By: State Rep. Ryan Hamilton 9-26
To the voters, constituents, and community members of the 15th Essex District:
Thank you. Being named the Democratic nominee for this November’s election is a humbling honor, and I’m grateful to every person in Methuen and Haverhill who has placed their trust in me.
This moment has me reflecting on what we’ve built together because none of it happens without you.
Over the past two terms, we’ve brought more than $3.8 million home to our district over $2.6 million through supplemental budgets and bond bills, and more than $1.2 million across the last four state budgets. I’m proud of those numbers.
I’m prouder of what they represent: teachers, librarians, artists, coaches, small business owners, and neighbors who told me what our communities needed, and then rolled up their sleeves and helped make it real.
Our Kids and Families
Some of the work I’m proudest of is the quietest, because it doesn’t show up on a ribbon-cutting program, it shows up in a kid getting help before a bad day becomes a crisis.
We secured $50,000 for mental health training at Methuen High School funding to train teachers, coaches, and staff to recognize the warning signs of a student in crisis and know exactly what to do next.
It’s the difference between an adult who notices something’s wrong and freezes, and one who knows how to step in, ask the right questions, and get that kid connected to help. That training doesn’t make headlines. It makes sure the person standing in front of a struggling student isn’t guessing.
Alongside it, $50,000 is bringing Care Solace to Methuen a free, confidential care-coordination service that helps families navigate the maze of mental health and substance-use providers. Anyone in the community can call or go online, 24/7, and get matched with a provider who takes their insurance and has actual openings no waitlists spent calling office after office, no runaround. If you’ve ever tried to find a therapist for your kid, or for yourself, you know how much that alone is worth.
We also delivered $100,000 for special education services in Methuen public schools, and $50,000 for the Methuen Literacy Partnership because a struggling reader in third grade too often becomes a struggling student by middle school, and getting ahead of that gap early is some of the highest-return work we can fund.
Our Downtowns
Our downtowns are the heart of the Merrimack Valley, and it’s been a privilege to invest in their future: $500,000 for facade improvements in historic downtown Methuen, $500,000 for road, sidewalk, and traffic safety improvements along the Pelham Street corridor at Cross Street, and $100,000 for wayfinding and streetscape enhancements in our central business district. In Haverhill, $100,000 in design review funding is moving Bradford Square forward, and $75,000 over the last two budgets has backed the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce and the local businesses that keep our economy strong.
And after years of advocacy, more than $825,000 is now dedicated to restoring and reusing the historic Edward F. Searles Estate, a landmark generations of Methuen residents have hoped to see brought back to life.
Our Arts, Culture, and Community
I’ve also been proud to stand with the institutions that give our district its character: $750,000 over three years for Historic New England’s Welcome Center, programs, and exhibits in Haverhill; more than $345,000 for Cogswell ArtSpace, from electrical upgrades to the fire-rated walls needed to keep creating safely; $25,000 for Creative Haverhill’s new home; $30,000 in updated equipment for the Haverhill Inner City Boxing Club; $25,000 for improvements at Forest Lake; $250,000 for the Nevins Memorial Library’s energy management system; $50,000 for Methuen’s 300th anniversary celebration; and $20,000 for Debbie’s Treasure Chest and its ongoing support of local families.
With Gratitude
Every one of these projects started with a conversation, a phone call, an email, a chat at a community event. That’s how this job is supposed to work, and it’s why I love doing it. The trust you’ve shown me is not something I will ever take for granted.
There is always more to do, and I look forward to continuing this work with you.
Thank you, Methuen and Haverhill.
Ryan Hamilton is a state representative and is seeking his third term covering Haverhill and Methuen. He is also a former member of the Methuen City Council. You can email him at Ryan.Hamilton@mahouse.gov ◊