Jason Lewis, Ed Dombroski To Debate In State Senate Forum

WAKEFIELD, MA — The race to represent the Fifth Middlesex District in the State Senate will enter a new chapter later this month when incumbent State Sen. Jason Lewis and challenger Ed Dombroski are set to meet in a forum in Wakefield.

The event is set for Oct. 17 at Galvin Middle School. The debate is hosted by Wakefield Community Access Television (WCAT) and scheduled to start at 7 p.m. It will feature questions from local media outlets and will be moderated by Wakefield Town Moderator Bill Carroll, according to an event announcement.

Lewis, a Democrat, has served in the state legislature since 2009, when he won his first state representative race. Lewis has represented the Fifth Middlesex District in the senate since 2014.

The district includes Malden, Melrose, Stoneham, Wakefield, Reading and parts of Winchester.

Lewis responded to a Patch candidate questionnaire in August, highlighting his work on behalf of his district to date.

He further identified the task of expanding “opportunity and equity for all” as the greatest challenge facing the Fifth District.

“Doing so requires addressing multiple issues, including investing in excellent public schools, supporting local economic development, making more affordable housing available, improving transportation options especially public transit, ensuring access to high quality healthcare including mental health, and advancing racial and economic justice,” Lewis said.

Lewis has earned a variety of endorsements, which he lists on his website.

Dombroski, a Republican, is currently a Wakefield Town Councilor. He has earned the endorsement of Gov. Charlie Baker, among others, while noting efforts to help communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impacts.

“I’m focused on collaborating to help our economy rebound from the pandemic, keeping more of your hard-earned money in your own wallet; ensuring our kids’ schools have the resources they need, from early education through public college and universities; and making certain our seniors and veterans can retire with dignity and live healthy lives here,” Dombroski said in a message on his campaign website.

“I am an independent thinker who thoughtfully approaches each issue with the simple goal of doing what is right for the people I serve,” Dombroski continued. “There is no place for partisan politics to interfere with the important work to be done on behalf of the residents of our district.”

Both Dombroski and Lewis sailed through state primary elections in September without opponents in their respective parties.

They’ll now face each other in this year’s general election on November 8.

As that general election race has heated up, the two have recently sparred in statements about the timing and extent of this fall's debate schedule.

Dombroski in September accused Lewis of avoiding debate opportunities, sharing comments published by the Daily Times Chronicle and the Wakefield Daily Item.

“Senator Lewis should show up and defend his record," Dombroski said again in a later social media post. “This is a job interview. The voters of this district deserve to hear from both of the people seeking this office so they can make an informed decision when they vote.”

Lewis responded in a statement to the Times Chronicle, highlighting this month's planned Wakefield debate and criticizing Dombroski, saying he has not shared positions on "critical issues facing our communities and the Commonwealth."

“I’m looking forward to debating my Republican opponent in a district-wide debate,” he said, in part.

The exchange continued from there, with both candidates sharing additional comments.

The Wakefield Fifth Middlesex District debate will be broadcast live on WCAT's Government channel as well as on Facebook Live. It will also be available to watch after the fact on WCAT's YouTube Channel and WCAT's Facebook page.