A New Girls’ Network: An Interview with Massachusetts State Representative Lori Ehrlich, D-Marblehead
by Samina Uddin, Features Editor on April 15, 2009 in Features
After years as a successful, high profile environmental advocate, in 2004, Lori Ehrlich (MC/MPA ’05) enrolled at the Kennedy School, seeking to learn more about energy and environmental policy. Her participation in the school’s From Harvard Square to the Oval Office Program inspired a new path, however – one that led her all the way to the State Legislature. In a March 4, 2008 special election, Ehrlich defeated her opponents to win the election to represent the 8th district (Essex).
In an interview with the Citizen, Ehrlich reflects on her time at the Kennedy School, her rise to power, and the unique challenges confronting women seeking to enter politics.
Q: Did you enter the Kennedy School knowing you wanted to run for office?
A: Before coming to the Kennedy School, I was an advocate for energy and environmental issues. I co-founded two non-profit, environmental organizations – Healthlink, Inc. and the Wenham Lake Watershed Association – both of which sought to protect the health and welfare of citizens in my community. As an advocate, I consulted with three Republican Governors on environmental issues and led a delegation to Washington, D.C. to protest President Bush’s energy and environmental policies. My purpose for going to the Kennedy School was to brush up on policy and to develop a broader perspective; to figure out how the issues I cared about, which were mostly local, fit into the larger political picture.
Then I entered the Oval Office Program at the Kennedy School and things changed. I soon realized that the best way to achieve my policy goals was to learn the art of politics.
Q: How did the Oval Office Program prepare you for a career in politics?
A: The program brought me face-to-face with a number of accomplished women leaders. You couldn’t help but be inspired. I met Hillary Clinton and Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius. In addition to being political giants, these women were my role models. Slowly, I began to see myself in their shoes.
The program also taught important skills, including public speaking, fundraising, campaign management, and how to interact with the media. And it gave me sisterhood connections. Wonderful connections. This is incredibly valuable in politics. Instead of an old boys’ network, the Oval Office Program tapped me into the new girls’ network.
Q: As a newcomer to the political scene, how did you convince voters in your district that you were the right person for the job?
A: My previous advocacy work was very high profile and I had been in the newspaper for years. So a lot of people in my district were already familiar with me. Voters trusted me to a degree. But I still had to convince them that I was better than my opponents.
In the Democratic primary, I ran against a candidate who was politically compatible; we shared the same positions on a number of issues. So it became a personality game, and a matter of who worked the hardest and met the most people. It was my first election and I won by a margin of almost 2-1. There were three candidates in the special election – Republican and Independent contenders, and myself. Given the tight time frame for the special election, the competition was intense. I participated in no less than six public debates.
Q: What was it like running against an all-male field in both the primary and special elections?
A: My campaign strategy was to just be honest with voters. But as a woman, you need to work twice as hard to convince people you’re worthy of their vote. The debates were a case in point. I had a real depth of understanding on several different issues, and would give thoughtful and complete answers. And yet the remarks of my opponents, which were less substantive and less thoughtful, provoked nods of agreement by audience members.
Q: While running for office, you campaigned for increased funding for public schools and seniors’ programs. Since the election, have you made any progress?
A: Within a month of taking office, I secured state funding for $21 million in repairs for a local middle school. I also helped secure $75,000 for a district program for senior citizens known as NORC ( Naturally Occurring Retirement Community). The goal of these programs is to keep seniors out of nursing homes by providing them with essential services and equipment at home while creating social networks right in their own community. The expenditures are modest, but save the district a great deal more.
Q: How has the current economic crisis impacted your agenda?
A: Since I declared my intent to run for state legislature, the economy has taken a dramatic turn. It’s a whole new realm. In the midst of a global financial meltdown, Massachusetts is currently projecting a $2.5 billion deficit. And it’s not the result of state spending. We’re having a revenue problem, along with every other state in the country. So what do you do when you’re off by billions of dollars?
Going forward, it’s clear that the districts will not be able to rely as much on state government for funding. Locals programs will need to find alternative funding sources in order to survive. Unfortunately for so many, it’s in times like these when we need those services most.
Q: In addition to being an advocate, a politician, a wife, and mother, you were an accountant for 23 years. How has your experience as a CPA come in handy?
A: Two weeks into my term, I discovered that I was the only CPA in the State House of Representatives. The Legislature was in the process of closing a slew of tax loopholes. We were in session when one of my colleagues stopped by my desk and dropped a huge book on my desk. “You need to explain this to us, today,” she said. It was the Corporate Tax Code.
Q: What is your advice for aspiring women politicians at the Kennedy School?
A: Every female elected official I’ve encountered has a specific policy passion that drew them to politics. Women need to be especially strong, credible, and persistent. Find your way to be the most effective at accomplishing your goals. And if you find that this passionate path leads to politics, then go for it.”
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