Massachusetts residents deserve leaders who invest in their communities, not just talk about it. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case in the 12th Hampden District. In 2006, Rep. Angelo Puppolo was endorsed by the Massachusetts Teachers Association. Speaking to The Republican on the endorsement, he said, “Strengthening public education at all levels is a cornerstone of my beliefs, and is an important issue for our district.”
Yet despite education being a supposed “cornerstone” of his beliefs, Puppolo’s voting record tells a different story. On three occasions in 2016, 2017 and 2019, he voted against the Fair Share Amendment, also known as the “Millionaire’s Tax”. Passed in 2022, the amendment enacted a 4% surtax on residents making more than a million dollars per year.
While Puppolo opposed the Fair Share Amendment, his challenger, Michael Lachenmeyer, supports using it to invest in our schools. On his platform page, he states “Residents who make $50,000 a year should not be taxed at the same rate as those who make $500,000.” For Lachenmeyer, this policy is a no-brainer, especially considering the benefits public education has reaped since the Fair Share Amendment was passed.
In May 2025, the legislature passed a bill investing in public education and transportation across the Commonwealth. It provides support for special education programs, as well as funding for construction projects. All of this was possible because of Fair Share Support. “This bill answers the clear message that our residents sent us in 2022—to invest these dollars across the state to continue building the high-quality education and transportation systems Massachusetts deserves,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka. The results are clear: millions invested back into our schools. These are investments Wilbraham, Monson, East Longmeadow, and Springfield need. Constituents deserve better than an elected official who pays lip service to investing in our communities, yet fails to utilize his power to do so. As the daughter of a public school teacher, I’ve seen what happens when we fail to invest in our schools. My mother left her special education job in Chicopee for Wilbraham, not by choice, but because the pay and support simply weren’t there. This is a story that’s far from unique. According to a study by Education Resource Strategies, schools serving lower-income communities, like Chicopee, lost 29% of their teachers over a year. Wealthier districts lost 19%. That’s exactly the kind of gap Fair Share funding should fix.
The numbers don’t lie. When we don’t invest in education, the most economically stressed communities in the Commonwealth are hit the hardest. Who better to contribute more than the wealthiest among us?
We deserve a representative who will fight to make that a reality. We need someone, like Michael Lachenmeyer, who will take action. Please join me in voting for him on September 1.
Cayla Bartosz
Wilbraham
