April 22, 2010

By Rick Winterson

Editor’s Note:  South Boston Online is presenting profiles of each of the five candidates running for state Representative from the Fourth Suffolk District.  While we don’t endorse political candidates, we feel that profiling them and their key issues is an essential service to the community.  This week, we interviewed Jake Bombard, and we will finish the candidate series next week with Mike McGee.

Jake Bombard, Democratic candidate for state Representative for the Fourth Suffolk District, was born and brought up in the D Street projects by his mother, Cathie.  He took kindergarten at the Condon School and went to St. Augustine School through grade 5.  After that, he completed middle and high school at the Boston Collegiate Charter School (the BCCS).  He earned his college degree in English Literature at The College of William and Mary in Virginia.

Jake’s student achievements are many.  Among them are membership in the National Honor Society and High School President while at the BCCS.  He raised funds for Adopt-A-Child, took part in Summer Search (a youth leadership program) that led to Outward Bound in Colorado and to Paris with American Field Service.  His jobs included an internship with Sen. Jack Hart and farm laborer on Long Island.  Jake traveled to Tanzania as an HIV/AIDS educator, serving also as Financial Manager for the program.  He enjoys kayaking and he is an ardent Shakespeare buff.

Since college, Jake has returned to the BCCS, giving homework support and providing informal guidance to college-bound students.  Right now, he’s a group leader at the Neighborhood House, mentoring 6- to 12-year-olds in their after-school programs.  When things go well, he teaches them salsa dancing. 

Jake decided he would run for office a year ago.  He talks about how many of his friends are really up against it.  They’re facing a failing economy without either high school or college diplomas; many suffer from drug addiction.  Jake says it’s his responsibility to change that.  He refers to his friends in the projects as “the smartest people I’ve ever met, who never had the opportunities I had.”  Jake feels that opportunity in this neighborhood should not depend on luck. 

Jake Bombard labels his top campaign priority as “Leadership with Integrity”.  He says integrity is the first standard for an elected official to live by:  Principles before Politics.  During this interview, he articulated his key campaign promise, “As an elected official, my first duty will be serving the people of the Fourth Suffolk District with integrity”.

Jake thinks (and feels) strongly that faith in the State House is fading.  “Democracy is a sacred thing,” he says, “Consecrated by the lives of all those who died for it.”  Jake believes every elected official must dedicate his or he life to honor that.

Jake’s other top priority is the Massachusetts economy, especially bringing back a sense of fiscal responsibility.  For example, Jake thinks the sales tax ought to be lowered.  “People are struggling. It’s a highly regressive tax that not only hurts consumers, but also affects small businesses, the life’s blood of our economy.”

Jake supports amending the Commonwealth’s Constitution, so that the state’s income tax could be graduated.  With few exceptions, Massachusetts is constitutionally required to levy the same percentage income tax on everyone, which is also quite regressive.  Not so incidentally, that would also raise revenues substantially.  But primarily, we need to put people back to work.

As another campaign issue, Jake wants to strengthen our sense of community.  Certainly, South Boston has changed dramatically, but we’re still all neighbors.  He wants this community to believe as Robert Kennedy did:  That we more than just a common border, we share in a common effort.  Jake has started his own community project – Project ROC, for “Revolutionize Our Community”.  And he promises no matter how his campaign turns out that he’s here for the District.  “I really care about this community.”

At the close of this interview, Jake offered this statement, “I can’t promise you’ll agree with every opinion I have, but I can promise I will begin every day with the single-minded focus of serving this community.”

Read more about Jake’s platform in detail at www.bombardforstaterep.org