Flanagan starts her campaign for senate
By Karen Mann JOURNAL CORRESPONDENT

State Senate candidate Rep. Jennifer Flanagan (D-Leominster) greets former Fitchburg Police Chief Edward Cronin at her campaign kick-off event Monday night at the Four Points by Sheraton hotel in Leominster. JOURNAL PHOTO/KAREN MANN

Rep. Jennifer Flanagan (DLeominster) said she is ready to take all of the hard work and determination she has put into her position in the House of Representatives and continue on in the Senate.

"I pledge to you I will work hard for you everyday," Flanagan said Monday night at her official campaign kick-off for the state Senate seat.

Flanagan is running for the seat that will be left void by Sen. Robert Antonioni (D-Leominster). After holding the seat that represents Westminster for 26 years, Antonioni announced in February he would not seek re-election this fall.

Flanagan will face former Gardner Rep. Brian Knuuttila in the race for the Senate seat.

Antonioni is publicly supporting Flanagan, and was at her campaign event to make it known.

"After she has been in office a few months, you won't remember Bob Antonioni," Antonioni said.

He said he has been impressed by how smart Flanagan is, and how aggressive she is.

"Jen has always impressed me as someone who knows her stuff," Antonioni said.

Flanagan is in her second term as a state representative.

Flanagan said she has always fought for her community, to get the money and programs needed sent back to this region.

"It is all for the people," said Flanagan.

Although she only represents one community, Leominster, she is not worried about the potential of serving 11 communities.

"It is not unusual for a representative to have multiple cities and towns, it is unusual to have just one," said Flanagan before her public address. "I am willing to work hard for the entire district, all 11 cities and towns."

Flanagan said she has been talking to some of the representatives and senators who serve multiple communities to get advice.

"There is another 110,000 people out there I want to represent," said Flanagan to a crowd of about 100 supporters.

Flanagan said the small communities should not worry about her forgetting them, because she grew up in the small town of Clinton. She also said that her campaign would be very grassroots based so she would focus on going door-to-door and calling residents on the telephone.

"This is the beginning of an exciting campaign. We really need to gear up to work hard," said Flanagan.

Also showing support for Flanagan Monday night was Executive Director of the North Central Chamber of Commerce David McKeehan, Fitchburg Mayor Lisa Wong, and Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early, Jr.

"She is just the best person for this job, she really is," Early said. "The one thing that impresses me most about Jen is her character, honor, and integrity."