(Photo courtesy of The Lowell Sun) “Tara Hong responding to a question at the Lowell Senior Center debate.”
Kimia Kahalzadeh
Connector Contributor
Tara Hong, a 24-year-old community organizer, is now the Democratic nominee for State Representative for the 18th Middlesex District, representing several precincts in Lowell. He secured a majority vote in the primary election this past Sept. 3 and defeated longtime incumbent Rady Mom, who has served five terms. With no major party opponent in the general election, he is expected to take office in January.
Originally from Cambodia, Hong immigrated to Lowell at age 13 and graduated from UMass Lowell in 2022 with a major in political science and a minor in criminal justice.
His platform centers on key issues such as constituent services, addressing the housing crisis, supporting our education systems, and addressing environmental concerns. Housing has emerged as a considerable issue both nationally and across The Commonwealth. In an effort to bridge this gap, he says, “My goal from now until January is to meet as many community leaders as possible to work together on how to get resources to support organizations that are working to expand and build more affordable housing.” Hong is a strong supporter of the Tenant Protection Act, which is led and sponsored by Representative Mike Connolly and Senator Jamie Eldrige. This legislation would allow a local elected body to enable rent stabilization and anti-gouging protections while protecting small landlords and supporting new housing production. Lowell, like many cities, struggles with affordable housing, so this likely serves as a key priority.
Education reform is a crucial focus for Hong. He believes better pay for educators is a critical way to address the current teacher shortage. He supports the Act Relative to Educator Pay, sponsored by Representative Erika Uyterhoeven, which, if passed, will establish a state-wide minimum wage for educators and education support professionals. “We have to bring more funding to have better pay for teachers so they do not have to worry about financial difficulties. That’s how I hope we can get more teachers.” Additionally, he has endorsed the CARE Act, which provides a comprehensive anti-racist and social justice-focused curriculum in Massachusetts schools.
Hong has previously served on the Lowell Litter Krewe board, a local organization focused on reducing pollution. In the legislature, he plans to support the Plastic Bag Reduction Act, among other initiatives, to address sustainability. Environmental issues may be less prominent in his platform than in his focus on education or housing. Still, Hong’s advocacy for speaking up against the effects of climate change illustrates tackling issues both locally and with global significance.
At 24-years-old, Hong will be the youngest elected official in the upcoming legislative session. Despite criticisms from constituents over being too young, he embraces a new perspective: “I am young, but I am here to serve you. Age doesn’t matter—what matters is who can get the job done for our community.” Hong hopes his candidacy will inspire other young people to participate in public service. “If you have the passion in [sic] politics, just do it. Don’t be discouraged if people say you can’t do it.”
Hong signs his emails with a quote from former President Obama: “Everywhere we look, there is work to be done.” In the Lowell community, that work requires effectively addressing the issues that matter most to Umass Lowell students and their surrounding neighbors, such as affordable housing, healthcare, and the too-high cost of living. Hong has promised to be a full-time state representative and to work together to improve the community. Now, it remains to be seen if he is the right person to solve these problems.
