When telling people about Jeromie Whalen, I liken him to the story of Charlotte’s Web where he is the spider. Not one of those scary spiders you come across in electoral news who are found to be weaving webs of deceit. But instead, Jeromie uses his web for the good of all.
Like the character Charlotte in Charlotte’s Web, Jeromie has a way of connecting with people and uplifting them — “terrific, radiant, humble.” All adjectives that Jeromie can make you feel even in a brief moment of interaction. All adjectives that Mr. Whalen himself exudes with fiery passion.
I met Jeromie and his wife April through my husband, who had the pleasure of growing up with both in Belchertown. The love they share for their community is abundant. Their free time is spent volunteering, meeting and traveling for causes such as Forever Young Vets and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. Jeromie’s time as a teacher for Northampton High School has clearly taught him the values of teamwork and generosity. Molding the young minds of the future is not an easy task but for Jeromie it was an adoration not a job. Jeromie has met loss with fortitude, he meets adversity with grace, and he provides space for all like-minded and un-like-minded individuals to be heard.
When Jeromie first spoke of his ideas to run for Congress, my husband and I could not wait to do whatever we could to support his dream. You must understand, we are not political people, we are the quiet-spoken ones who skirt the conversation to not be misinterpreted or misjudged. Jeromie has provided us with a comfortable platform. He has made politics interesting and exciting and something I take time to educate myself on instead of avoiding.
I recently read an article summarizing a poll that was given to Gen Zers by NBC news. It spoke a lot about the word nostalgia. I have heard this with the millennial generation as well. That most young adults and adults in these generations would prefer to live in the past than to think about the unpredictability of the future. I, myself being a millennial, have felt this pull to the past more often in recent years after the pandemic. The need to be more connected to people and less connected to technology. The need for a simpler time where the future did not feel so unstable. J
Jeromie brings that feeling back to our district. His solutions for problems we’ve faced for years under the current leadership feel like that first ice cream cone of summer. A glimmer of hope for the years to come. Jeromie is the equivalent to the best summer block party you’ve ever been to — bringing entire communities together in the district with understanding, equality and a whole lot of fun and laughter. You can see it in his advertisements, you can see it when you meet him, you can see it in his office headquarters where every photo of every person he’s made a connection with is framed and hung providing a tangible display of his beautiful web. A web that brings people together, a web that spreads love instead of division, a web that describes our district — “terrific, radiant, humble.”
I could not imagine a better candidate to serve the people of the 1st District of Massachusetts. Our time. Our movement. I’ll be voting for Jeromie this September and I hope all who can, will join me in the effort for change.
Ila McLaughlin lives in North Brookfield.