To the Editor:

Like many residents of Tewksbury's Precincts 3 and 3a, I'm looking forward to the upcoming election on November 6th. Due to redistricting, we are now in the 18^th Essex district, and we have a choice of two representatives-- Jim Lyons and Barbara L'Italien. For me, the choice is clear.

Barbara L'Italien has impressed me with her balanced and bipartisan approach to legislating. Barbara puts her constituents above her party affiliation, and it shows. Working with Democrats and Republicans alike, she was able to pass landmark legislation granting insurance coverage to children with autism. This bill attracted the co-sponsorship of none other than Scott Brown, and ended up passing unanimously! Barbara knows that to get real results, a representative has to be willing to work together with both sides.

By contrast, Jim Lyons seems focused on a narrow agenda of his own. He tried to cut all funding for our school nurses and school-based health services, and filed amendments to cancel funding for family planning and teen pregnancy prevention. He even supported getting rid of the buffer zones around family planning clinics-- put in place to protect patients!  Jim Lyons has put his agenda above the priorities of his constituents.

I know that this November 6^th, I'll be voting for the representative that works together with both sides to address the issues important to the Town of Tewksbury-- Barbara L'Italien. I urge my friends and neighbors to do the same.

Robert (Bob) Demers

Tewksbury