James Arena-DeRosa of Holliston has taken formal steps to announce his candidacy for the State Representative seat recently opened with the departure of Carolyn Dykema. 

James is a Massachusetts native and long-time Holliston resident.   Throughout his career at the state and federal level, James stayed actively involved with the local community.  He served as chair of the Holliston Democratic Town Committee, helped create the Metrowest Democratic Alliance, and served as an elected member of the Holliston Finance Committee.  For many spring and summer seasons, James coached his two sons – Anthony and Alessandro – with Holliston Little League Baseball, was an active leader in the Holliston Music and Arts Parents Association, and for many years has been a Celebrate Holliston volunteer. More recently Arena-DeRosa was asked to serve on the Town of Holliston’s search committee for a new Town Administrator.  In the recent election cycles,  James served on the leadership team of Metro West Organizing Corps/Metro West  Blue and Beyond, to help galvanize local democratic support for the swing states.  His wife, Lina Arena-DeRosa, for many years directed the Holliston Senior Center and continues her work as the Director of the Westwood COA, as well as an area representative for the Mass Council on Aging.

Inspired by his activist mom during challenging times, James attended Xaverian Brothers High School and graduated with honors from Harvard.   After working with the Secretary of the Commonwealth on citizens’ rights and resources in government, James spent most of his professional career in social and economic justice, advocating to improve the lives of working and middle class families. Earlier in his career,  James had a long association and held leadership positions as the Director of Public Advocacy for Oxfam America and then as the New England Director of Peace Corps, helping to make a difference in the lives of others at home and around the world.

His experience runs the gamut from supporting and advocating for community centered health, local agriculture, sustainable environmental practices, gender equity, education, and small scale enterprise; and he always emphasized including local community voices in decision making.   

Arena-DeRosa also served and led a 12 billion dollar agency as the Northeast Regional Administrator of USDA Food and Nutrition during the Obama Administration focusing on a number of health, nutrition, education and agricultural issues with state and local implications.  He presently serves on the Massachusetts Farmers Markets Board of Directors.

Given his years of experience serving in local government combined with his knowledge of government at all levels, James hopes to serve as a strong advocate and partner for the communities of Holliston, Hopkinton, Millis and Sherborn. He intends to listen in the months ahead, pledges to serve as a full time representative, and commits to ongoing availability to the people of these communities.

Blending the role as both a representative who makes policy for the Commonwealth and serving as a representative of our communities, the campaign will revolve around social and economic justice for all, working closely with our local towns on infrastructure needs and support for small business, caring for our elders, support for education, and being good stewards of the environment while investing in green technology in a way that will help Massachusetts be more competitive.

James looks forward to spending time listening to local residents in person in the months ahead. To join the conversation and find out more go to https://www.jamesforstaterep.com