 34, of Monson, intends to challenge incumbent Anne Gobi, D-Spencer, for the Senate seat Gobi has held since 2014 and which represents Athol in the Legislature.
Esser says she is opposed to “sanctuary states” and against a bill (S.1305) called the Safe Communities Act, filed in January 2017, that would make Massachusetts a sanctuary state.
The bill was discharged to the Committee on Senate Rules on Feb. 7.
As a Republican, Esser said she grew up in upstate New York, attended college, then served in the military, and is now self-employed as a business development and strategic planning consultant for small businesses and nonprofit organizations.
She and her husband, Mstr. Sgt. Javier L. Vega Jr., a 22-year Marine veteran, are raising a son who is in grade school.
Esser must first defeat fellow Republican Steve Hall of Sturbridge in the primary election in September.
Esser held a meet-and-greet in Barre at The Upper Deck.
She is running in the Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Middlesex District, which includes: Ashburnham, Athol, Barre, Brookfield, Charlton, East Brookfield, Hardwick, Hubbardston, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Oakham, Paxton, Petersham, Phillipston, Rutland, Spencer, Sturbridge, Templeton, Warren, West Brookfield and Winchendon in Worcester County; Brimfield, Holland, Monson, Palmer and Wales in Hampden County; Ware in Hampshire County; and Ashby in Middlesex County.