Tara Jacobs

MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR’S COUNCILOR

DISTRICT 8

Voice of Western Mass: Equity, Inclusion, Accountability and Social Justice for all

 Welcome, and thank you to everyone who came out to vote, supported my campaign, and is interested in the work of the Governor’s Council.  I’m proud to serve my fellow residents of Western Massachusetts.

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My goal is to be the voice of Western Massachusetts on the Governor’s Council, and in the State House, focusing on dismantling systemic injustice throughout our state.

I stand for equity:  social, racial, gender, geographical, economic, and environmental equity must factor into the equation of every decision that the Governor’s Council is called upon to make.

I stand for accountability and transparency:  the work of the Governor’s Council needs to be made visible to all; and the voices of citizens and their families, on either side of the judicial bench, must be heard and acted upon.

I will represent all the diverse voices of Western Massachusetts–from the Berkshires, to the Hill Towns, the Pioneer Valley, Greater Springfield, and the newest part of District 8, the North Quabbin towns in Worcester County–in the important work done by the Council.

I attended Simon’s Rock College of Bard in Great Barrington, and I graduated from Tufts University.  I earned a Masters degree in Business Administration from New York University.  For the last eight years, I have been serving my community as an elected member of the North Adams School Committee and the chair of the Trustees of the North Adams Public Library.  I have also served on the Berkshire County Commission on the Status of Women, the Northern Berkshire Local Cultural Council, and I am an active member of the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee.  I have the education, the experience, and the relationships on Beacon Hill that are needed to be a powerful advocate for our District.

I have received, and am grateful for, the endorsements and support of Governor Maura Healey, Lt Governor Kim Driscoll, Secretary of the Commonwealth Bill Galvin, Auditor Diana DiZoglio, Attorney General Andrea Campbell, Treasurer Deb Goldberg, and my predecessor on the Governor’s Council for District 8, Mary Hurley.  I will work diligently with the administration to advance the cause of justice here in our state.

My campaign has also been endorsed by Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi, Hampshire County Sheriff Patrick Cahillane, Berkshire County Sheriff Tom Bowler, and Franklin County Sheriff Chris Donelan, as well as Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan and Berkshire County District Attorney Timothy Shugrue.  I want to thank these esteemed officers of the Courts for their confidence and look forward to working with them.

I am also proud and honored to have received the endorsement and support of the working men and women of labor unions across the district, including the Western Mass Area Labor Federation, the Pioneer Valley Building Trades Council, Teamsters Local 404, IBEW Local 7, and many more. 

If you’d like to learn more about what the Governor’s Council is, the important work it does, and the work I perform for our District on it, I’ve posted some informational videos on our Media Gallery page.

I’m asking for your support and help in raising awareness of the Governor’s Council across all of District 8, which spans ALL of Western Massachusetts including communities in Berkshire, Hampshire, Hampden, Franklin, and Worcester Counties.  

Click through to our news page for news and updates along with media coverage, letters of support, and more information.

I would very much like to hear from you about your ideas, your concerns, or questions you have about the Governor’s Council.  You can contact me directly using the information at the top of the page, or for general questions, media inquiries, scheduling requests, or upcoming events, please contact us at info@tarajacobs.com.