The View From Prospect Hill

   Politics and politicians don‚Äôt seem to be as important as they used to be in this city. In 1971, 29 candidates ran for alderman-at-large with a primary in every ward in the city.
   In 2005, pathetic voter turnout in the only Somerville primary reminded us of the apathetic window citizens view their elected officials through.
    But this week, a local politician offered hope. He displayed courage and a willingness to take a stand in order to help constituents who can‚Äôt yet vote for him.

    Tim Toomey has made government work for the people of East Cambridge and East Somerville for a long time. But he has mainly been content to work behind the scenes, calling little attention to the excellent services he routinely provides his constituents. His accomplishments have not included grandstanding speeches or dramatic battles on the house floor, but have been characterized by returned phone calls and delivery of state services.
    But this week Toomey was compelled to take action. Railing against prejudice and ignorance, he took to the House floor and advocated for the In-State Tuition Bill which would have allowed hundreds of high-achieving undocumented immigrants in Somerville to continue their educations at the college level, while generating millions of dollars in new tax revenues for the Commonwealth. The 15 year legislative vet played the hero, sticking to his principals during a debate that saw many reps who had promised the children their support, playing the coward.
    ‚ÄúI think we saw the emergence of a new leadership in Tim Toomey. He rarely feels the urge to get up and speak on the floor, but it‚Äôs to his credit that when he chose to do so, it was in support of young immigrants who want to go to college and become United States citizens,‚Äù said Cynthia Tschampel, an advocate for immigrant rights and the In-State Tuition Bill.
     The bill did not pass. But while Speaker of the House Sal DiMasi offered little leadership to a cause he said he supported and while many elected officials confirmed our negative perceptions of them, Tim Toomey took it back to 1971 and acted like he cared about public service.