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Matthew Mixon
Matthew Mixon (independent) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Massachusetts' 6th Congressional District. He lost as a write-in in the general election on November 3, 2020.
Mixon completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Mixon earned an associate degree in liberal studies from Middlesex Community College in 2012. He then received a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the University of Massachusetts Lowell in 2014.[1]
Elections
2020
See also: Massachusetts' 6th Congressional District election, 2020
Massachusetts' 6th Congressional District election, 2020 (September 1 Democratic primary)
Massachusetts' 6th Congressional District election, 2020 (September 1 Republican primary)
General election
General election for U.S. House Massachusetts District 6
Incumbent Seth Moulton defeated John Paul Moran and Matthew Mixon in the general election for U.S. House Massachusetts District 6 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Seth Moulton (D) | 65.4 | 286,377 |
 | John Paul Moran (R)  | 34.4 | 150,695 | |
 | Matthew Mixon (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 605 | ||
| Total votes: 437,677 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Massachusetts District 6
Incumbent Seth Moulton defeated Jamie Zahlaway Belsito and Angus McQuilken in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Massachusetts District 6 on September 1, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Seth Moulton | 78.0 | 124,928 |
 | Jamie Zahlaway Belsito | 12.2 | 19,492 | |
 | Angus McQuilken | 9.7 | 15,478 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 268 | ||
| Total votes: 160,166 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Lisa Peterson (D)
- Nathaniel Mulcahy (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Massachusetts District 6
John Paul Moran advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Massachusetts District 6 on September 1, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | John Paul Moran | 98.9 | 32,564 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.1 | 375 | ||
| Total votes: 32,939 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2018
General election
General election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 22nd Middlesex District
Incumbent Marc Lombardo defeated Christopher Tribou and Matthew Mixon in the general election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 22nd Middlesex District on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Marc Lombardo (R) | 60.5 | 10,610 |
| Christopher Tribou (D) | 37.5 | 6,581 | ||
| Matthew Mixon (Second American Revolution Party) | 1.8 | 319 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 19 | ||
| Total votes: 17,529 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 22nd Middlesex District
Christopher Tribou advanced from the Democratic primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 22nd Middlesex District on September 4, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Christopher Tribou | 100.0 | 2,478 | |
| Total votes: 2,478 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 22nd Middlesex District
Incumbent Marc Lombardo advanced from the Republican primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 22nd Middlesex District on September 4, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Marc Lombardo | 100.0 | 2,326 |
| Total votes: 2,326 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Matthew Mixon completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Mixon's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
- It is vital that we remove money from our political system and change our campaign finance system
- It is time to reduce military spending and end unnecessary foreign conflicts
- In order to truly move forward we must reform all parts of our justice system
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Matthew Mixon completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Mixon's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
My top three priorities would be protecting our environment, improving our public transit systems, and reforming our state legislature. Protecting our environment and preserving what remains of our natural resources in the state is vital not only to our quality of life but our way of life as well. We need to save our heritage and our state's natural features before they all disappear. What remains of the forest and of the wilderness is vanishing before our very eyes and not only is it tragic, it's an environmental disaster, one we are in the midst of and will suffer the effects of.. If we don't take action to counter the deforestation that is occurring in the eastern part of the state there will be long term consequences and ecological changes. Working with hunters, conservation groups, land trustee organizations, and wildlife groups to preserve land and replant trees is the key to saving the wilderness and offsetting the impact of all the development taking place. It is also very important that we continue to clean up and restore the environment at the superfund sites that exist in Massachusetts. Improving and upgrading our public transit system in the state is critical to facilitating easier exchanges of ideas and information, encouraging more people to visit the city, and making life more convenient for residents as well. Some ideas that I think should be implemented include extending bus routes to additional areas, having more frequent bus service, extending the commuter rail and subway lines, and having additional service for the commuter rail and subway. What we don't want to do though is create a bus route or train stop that barely anyone will use. So all of these services will be established based on the desires and needs of each town. It is also important to replace or upgrade our older and outdated buses and trains, provide alternative ways to travel around such as bike paths, and repair the state's roads and add safety improvements such as traffic signals, sidewalks, protected bike lanes, raised crosswalks or road bridges, wider or taller culverts, and better intersection visibility. I believe that working to reform our state legislature and make it a nonpartisan body is one of the most crucial measures that can be taken to ensure a bright future for our state and to make our political system more equitable and inclusive. Without political parties, and standing as independent individuals, legislators can focus all of their attention on the issues,what matters the most to their constituents, and what actions they can take to improve the lives of everyone in the state. The majority of politicians are not going to go against the leadership of their party and what the rest of their party is doing because they will be at risk of losing their job and being ostracized by their peers. That's not the way things should be at all and I am going to work to remove political parties from our legislature if I'm elected.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
One area of public policy that I'm passionate about is how the government treats those who are less fortunate or struggling in our society and those who don't conform to their social order and rules. This includes the homeless, those living in poverty, those with mental health or substance abuse issues, and those the state currently has under some form of correctional supervision. I think the way we treat these members of our society says a lot about our values and who we are as a people. It's important to try and put ourselves in the position of someone who is poor or living on the streets and imagine what it would be like to live in such extremely difficult and dangerous conditions. If we were ever in their position, we would want someone to help us and encourage us. I don't think any one of us is in a position to judge those who are less fortunate in our society. We should help them as much as we can with whatever they are dealing with, so that they realize there is hope and so they don't continue to spiral down into an even worse state. Rather than stigmatizing the various conditions and mental states that these individuals are dealing with, we should be doing everything we can in our power to help them recover and get better. I believe we as individuals should form a connection with those who are struggling in life and show them that not only do they have something to offer to our society, but our society has something to offer them as well. Another area of public policy I'm passionate about is how the government classifies and regulates various substances. As we can see from the federal government, the way a drug is classified is not always based on facts and may in fact be scientifically incorrect. I believe every substance should be treated differently based on its effects. Obviously we want to prevent any substances that are highly addictive and dangerous from harming our citizens, and stop the people who are selling such substances. At the same time though, we need the government to realize that there are also plant medicines and teachers that can provide very positive experiences and changes in perception or consciousness for people, that are currently thrown in with the rest of the scheduled substances. These plant medicines have been growing alongside humans for thousands of years and they are recognized by native and tribal shamans for the sacred healing power and wisdom that they offer. Yet most of what these substances provide can not be put into words and must be experienced. These substances are also currently being studied by scientists and have been found to be helpful in treating many different conditions including alcohol and drug addiction, PTSD, anxiety, and depression. We have overlooked the beneficial effects of these sacred plants for far too long now and it's time that we recognize and respect what they offer.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
I think that above all, it is important for elected officials to be deeply caring and empathetic people. Politicians need to have an unconditional love not only for their own constituents, but for the rest of humanity as well. Elected officials need to be as non judgemental towards others as they possibly can. Otherwise they will come off as elitist and privileged individuals who think they are superior to everyone else and who believe they have the right to judge others and their way of life. The best elected official is someone who has a true desire to help others and improve the quality of their lives. An elected official should truly care about the people, recognize and accept the different ways that people live, and try his best to understand the struggles and difficulties of all the people he represents and what are going through. It is also important for elected officials to be genuine and authentic as well. When you don't truly believe in something or when your heart isn't fully committed to something it's obvious and people can tell. Putting on a front only creates a sense of disconnection and puts a strain on the relationship between a politician and his constituents. Politicians need to articulate and show how they truly feel about things, rather than acting fake or politically correct. In other words, politicians need to show the people they represent who they truly are. This way, their constituents know their general personality and demeanor and won't get caught off guard by anything they do. Honesty and loyalty are two other vital characteristics that politicians should have. We need politicians who tell people the truth, rather than misleading them, making people promises they can't keep, and lying to their constituents. We also need politicians who are absolutely loyal to their constituents and who would never do anything to betray or hurt them in any way. It seems too often that our politicians can be bought off by various different interests, some of which are not interested in the well being and overall condition of humanity in the future. The best elected officials are those who are reasonable, rational, logical, and sensible. Those who have the facts and information on their side and those who respect scientific findings and information. Those who are open and willing to hear new facts and information that might go against or run contrary to their established viewpoints and perspectives. The best elected officials are also those who are willing to make compromises. Those who try to make the best and fairest deals possible, because they know in many cases they will have to compromise in order to get things done. The best politicians are intelligent and knowledgeable as well. They not only have knowledge about how the political system works, but about how life and the world functions as well. The best politicians are strong people who are capable of overcoming any difficulties and obstacles in their own lives and perservering.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
There are many qualities that I possess that I believe would make me a successful officeholder. I am a reasonable, logical, rational, scientific minded, and evidence based individual. I am a compassionate and empathetic person. I am sensitive and respectful towards the feelings of others. I try to think about things in terms of the greater picture and grander scheme. I try to view situations and circumstances in different ways, and I try to view life from multiple perspectives. I am a genuine and authentic person who simply cares about helping others and bringing people together. I care about the environment not only in Billerica, but throughout the entire state and that includes the cities as well. I appreciate and value art and intellectualism. I find the ways in which towns and cities are designed to be interesting. The ways in which different towns operate and develop, their architecture and scenery, the ambiance that unique areas exude, and how different societies function are all very intriguing to me. I am capable of discussing and coming up with creative, alternative, and original ideas and solutions to issues. I know how to and I am fully willing to make compromises and do everything I can to get the best deals to improve the quality of life in our town and state. I am a critical thinker who tries to look at things realistically, objectively, and from multiple sides. I am open minded to new information. I am willing to stand on my own and truly be an independent politician who thinks for myself. I am willing to take action to create a brighter future for the state. I care about the problems of residents and I will listen to them. I am willing to sacrifice as much time and energy as is necessary to advocate for and help my constituents. I want to make this state a better place and a more fair and equal place for everyone.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
I believe the core responsibilities of a state representative include faithfully representing and advocating for your constituents, helping residents and discussing any issues with the government that they have, taking measures to improve the quality of life for everyone in the state, being an effective leader and providing an independent voice of reason that is based on facts, logic, and scientific evidence, and reforming the government's systems and institutions to make the entire system more fair and equal for everyone.
What legacy would you like to leave?
I would like to leave a legacy of unity, integrity, reason, compromise, and understanding. I want to try and bring people together as much as possible. Too often we are divided against our neighbors, friends, and family by the media, politics, finances, and other systems that are maintained and controlled by the powers that be. By their inherent design these systems divide us against each other. There are many categories and classes that people are placed into and defined as which force them into a certain role in our social system. I wish to inspire, encourage, and help people break free from these limiting classifications and achieve their full potential in this world.
What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?
I think some of the state's greatest challenges in the next 10 years are going to be overpopulation, overdevelopment, an even higher cost of living, and an even greater disparity in income levels. The legislature seriously needs to focus on these issues and think about how it's going to address these problems. The population of Massachusetts is going to reach 7 million people very soon. Our government has to provide services for every one of those 7 million people. That's no small task to accomplish. In fact, it's quite a monumental undertaking. The state government has to interact and help millions of residents every year. There is already an obvious strain on some services. We are already the third most densely populated state now with 871 people per square mile.There are only so many people that can fit in such a small area. With more people comes more development, an increased need for government services, and the destruction of our sacred wilderness. We have witnessed the vast destruction of our forests across the eastern part of the state due to the greed and selfishness of others. There's no such thing as unlimited growth, but there are intelligent ways that towns and cities can be developed. This includes setting aside common areas, parks, and wilderness areas for people to enjoy, rather than stealing or exploiting all of their natural resources and land for profit. Sooner or later there will be a tipping point when these issues will begin to significantly impact our daily lives. The consequences if we fail to act now are very real. There will be few untouched areas of woodland or the wilderness left, people and wildlife will have less space to live in, there will be even fewer animals and trees around, and only those with high incomes will be able to afford living here. We absolutely cannot allow our state to become one giant urban area and we need to stop developers from profiting off our communities by exploiting and destroying them. We also need to take action to address the cost of living before more long term residents are pushed out of the state because they can't afford to live here anymore. We have one of the highest costs of living in the entire country but it seems that ultimately little has been done to address it. The minimum wage will not reach $15 until 2023. By that time the cost of living will have increased once again. The prices of basic human necessities and services in the state only continue to climb higher. Groceries, clothing, education, healthcare, insurance, rent, and utilities are becoming even more expensive and unaffordable for people. Time and a half pay is being taken away from retail workers. There are citizens working full time or multiple jobs who still need state assistance to get by. Things shouldn't be this way. The legislature needs to consider what it can do to help alleviate these precarious circumstances we find ourselves in today.
What process do you favor for redistricting?
I think taking a look at establishing an independent redistricting commission that works alongside the state legislature is a good idea. I feel it is important for knowledgeable and interested citizens to have greater oversight and input over how the lines and boundaries of districts are redrawn. I believe we should be careful about solely allowing politicians to determine the borders and limits of districts at any level of government. There are some politicians who attempt to use redistricting for their own political gain. An independent commission would limit the amount of authority politicians have and provide a greater balance of power. From what I have seen, there could definitely be some refinements made to the borders of districts and the areas each district encompasses. There are some districts which contain only one section of a town and districts that include towns which should be part of a different district or in their own, to name a few issues with the current way our districts are drawn.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Matthew Mixon completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Mixon's responses.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
If I listened to and followed the media I would look up to celebrities, sports players, and those who have a large concentration of wealth of power. Fortunately, I do not listen to or allow myself to be influenced by much of what the media says. The people I truly look up to are the average men and women in this country. Those who are doing what they have to, to get by, working hard, and raising a family. My heart goes out to the average person, I know how difficult life can be at times and I understand that many people have to deal with hardships and suffering in their life. I am inspired by the perseverance of the average man and woman. Despite the numerous challenges and obstacles set up within the system by the elitists who control it, the average person makes the best of their situation and circumstances and tries to overcome as many of these roadblocks as possible. Many also try to become better people by furthering their education or learning new information on their own. I think average people are the happiest and most fulfilled when they can find a meaningful role in society and accept their place in our system. I have an immense amount of compassion and empathy for the average man and woman in our country today. Although I do not have any children of my own, I still understand how hard it is to raise a family and I know that parents make lots of sacrifices to give their children a good life. It's makes me sad that the average person today doesn't have much time to spend with their family or friends or pursue their hobbies and interests. I wish people had more time to spend with their loved ones and their cherished friends and I also wish more people had the time to follow their hopes and dreams. I think it's ironic how several decades ago people thought life would be much easier by this time. If anything, life is just as difficult, if not more so than it ever was. Wages are stagnant, rent continues to increase, food prices continue to go up, and the cost of healthcare and education is astronomical. I want to follow the example of all the good and decent people in this world. I believe that promoting the qualities of compassion, kindness, generosity, love, tolerance, understanding, and empathy is what our world needs right now, and has always needed. The more positive actions are taken in this world, the greater the ripple effect they will have. You truly can change the course of someone's life with some kind words or by performing a compassionate action. I think sometimes we underestimate the amount of influence that we can have over others. When we try our best to influence others in positive ways, society usually benefits as a result. Our actions towards one individual end up effecting a lot more than just one person.
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
While it doesn't explain my entire political philosophy or fully describe me as an individual I would tell people to read Walden. I agree with Thoreau that we need better government.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
I think that above all, it is important for elected officials to be deeply caring and empathetic people. Politicians need to have an unconditional love not only for their own constituents, but for the rest of humanity as well. Elected officials need to be as non judgemental towards others as they possibly can. Otherwise they will come off as elitist and privileged individuals who think they are superior to everyone else and who believe they have the right to judge others and their way of life. The best elected official is someone who has a true desire to help others and improve the quality of their lives. An elected official should truly care about the people, recognize and accept the different ways that people live, and try his best to understand the struggles and difficulties of all the people he represents and what are going through. It is also important for elected officials to be genuine and authentic as well. When you don't truly believe in something or when your heart isn't fully committed to something it's obvious and people can tell. Putting on a front only creates a sense of disconnection and puts a strain on the relationship between a politician and his constituents. Politicians need to articulate and show how they truly feel about things, rather than acting fake or politically correct. In other words, politicians need to show the people they represent who they truly are. This way, their constituents know their general personality and demeanor and won't get caught off guard by anything they do. Honesty and loyalty are two other vital characteristics that politicians should have. We need politicians who tell people the truth, rather than misleading them, making people promises they can't keep, and lying to their constituents. We also need politicians who are absolutely loyal to their constituents and who would never do anything to betray or hurt them in any way. It seems too often that our politicians can be bought off by various different interests, some of which are not interested in the well being and overall condition of humanity in the future. The best elected officials are those who are reasonable, rational, logical, and sensible. Those who have the facts and information on their side and those who respect scientific findings and information. Those who are open and willing to hear new facts and information that might go against or run contrary to their established viewpoints and perspectives. The best elected officials are also those who are willing to make compromises. Those who try to make the best and fairest deals possible, because they know in many cases they will have to compromise in order to get things done. The best politicians are intelligent and knowledgeable as well. They not only have knowledge about how the political system works, but about how life and the world functions as well. The best politicians are strong people who are capable of overcoming any difficulties and obstacles in their own lives and perservering.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
9/11 is the first historical event that I remember in my lifetime. I was in third grade at the time. I knew that something was going on because my teacher was upset. I remember walking home from school after the bus dropped me off and as I walked down the road towards my house it just felt like something was off, that's the best way I can describe it for lack of better wording. At the time I didn't understand the magnitude and gravity of what had happened. I knew that something bad had happened but I didn't realize how bad it was. I don't think any third grader would be able to fully understand such a horrific attack.and unimaginable loss of life. I remember my mom kept me away from watching the images on TV and I'm glad that she did. The tragic events witnessed and recorded that day are enough to give an adult nightmares, never mind a child. I sometimes wonder about what things would be like today if 9/11 never happened. Ever since that day it feels like a dark cloud has descended over this country.
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
My favorite holiday is Independence Day. I like how the holiday's very existence promotes the values of freedom, independence, and liberty. I appreciate the holiday's historical significance and how it celebrates the birth of our country. The fourth of July is a very special time of year around here. There is a certain feeling that is impossible to fully describe in words that July 4th brings to the area, and I really enjoy the atmosphere of the holiday. I like all the typical events and activities that people do around July 4th such as going to the beach, traveling, having cookouts and parties, and watching firework displays. I like seeing how much people get into the spirit of Independence Day and I enjoy seeing all of the patriotic decorations and displays. I also love the long, beautiful summer nights that are a defining aspect of July.
What is your favorite book? Why?
My favorite book is Walden by Henry David Thoreau. I appreciate many of the same things as Thoreau did such as simplicity, nature, and tranquility.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
There isn't any fictional character I would want to be. The only person I ever want to be is myself. I think the real world is much more intriguing than any fictional story
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
In A Drawer by Band of Horses
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
Something that has been a struggle for me in my life is trying to figure out what this world and existence is really all about and what the truth is. I have struggled to understand why the world is in its current state and why life is so unfair and harsh for many people. I have also had difficulties coming to terms with all the violent and senseless actions committed against innocent and helpless people. The amount of hatred and division in our country is very hard for me to understand. I don't get why some people have to be so heartless and cruel towards others. There are already enough issues in the world without bullies. If people truly knew how to love and accept each other, our country would be in a much better condition. Instead, we have neighbors, family members, and friends all divided against each other. If there's one thing I know, it's that we must address and defuse these hateful attitudes before they begin to cause serious problems in our society. As I've grown older I've learned more about how the world functions and how society works, but the knowledge I've learned does not explain why everything exists in the first place. Nor does it explain what's truly going on behind the scenes of our shared reality. Through countless hours of contemplation and introspection I have come to understand that determining the meaning of this reality is up to each individual. On a basic and simplistic level, we are here to live and experience this world. The only reason things have meaning is because we ascribe meaning to them. Something only means as much as we say it does, and we might not agree with someone else on the meaning of a particular event or situation. We literally give meaning to this existence based upon our thoughts and feelings about the world. While there may be numerous media, economic, religious, and political figures who act like they have the meaning of this existence completely figured out, the truth of the matter is that they really don't know anything more than anyone else. In fact, some of these individuals are the most lost and confused out of us all, they just refuse to admit or show it. I have also come to realize that there are very powerful forces at work in this reality, some of which I can identify and understand, and some of which are far beyond my current level of comprehension. I know the world is much greater than one individual. I have come to accept that I may never know the entire truth about this existence. I accept that I have a limited perspective and perception and that I am only able to understand so much. This doesn't mean I will ever stop searching for the truth and trying to develop a more complete understanding of this reality, it just means that I accept and know that my level of comprehension is limited.
Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?
Our elected officials in the State Senate represent a much larger area than our representatives in the state house. We have many more elected officials in the house than in the senate, 4 times as many in fact, with 40 senators and 160 representatives. I can imagine things might be a little less hectic and chaotic when you only have 40 politicians in a room versus 160. Our elected officials in the Senate also appear to be more of the senior political leadership while there are many new and aspiring politicians in the House.
What are the benefits and drawbacks of a unicameral state legislature, in your opinion?
N/A, I am not a Nebraska Candidate
Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?
I think it is beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics, but only so long as their experience has not already heavily influenced them to only look at one side of an issue or only see one point of view. If all a politician is going to do is be ignorant of scientific evidence and facts or only help out their friends and the interests that support them then no matter what their previous experience is, it doesn't benefit regular people, it only benefits themselves and their friends. Sometimes I think it's better for candidates to not have any experience or involvement in politics because if they are involved there will already be different politicians and interests that can influence or sway them, or make them change their point of view, or help support them with outside interests, which gives them an unfair advantage. I think it's best if our state legislators start out new so to say, and don't have any well established or prominent connections, political or otherwise. I don't see previous experience in government or politics as necessary so long as a person is reasonable, sensible, intelligent, knowledgeable about politics and how the government works, genuine in their intentions, willing to make compromises and work with other legislators, and so long as the individual truly cares about helping others.
What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?
I think some of the state's greatest challenges in the next 10 years are going to be overpopulation, overdevelopment, an even higher cost of living, and an even greater disparity in income levels. The legislature seriously needs to focus on these issues and think about how it's going to address these problems. The population of Massachusetts is going to reach 7 million people very soon. Our government has to provide services for every one of those 7 million people. That's no small task to accomplish. In fact, it's quite a monumental undertaking. The state government has to interact and help millions of residents every year. There is already an obvious strain on some services. We are already the third most densely populated state now with 871 people per square mile.There are only so many people that can fit in such a small area. With more people comes more development, an increased need for government services, and the destruction of our sacred wilderness. We have witnessed the vast destruction of our forests across the eastern part of the state due to the greed and selfishness of others. There's no such thing as unlimited growth, but there are intelligent ways that towns and cities can be developed. This includes setting aside common areas, parks, and wilderness areas for people to enjoy, rather than stealing or exploiting all of their natural resources and land for profit. Sooner or later there will be a tipping point when these issues will begin to significantly impact our daily lives. The consequences if we fail to act now are very real. There will be few untouched areas of woodland or the wilderness left, people and wildlife will have less space to live in, there will be even fewer animals and trees around, and only those with high incomes will be able to afford living here. We absolutely cannot allow our state to become one giant urban area and we need to stop developers from profiting off our communities by exploiting and destroying them. We also need to take action to address the cost of living before more long term residents are pushed out of the state because they can't afford to live here anymore. We have one of the highest costs of living in the entire country but it seems that ultimately little has been done to address it. The minimum wage will not reach $15 until 2023. By that time the cost of living will have increased once again. The prices of basic human necessities and services in the state only continue to climb higher. Groceries, clothing, education, healthcare, insurance, rent, and utilities are becoming even more expensive and unaffordable for people. Time and a half pay is being taken away from retail workers. There are citizens working full time or multiple jobs who still need state assistance to get by. Things shouldn't be this way. The legislature needs to consider what it can do to help alleviate these precarious circumstances we find ourselves in today.
What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?
I believe the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature is a positive one where each branch actively solicits feedback and advice from the other branch, as well as a relationship where both branches work together closely to accomplish things that will help the state prosper. The ideal relationship between the two branches is also one where both branches are willing to make compromises on issues where they have differences and one where both branches actually listen to what residents are saying and put aside their political differences to help and serve the people. If the relationship between the governor and the state legislature is not good, then at the very least each branch should listen to and try to understand why the other branch has the perspective and goals that it does. However, if the governor's office or the state legislature is doing something wrong or immoral, or not performing the essential functions of their job, or simply doing a poor job overall, then the other branch needs to provide strong opposition and a check to their abuse of power, or their negligence, or their greed or corruption.
Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.
It depends. If other legislators are interested in helping me and working with me then yes. However if any legislator is only trying to manipulate me or use me for their own political gain or someone else's political gain then absolutely not. It's not always easy to tell someone's intentions so it pays to be vigilant and aware of their actions and their relationships with other legislators. Regardless of what type of relationship I have with each legislator I will always remain respectful, considerate, and ready to make compromises with all of them. If I don't have that attitude then I won't be able to accomplish very much.
If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?
The committees that I would be interested in serving on at some point include but are not limited to the Joint Committee on children, families, and persons with disabilities, the Joint Committee on community development and small businesses, the Joint Committee on environment, natural resources and agriculture, the Joint Committee on Transportation, the Joint Committee on tourism, arts, and cultural development, the House Committee on Ethics, the House Committee on Global Warming and climate change, and the House Committee on technology and intergovernmental affairs.
If you are a current legislator, what appealed to you about your current committees?
N/A, I am not a current legislator
Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?
Absolutely not, I want to be myself and not just follow the path of someone else
Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?
I love Massachusetts and I want to stay here as long as I can. The only other political position I might be interested in running for is Senator in the State House, but I would only run for that after gaining experience as a state representative. So I guess the answer for right now is no because I would want to serve multiple terms as state representative before ever running for the state senate.
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Note: Jarvis submitted the above survey responses to Ballotpedia on October 18, 2018.
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| “ | What is your political philosophy?
I chose to run for office because I know that Billerica has a lot of potential and I want to help the town prosper and thrive. I am someone who can think for myself and can think critically about things. I don't feel like either of the two main parties represents me so I chose to run as an independent. The only thing I will represent in the state house is the residents of this town, and not a political party. One of my core beliefs is that we need to remove money from our political system completely. We cannot allow special interest groups and lobbyists to buy our politicians off at any level of government. I support a yes vote on Question 2. Another one of my main beliefs is that we need to remove political parties from our legislature and make the entire system nonpartisan. That way politicians are forced to stand as independents and focus on the issues. Political parties cause too much infighting and bickering and force politicians to follow the party line or risk losing their job. While I will not have to follow the orders from the leadership of a political party and instead can take whatever action I feel is best for the town, I will still be accountable to the residents of Billerica, and I will listen to what people say. One of my main goals is to work with hunters, conservation organizations, trustee groups, and others in the state to preserve 100,000 acres of land. Another one of my goals is to repair and improve our infrastructure system. This includes things such as obtaining new buses and trains, fixing/updating roads, and extending the subway/commuter rail lines and increasing bus service. Helping the state transition to 100% renewable energy is another one of my goals if elected. We need to eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels and limit our impact on the environment. Some of my other goals are to create a better affordable housing law that has 75% of the units affordable and allows denser development near transit hubs but also forces developers to set aside conservation land or benefit the community in some other way, make our healthcare system more affordable, refine the educational system and ensure that it receives proper funding, improve our mental health system, and reform our criminal justice and prison systems. I oppose the federal militarization of the police, warrantless government spying, and the federal Real ID initiative. I support the legalization of cannabis. I support treatment and rehabilitation for those with substance abuse and mental health issues. I support community policing, community service, and restorative justice. I want to make Massachusetts a fair and equal state for everyone who lives here. Is there anything you would like to add? I would encourage anyone who wants to know more to visit my blog. mixonforstaterep.wordpress.com.[2] |
” |
| —Matthew Mixon[3] | ||
See also
2020 Elections
External links
Footnotes
