ELECTION GUIDE: Should Framingham Be Home to a Congressional Office?

Editor's Note: First posted Oct. 14 at 1:30 a.m. Updated on Oct. 15

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When Ed Markey was a congressman he had an office in Washington D.C. and two regional offices in his district - including one in downtown Framingham.

Framingham Patch asked the seven Democratic candidates and three Republican candidates if they would commit to a regional office in Framingham. All the candidates responded, except for Democrat Martin Long.

Democratic candidate Will Brownsberger: "I'm likely to maintain the existing district offices in Framingham and Malden. It appears to be a structure that makes sense. However, I will want to review the whole staff and real estate budget of the office and make sure we are providing the right services to all the communities in the district.

Democratic candidate Katherine Clark: "Yes, a direct connection with MetroWest communities and constituents is a critical component of representing this district."

Democratic candidate Peter Koutoujian: “Yes. I believe it is essential that residents in every corner of the 5th District have easy access to their representative. While elected officials today interact with their constituents in a number of ways, including increasingly on the Internet, maintaining at least two offices in the district is very important to ensuring quality, responsive service for every citizen of the 5th District.” 

Democratic candidate Paul Maisano: "The Framingham office shall remain maybe not in the same location depending upon funding. More importantly, each office shall be served by people in the direct area who are familiar with this section of the district and its people, as shall the eastern sector. We shall also maintain an equal amount of female versus male employees, as well as reflective minorities on the entire staff. I am not sure what the total budget shall be but we are assuming that close to equal staff shall be possible."

Democratic candidate: Carl Sciortino: "Yes, I would commit to doing this."

Democratic candidate: Karen Spilka: "Yes."

Republican candidate Frank Addivinola: "Framingham is an important city within the 5th Congressional District because it is easily accessible to the constituents residing in the western part of the district which stretches from Winthrop and Revere, goes through northern suburbs of Boston, continues along Mass Pike down to Southborough, Ashland, Holliston and Sherborn.  Because I want to be accessible to the constituents of the district, I want to have an office in Framingham so I can help people with their concerns."

Republican candidate Mike Stoppa: "Yes."

Republican candidate Tom Tierney: "Yes"