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Eric Philip Lesser
Member of the Massachusetts Senate
from the First Hampden and Hampshire district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 6, 2015
Preceded byGale D. Candaras
Personal details
Bornthumb
(1985-02-27) February 27, 1985 (age 39)
Longmeadow, Massachusetts
Diedthumb
center
State Senator Eric P. Lesser (D-Longmeadow)
Resting placethumb
center
State Senator Eric P. Lesser (D-Longmeadow)
Political partyDemocratic
SpousesAlison Silber
Parent
  • thumb
  • center
  • State Senator Eric P. Lesser (D-Longmeadow)
ResidencesLongmeadow, Massachusetts
EducationLongmeadow High School
Harvard College
Harvard Law School
OccupationPolitician
Websitewww.ericlesser.com

Eric Lesser (born February 27, 1985) is a Massachusetts State Senator and former White House aide from Longmeadow, Massachusetts. He is one of the originators of the White House Seder.

Early life, family and education

Lesser grew up in Longmeadow and graduated from Longmeadow High School. Lesser was known as an advocate for public schools, working with students, parents and teachers to increase school funding and improve education.[1] He also worked for Congressman Richard Neal and Senator Ted Kennedy.[2] Lesser was an active member of Sinai Temple, coordinating volunteer activities for high school students. He was an active volunteer with the Longmeadow Democratic Town Committee.[3]

Lesser’s father, Martin, is a family doctor in Holyoke, Massachusetts and a member of the Massachusetts National Guard. In 2010, he served a tour of duty in Iraq.[4] Lesser’s mother, Joan, is a social worker in Holyoke.[5][6]

After high school, Lesser received his bachelor's degree from Harvard College, where he majored in government.[7] While in college, Lesser worked on the Deval Patrick gubernatorial campaign and led the Harvard College Democrats.[8] Lesser also led a policy group on Congressional Redistricting Reform, and started a public policy research program at the Institute of Politics.[9] Lesser was a student at Harvard Law School,[10] where he was named of the “most impressive Harvard Law students” by Business Insider.[11]

Political career

Obama presidential campaign

After college, Lesser joined Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, helping stage events in New Hampshire.[7] After the primary, Lesser was tapped to be the campaign’s “Ground Logistics Coordinator,” traveling with the candidate to 47 states, six countries, and over 200,000 miles.[12][13] Commenting on his logistical prowess, President Obama said “Eric Lesser may be running a Fortune 500 company one day," adding "We are lucky to have such a smart and committed young man as part of our team."[2] During the campaign, Lesser organized an impromptu Passover Seder during a campaign stop in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. At the Passover Seder, then-Senator Obama promised “Next year in the White House.”[3][14]

White House aide

After the campaign, David Axelrod tapped Lesser to serve as his Special Assistant, working just steps from the Oval Office.[7][15][16] Lesser was described as a “wunderkind”[17] and a “West Wing mascot” during his time at the White House.[18] Lesser also worked at the Council of Economic Advisers, the White House unit charged with offering the President objective economic advice.[19][20]

White House Seder

Main article: White House Passover Seder
2011 White House Passover Seder

Lesser is one of the chief organizers[21] of an annual White House Passover Seder attended by President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and their daughters[22][23][24] – the first presidential Seder in American history.[25] The seder is a reunion of the original group who met in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania during the 2008 campaign.[26][27] Lesser brings handmade shmurah matzah from the Chabad-Lubavitch center in Springfield, MA.[28] Over the years the Seder has grown in prominence. President Obama has discussed the Seder with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,[29] and Sara Netanyahu gave the President a silver Seder plate to use in subsequent White House Seders.[30] President Obama has spoken of the Seder in a speech before the American Israel Public Affairs Committee[31] and in an address before the Israeli people.[32]

State Senate

On February 3, 2014, The Republican newspaper reported that Lesser was considering a bid for the First Hampden & Hampshire seat in the Massachusetts State Senate, recently vacated by Sen. Gale Candaras.[33] On February 18, 2014, Lesser announced his candidacy for Massachusetts State Senate.[34] On September 9, Lesser won the Democratic primary in the race for state senate.[35] On November 4, Lesser defeated Republican Debra Boronski and America First candidate Mike Franco to win the State Senate seat.[36]

Introduction of high speed rail

Lesser supports the introduction of a high speed rail system to ease travel between Eastern and Western Massachusetts. Lesser believes that if a high speed rail line existed between Springfield and Boston it would lead to an increase in employment and an overall boost to the economy of Western Massachusetts.[37] In his first month, Senator Lesser filed a bill that would require a report of the costs and benefits of a high speed rail by August 1, 2015.[38]

Four point plan for seniors

In May 2014, Lesser published an opinion piece in the Springfield Republican detailing a plan to support the increasing population of adults over 65 in Western Massachusetts. Lesser believes that in-home healthcare should be more affordable in order to allow seniors to stay in their homes as long as possible. His plan also includes two points regarding the physical and financial security of the elderly. Lesser wrote that the state should provide increased oversight of in-home healthcare agencies in order to reduce instances of elder abuse, and he supports the increased availability of computer and financial literacy education opportunities to decrease the number of seniors who fall victim to online and phone scams.[39]

Plan to end opioid abuse

Lesser is an advocate for a proportional response to the heroin epidemic that resulted in 185 deaths in the first four months of 2014. He created and published a four-point plan in May 2014 including concrete steps to address the problem of addiction. The plan includes the addition of more drug courts specializing in sending drug users to treatment instead of jail to Western Massachusetts, work to end dependence on prescription drugs through partnerships with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other organizations, investment in new treatments that have shown promise in decreasing withdrawal symptoms, and an increase in the availability of the drug Narcan; which can save lives by reversing the effects of a heroin overdose.[40] In January 2015, Lesser filed two bills regarding opioid abuse. The first attempts to close the pharmacy shopping loophole, while the second increases accessibility and affordability of Narcan.[41]

Consulting

Lesser has consulted with HBO on the television show Veep since 2012.[42][43]

Personal life

Lesser married attorney Alison Silber on December 31, 2011.[6][44][45] They have one daughter, Rose.

References

  1. ^ Zuckerman, Elizabeth (26 June 2002). "Override: $2 million approved". Union-News. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  2. ^ a b Flynn, Jack (14 January 2009). "Longmeadow High School graduate Eric Lesser readies to join Barack Obama's White House team". The Republican. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  3. ^ a b Schoenberg, Shira (25 March 2013). "Longmeadow native Eric Lesser celebrates Passover seders with President Obama". The Republican. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  4. ^ DeForge, Jeanette (13 October 2010). "Longmeadow doctor Martin Lesser, 58, to leave for Iraq with Army National Guard". The Republican. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  5. ^ "Dr. Joan G. Lesser, PHD". Health Grades. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  6. ^ a b "Alison Silber, Eric Lesser". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  7. ^ a b c Migeed, Ryan (18 July 2011). "Eric Lesser: Government major to White House". UNlisted. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  8. ^ "Eric Lesser". Religious Action Center. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  9. ^ Flynn, Anne-Gerard (25 March 2011). "White House's Eric Lesser to speak April 3 at Sinai Temple". The Republican. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  10. ^ Parnes, Amie (16 June 2011). "White House staffers depart for Harvard". Politico. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  11. ^ Stanger, Melissa (10 October 2013). "18 Incredibly Impressive Students At Harvard Law School". Business Insider. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  12. ^ Kiely, Kathy (20 October 2008). "Dedicated team racks up hours, miles". USA Today. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  13. ^ Malcolm, Andrew (4 November 2008). "A Ticket campaign diary: A day on the trail with Barack Obama". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  14. ^ Franke-Ruta, Garance (10 April 2009). "A Low-Key, High Profile Seder". The Washington Post. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  15. ^ Parker, Ashley (12 June 2009). "And Now, Starring in the West Wing: Ax & Lesser". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  16. ^ Dowd, Maureen (29 January 2011). "No Axe to Grind". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  17. ^ Cillizza, Chris (9 February 2011). "Eric Lesser moves on". The Washington Post. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  18. ^ Parker, Ashley (29 April 2010). "All the Obama 20-Somethings". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  19. ^ "Cries & Whispers: Josh Simpson, Eric Lesser, Jose Tosado, Denise Hurst, Richard Cohen, Sister Joyce Wise, Chris Breen and more". The Republican. 15 February 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  20. ^ Reeve, Elspeth (17 June 2011). "Meet the Media's Favorite Departing White House Aide". The Wire. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  21. ^ Gibbs, Robert. "PRESS BRIEFING BY PRESS SECRETARY ROBERT GIBBS". Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  22. ^ "Seder at the White House". The Republican. 26 April 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  23. ^ Ferst, Devra (21 March 2013). "How Is the White House Seder Different From All Others?". The Jewish Daily Forward. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  24. ^ Lesser, Joan (21 March 2013). "Lesser Family Carrot Souffle". The Jewish Daily Forward. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  25. ^ Zeleny, Jeff (9 April 2009). "Obama Hosts Seder Dinner at White House". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  26. ^ Kantor, Jodi (27 March 2010). "Next Year in the White House: A Seder Tradition". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  27. ^ Eilperin, Juliet (24 March 2013). "Obama takes a Passover tradition kindled on the 2008 campaign trail to heart". The Washington Post. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  28. ^ Dovere, Edward Isaac (15 April 2016). "Obama's final White House Seder will be late". Politico. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  29. ^ Obama, Barack. "Readout of the President's Call With Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu". Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  30. ^ Andrews, Helena; Emily Heil (25 March 2013). "White House uses new Seder plate for Passover". The Washington Post. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  31. ^ Obama, Barack. "Remarks by the President at AIPAC Policy Conference". Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  32. ^ Obama, Barack. "Remarks of President Barack Obama To the People of Israel". Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  33. ^ Schoenberg, Shira (3 February 2014). "Eric Lesser, former White House staffer from Longmeadow, considering state Senate run". The Republican. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  34. ^ Schoenberg, Shira (18 February 2014). "Eric Lesser, former White House aide, to run for Massachusetts State Senate from Longmeadow". The Republican. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  35. ^ Goonan, Peter (10 September 2014). "Eric Lesser edges Tim Allen in 1st Hampden-Hampshire District state Senate Democratic primary". The Republican. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  36. ^ Goonan, Peter (9 November 2014). "Eric Lesser claims victory over Debra Boronski in 1st Hampden-Hampshire Senate District". The Republican. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  37. ^ Lesser, Eric. “High Speed Rail Will Pay Dividends for Western Mass "High Speed Rail Will Pay Dividends for Western Mass". ericlesser.com. Retrieved 18 June 2014. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  38. ^ Schoenberg, Shira. "Western Mass. lawmakers want to study Boston to Springfield high-speed rail". MassLive.com. Advance Digital. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  39. ^ Lesser, Eric (10 June 2014). "Candidate Viewpoint: Four Ways to Protect Our Senior Citizens". Springfield Republican. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  40. ^ Lesser, Eric (1 April 2014). "Candidate Viewpoint: Eric Lesser Discusses policies to Address Heroin Addiction". The Republican. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  41. ^ "Lesser introduces first legislation as state senator". The Longmeadow News. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  42. ^ Cogan, Marin (28 June 2013). "Hollywood Squares". Washington City Paper. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  43. ^ "Eric Lesser". IMBD. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  44. ^ "ALISON SILBER AND ERIC LESSER". The Republican. 1 January 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  45. ^ Tracy, Marc. "All the Obama Weddings". The Scroll. Tablet. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
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