By Matt Murphyhttp://www.lowellsun.com//ci_6564206?IADID=Search-www.lowellsun.com-www.lowellsun.com The seed for Jamie Eldridge's upstart campaign for Congress was planted in a bar. Eldridge, a state representative from Acton, was having lunch across the street from the Statehouse at the 21st Amendment with two of his colleagues. Then-Rep. Robert Coughlin mentioned what he believed to be an inevitability -- U.S. Rep. Marty Meehan would be leaving Congress to become the next chancellor of UMass Lowell. "Eldridge, you should run for that seat," prodded Rep. Michael Rush, a Brookline Democrat. The idea wasn't so far-fetched. Since catching the political bug at age 16, Eldridge has always had great ambitions. His friends, when he was a student at Boston College Law School, used to joke behind his back that their tall, passionate classmate from Acton would one day become governor of Massachusetts. Eldridge left the restaurant and went to a meeting. By the time he returned to his office and logged onto his computer, Rush had e-mailed Eldridge a map of the 5th Congressional District. "I started thinking about all the frustrations I had with the war in Iraq, health care and other issues. The federal seat is really a place where you can make a big difference," Eldridge said. Eldridge, 33, grew up in leafy South Acton, the son of a teacher and an engineer. His mother, Betsy Eldridge, taught nursery school, kindergarten, and first grade for 25 years in the Acton-Boxboro public schools, while his father, David Eldridge, recently retired from a 35-year career as an electrical engineer working for Raytheon in Marlboro. He has one sibling, a younger sister, Amanda, who now lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. "He was just a regular, great kid," said his mother, Betsy, who has been a mainstay on the campaign trail this summer. "Fun-loving, curious, high energy. He played a lot of soccer and basketball." Whether it is sitting in the audience during debates for support, hosting cookouts for her son's campaign staff or helping to staple lawn signs in the family garage, Betsy Eldridge has supported her son every step of the way in his political career. "I love politics, and more importantly I love where he stands on the issues," she said. Eldridge undoubtedly got some of his passion for politics from his mother. But there was a more specific moment in time that helped cement Eldridge's desire to pursue a career in public service. Eldridge's junior-varsity basketball coach at Acton-Boxboro High School was a man named Arthur Lambert. Lambert also happened to be chief of staff to then-state Rep. Bob Durand, of Marlboro. Lambert one weekend took his team off the hardcourt and put them to work, nailing down lawn signs throughout town for Durand, who was running for state Senate. Many on the team were not thrilled with their coach's assignment. But Eldridge was hooked. At age 17, Eldridge became Durand's Acton campaign coordinator, helping the Marlboro rep and one of Eldridge's political mentors win election to the Senate. He would go on to become a legislative aide in Durand's Statehouse office and to manage the 1998 re-election campaign of state Sen. Pam Resor, another mentor, before embarking on a political career of his own. Eldridge is the youngest Democrat in the race to succeed Meehan in Congress. But his age says nothing about his abilities on the campaign trail. Name the topic, and Eldridge almost certainly has a well-thought-out stand on the issue. He also tries to display a willingness to buck the status-quo when he believes it's the right thing to do. His opponent, Niki Tsongas, recently told his mother after one recent candidate forum that Eldridge was, hands down, the best debater among the field of five Democrats. The campaign, however, has not been without its bumps in the road. In the southern end of the district, Eldridge boasts a passionate base of supporters energized by his liberal policy positions and emphasis on grass-roots organizing. He is not afraid to say outright that America is losing the war in Iraq, and speaks almost nonstop on the campaign trail about his support for an expansion of Medicare to cover all Americans, including the 47 million living in this country without health insurance. He has a strong record in the Legislature fighting to protect the environment, and has been endorsed by scores of labor unions throughout the district. But Eldridge has also found himself pitted against a field of candidates that includes two legislative colleagues, Barry Finegold, of Andover, and Jim Miceli, of Wilmington, and two women in Eileen Donoghue and Niki Tsongas with strong ties to Lowell, the district's largest city. Though he eschews the power of money in politics, its effect in a race like this special Congressional election has been undeniable. "I'm grass-roots. I knew I was never going to raise $1 million," said Eldridge, when asked what he perceives to be his weakness as a candidate. Since the start of his campaign, two key staffers have either quit or been fired, and recent reports claim Eldridge's campaign may be on the verge of running out of money. The three-term legislator, however, is no stranger to winning against tall odds. His first campaign for public office came in 2002. Not unlike this opportunity, Eldridge sought to seize on an open seat in the House after redistricting put his Acton home in a completely new district. Eldridge ran as a Clean Elections candidate, one of the first candidates in the state to qualify and win with public financing under the state's new Clean Election law. He spent six hours a day, seven days a week banging on doors and meeting with voters. He bested four other Democrats that year, winning nearly 50 percent of the vote to face Republican Todd Fenniman in what became a bruising general election. Fenniman tried to go negative on Eldridge, even filing complaints against Eldridge and his mother with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance over alleged Clean Election violations. They didn't stick, and Eldridge prevailed by 4 percent. The swell of screams and laughter could be heard down the hallway. Eldridge had ducked in from the blistering heat to meet with Michelle Hatem-Meehan, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell, for a tour of the facility. He wanted to discuss how the federal government could help provide more resources for the club, which serves as many as 350 inner-city youth each day. As Eldridge walked into the recreation room, a swarm of children surrounded the 6-foot-5-inch stranger in the navy suit. "Who are you?" they asked. "My name is Jamie and I want to represent you in the United States Congress," he said calmly. "Can you tell me about things you need in your neighborhoods." One girl started to lobby hard for more water parks. Another suggested hot tubs in every backyard. They settled on making sure neighborhood pools had the resources to stay open during the hot summer months. Then 9-year-old Naomi Rizzo took Eldridge's hand, eyeing the black and gold college ring he wears on his finger. "Where did you get that," Naomi asked. Eldridge told her he got it from going to college. "Will you promise me that you'll go to college, too?" he implored. "I promise," she said. They shook on it. Eldridge may hail from the southern suburbs of the 5th Congressional District, but he is no stranger to the struggles of the district's urban centers of Lowell, Lawrence and Haverhill. After graduating from Boston College Law School, Eldridge accepted a position as a legal aide attorney with Merrimack Valley Legal Services in Lowell and Lawrence. For a year and a half, Eldridge practiced housing, unemployment and disability law, working with neighborhood groups to set up nonprofits and helping immigrants start small businesses. Though he left that job to run for state representative, the lessons he learned helped shape the legislator he would become. He credits his work in Lowell with giving him the direction to fight for an increase in the minimum state education aid and for Individual Development Accounts that provide state matching funds to help poor families save to buy a house, start a business or go to college. "Even in college, we used to say he would be governor one day. He just always (has) been interested in helping people and changing government," said David Brown, Eldridge's BC classmate who worked with him at Merrimack Valley Legal Services and still works there today. That laser-like focus left none of his friends surprised when he told them he planned to run for Congress. "I was really happy for him. For as long as I've known him, he's always had a vision for his life," said Josh Bowman, another BC classmate and lawyer who became close friends with Eldridge after a spring-break service trip to Miami. His friends use words like "intelligent," "driven," and "genuine" to describe Eldridge. "Jamie is someone's who's very affable, and approachable, and very sincere. But once you get to know him, he's also someone who's really funny," Bowman said. Whenever the two friends go out together socially, Bowman said he can count on getting a call the next day from Eldridge thanking him for hanging out. "At first, it caught me off guard. I didn't know what to make of it. But it's a trait I've tried to emulate, actually. He really appreciates his friends," Bowman said. In the Eldridge family, dinnertime equaled family time. "We always sat down to dinner together and had big family discussions. We didn't always agree with each other, but that was OK. Maybe that's why he's a good debater now," Betsy Eldridge said. Whatever it was, Eldridge the politician rarely gets rattled. He's unwavering on his positions and articulates them clearly and passionately. The source of Eldridge's conviction is up for debate. When asked where it comes from, Betsy Eldridge just smiled coyly. Eldridge said his mother had a major influence on him growing up, both as a teacher and having watched her become an active member of the Acton community. But Eldridge also points to his soft-spoken father as an equal source of his desire to serve the public. The elder Eldridge came from a "broken, troubled family" on Cape Cod. Eldridge said his father escaped because he was a smart man who went to college and worked hard to make a better life for himself and his family. "I've always wanted to make sure all people, if they come from a troubled background, have the opportunity to do what my dad did," Eldridge said. "That's the role government should be playing."

By Betsy Levinsonhttp://www.townonline.com/littleton/news/x284109158 A larger than anticipated crowd greeted Rep. Jamie Eldridge this week as his campaign continued its "meet and greet" effort leading up to the Sept. 4 primary. Eldridge is running for the U.S. Congress to replace Rep. Marty Meehan in the 5th district. He has several other Democratic rivals before the general election. "A lot of people don't know who Jamie is," said Jane Chrisfield, chairman of the Littleton town Democrats and head of Eldridge's campaign in town. "But since this is a grassroots campaign, we need your help." "He is almost a homeboy," said Chrisfield. Eldridge went to Acton-Boxborough High School, Johns Hopkins University and Boston College Law School before working in Lowell and Lawrence, eventually becoming the only state representative elected within the limits of the Clean Elections Law. He was elected five years ago. "I understand grassroots support," said Eldridge. "I was elected with public financing. I was able to spend my time doing door to door, rather than fundraising." After his 2002 win, he said the legislature repealed the law.Eldridge said he went door to door in Littleton for Gov. Deval Patrick last fall. He said he worked to bring Bristol Myers Squibb to Devens, a move that he said would create jobs. He also said he worked to transfer some 80 acres from the Department of Capital Asset Management to the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife to preserve it as open space. Eldridge said he is running to work for progressive issues. He was inspired by holding office hours in each of the six towns he represents on Beacon Hill. "Constituents seemed to be concerned about 40B, cuts in education, increases in property taxes," said Eldridge. "They are all connected. After 25 years, the federal government has walked away from cities and towns. The government has walked away from its responsibilities for protecting our quality of life." Eldridge is fervently anti-Bush, especially in his desire to end the war in Iraq and bring the troops home. He favors the Rep. Conyers plan that would begin withdrawal within 90 days and complete it in 270 days. "People are ahead of the politicians on Iraq," said Eldridge.Regarding health care, he favors a single payer federal system, "an expansion of Medicare to all Americans," he said. He is anti-NAFTA, believing that the U.S. should pursue "fair trade" policies that would life the standard of living in Mexico and other developing nations, and thereby protect American jobs. "I am a fierce critic of NAFTA," he said.Another prong of his campaign is to "clean up the corruption in Washington, D.C." "It's about leadership, and taking tough stands," said Eldridge.Marjorie Harvey said she was stunned to hear Eldridge say he wanted to raise the standards of living in developing countries. "Are people ready to hear that?" she wondered.Eldridge said "it is resonating." He said Democrats in Congress "don't stand up to their beliefs in the face of Republican criticism." Jack Apfelbaum asked about global warming. Eldridge said "people are ahead of politicians" on the issue as well. "We need to take dramatic action," he said.He wants stricter standards on auto mileage and he would require utility companies to spend 30 percent of their budgets on clean, renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and hydro-electric. He is against expansion of nuclear power plants.

By Hillary Chabot The Democratic congressional candidates sparred on free trade, global warming and the war in Iraq in the first general debate for U.S. Rep. Marty Meehan's seat. The debate took on a sharper tone as candidates targeted each other - asking pointed questions about experience and past votees as they moved to further define themselves. "How are out going to pay for all these proposals?" and exasperated state Rep. Jim Miceli, D-Wilmington, asked fellow Rep. Barry Finegold, who said he would repeal tax cuts put in place by President Bush to find proposals like spending $100 billion over 10 years to convert government vehicles and building to be powered by green energy. The 90-minute debate, sponsored by The Sun, North Middlesex Savings Bank and the Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce, drew some heated exchanges at the Devens Common Center. The forum drew a crowd of about 400. All candidates said they would investigate oil companies for price gouging, none have endorsed a presidential candidate and all except Miceli said they wouldn't commit to term limits. Meehan ran for congress promising he would limit his time in office, but later broke that pledge. But the fireworks really started when candidates asked each other questions. Candidates, in the hopes of knocking Tsongas from her front-runner status in recent polls, took several shots at the widow of former Congressman Paul Tsongas. City Councilor Eileen Donoghue asked her why, as a member of the city's Civic Stadium and Arena Commission, Tsongas voted for a lease that "gave away the store" to keep the Lowell Devils at the Tsongas Arena. The lease gave the team all advertising and concession revenues in addition to charging 1500,000-a-year lease. Tsongas said the lease, while a concern, was the best the commission could do at the time to save professional hockey and keep a pro team in Lowell. State Rep. Jamie Eldridge, D-Acton, pointed to several forums where Tsongas seemed to echo the views of Democrats now in congress, such as learning to live with the North American Free Trade Agreement and using the marketplace to expand access to health care. "How can we effect real change when Democrats like you refuse to take leadership?" Eldridge asked. Tsongas retorted that she would bring change, but added she would also work in partnership with leaders at the federal, state and local levels to advance the district's goals. Tsongas later said she didn't feel targeted by the other candidates, but her spokeswoman said the focus made it clear Tsongas' competitors know she's the person they have to beat. Tsongas took some jabs of her own. She asked Eldridge, who believes immigration issues could be eased by ensuring a living wage in places like Mexico, how he would improve the quality of life there. The Acton Democrat said he would use the millions of dollars that might be funneled toward building a fence along the border to bring proper health care and other staples to the country. Eldridge later asked Finegold about a bill the Andover representative signed onto that would have abortion patients wait 24 hours before the procedure and give them time to look into other options, something Finegold wasn't aware he had signed. Finegold, a strong supporter of the right to choose, said he will take his name off the bill. Candidates distinguished themselves further on the Iraq war. Eldridge and Tsongas said they would support bringing the troops home starting in 90 days, Donoghue suggested a roughly 18-month period of departure, while Miceli said withdrawing would spark "utter chaos." As Eldridge stayed true to his position as the progressive candidates focusing on single-payer universal health care, Miceli and Donoghue focused on their municipal and state experience. Donoghue made a point of how little experience Tsongas has in government. "Make no mistake, there can be no substitute for experience and leadership," Donoghue said. Tsongas later said while her experience hasn't been in public office, her expericnce has come from life lessons and her work in education as a dean at Middlesex Community College and in health care by serving on the board of directors of Fallon Community Health Plan. Finegold also stayed on message, focusing on alternative forms of energy such as fuel cells, as Tsongas described herself as the candidate of change, saying her experience in the workplace and with her former husband has prepared her for the job. "Our country is headed in the wrong direction and we need a change now," Tsongas said. "I have the experience we need to get it done." The gloves came off as the Sept. 4 primary, which will decide the next Democratic candidate, draws closer. A second debate to be sponsored by The Sun is scheduled for late July at Lowell Memorial Auditorium