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Millis Democracy Endorses Tom Melville for State Representative, 9th Norfolk District
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Millis Democracy ·
On November 3, voters in the 9th Norfolk District will choose their state representative. The district covers Medfield (Precincts 3 and 4), Millis (Precinct 1), Norfolk, Plainville, Walpole (Precinct 5), and Wrentham. The choice is between Democrat Tom Melville and Republican incumbent Marcus Vaughn, who has held the seat since January 2023.
Millis Democracy endorses Tom Melville.
Who Tom Melville is
Tom Melville is a graduate of Boston University and Boston College Law School and a licensed attorney in Massachusetts. He spent decades in public-service journalism and communications: Executive News Director at WBUR, News Director at NECN, and Communications Director at the MIT Energy Initiative. Before that, he served in the Peace Corps.
Locally, he was Board President of the Medfield Afterschool Program. He is a husband, father, and grandfather. His daughter teaches second grade in a local public school.
His career has been spent explaining complicated things to the public, accurately, under pressure. That is a useful skill in a legislature.
Why we support him
Cost of living, starting with energy
Energy bills in this district have climbed while utilities post large profits. Melville proposes a Ratepayer Bill of Rights, near-term bill relief, more local low-cost generation, and an end to using ratepayer money for new gas infrastructure. On housing, he pairs support for homeowners and tenants with respect for local decision-making. On healthcare, he has committed to finishing the Norwood Hospital rebuild, which matters to every town in this district.
Showing up
Melville has pledged to serve as a full-time representative and to hold regular open office hours. His platform names specific local work: the Park Street Bridge, Kingsbury Pond, and water quality. These are not national talking points. They are district problems that need someone at the State House pushing on them.
Transparency and democracy
As a career journalist, Melville treats public records as belonging to the public. He supports measures to improve legislative transparency and to expand access to the ballot and to public information. Millis Democracy exists to strengthen democratic participation. A representative who shares that commitment is worth electing.
Rights and public safety
Melville supports protecting access to reproductive healthcare and stands with organized labor. His endorsements include the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts, Gun Sense Voter, Progressive Massachusetts, the Massachusetts chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, and the Wrentham Democrats.
The contrast
Rep. Vaughn has made his own case, and voters should read it. His platform emphasizes affordability, local control over housing, an all-of-the-above energy strategy, scrutiny of state mandates, and support for police and first responders. He has opposed the 2024 law modernizing the state's firearms statutes, which addressed ghost guns and the red flag law, and has called for amending the state's Right to Shelter law.
We read the same problems differently. Rising energy costs call for holding utilities accountable, not loosening climate commitments. Housing shortages call for real production, not another round of exemptions. Gun safety laws that address untraceable firearms are basic public safety. On those questions, Tom Melville is closer to where we think this district should be.
This seat is competitive
The 9th Norfolk has been held by a Republican since 1992. Rep. Vaughn won with 51 percent in 2022 and 57 percent in 2024. That is not a safe margin. Turnout decides this race.
How to vote
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.
Early in-person voting in Millis is at Town Hall, 900 Main Street, through Friday, October 30. Remaining hours: Monday 10/26, 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM; Tuesday through Thursday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM; Friday 10/30, 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM.
The deadline to request a mail ballot is Tuesday, October 27, at 5 PM.
Note for Millis residents: only Millis Precinct 1 is in the 9th Norfolk District. Check your ballot before you go.
References
Tom Melville campaign: www.electmelville.com
Melville priorities: www.electmelville.com/priorities
Marcus Vaughn campaign: repvaughn.com
Massachusetts early voting locations: www.sec.state.ma.us/EarlyVotingWeb/EarlyVotingSearch.aspx
Check your registration: www.sec.state.ma.us/OVR/
See what's on your ballot: www.vote411.org/ballot
Millis Democracy: millisdemocracy.org
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