BOSTON – House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones Jr. (R-North Reading) recently hosted three Lynnfield students as interns in his State House office.
Paige Martino, Steve Migliero and Max Halsey worked alongside Jones and his staff on Beacon Hill this summer, where they learned about the legislative process and assisted with policy research and constituent services.
Each of the interns participated in the Joint Legislative Summer Intern Speaker Series Program, which is overseen by the House Committee on Human Resources and Employee Engagement and the Senate Office of Education and Civic Engagement. The speaker series offers interns an opportunity to attend informative presentations from elected and non-elected officials throughout state government and to ask questions.
“As a legislator, I’ve been fortunate to have many talented local students intern for me over the years,” said Jones. “Paige, Steve and Max are all bright and energetic individuals who came to work motivated and eager to learn. They were very helpful in assisting me and my staff on a number of issues impacting the residents of the Twentieth Middlesex District.”
Martino is a rising junior at Lynnfield High School, where she is a member of the girls’ tennis team. She is active in the community, serving as an alumnus of Project 351, a nonprofit that builds a movement of youth-led service in Massachusetts. She is passionate about public policy, community service, mental health awareness and social justice, and is interested in pursuing a career in journalism or law.
“Working as a legislative intern this summer under Rep. Jones, I was afforded an opportunity to gain a better understanding of public service and the legislative process within the state of Massachusetts,” Martino said. “Through my time spent in a prestigious and honorable environment like the State House, I grew and developed as an individual, whether it was honing and incorporating my leadership skills, learning to communicate and articulate myself in a professional setting or networking, and collaborating with government employees to achieve a common goal.”
Martino added, “The internship was especially valuable in that I was directly exposed to various facets of government policy and lawmaking. Specifically, I found the speaker series, something organized exclusively for interns, of most interest. Government staff, across a wide variety of roles, including Rep. Jones, Majority Leader Michael Moran and others provided valuable insight and advice while encouraging thoughtful engagement and discussion for all interns. Firsthand observation of Rep. Jones’ devotion and dedication towards meeting the needs of his constituents was an inspiration for me to continue my civil work and community service. I want to thank Rep. Jones, Sara Doran and the entire staff in Rep. Jones’ office for creating a welcoming workplace and providing a wonderful and educational experience!”
Migliero is a rising senior at Phillips Academy in Andover. He is passionate about politics and debate and participates in various related clubs at school. His interests include economic foreign policy, college debt policy and public healthcare. In his spare time, Migliero enjoys playing baseball, going to the beach and hanging out with his friends.
“My internship with Rep. Jones has been a highlight of my summer,” said Migliero. “Having the opportunity to meet so many interesting people and really get a close-up view of how the State House works for us has given me a totally new perspective on our government altogether. From talking with staff and hearing the stories from our legislators, especially Rep. Jones, I have gained an immense appreciation for all that they do and feel comfortable knowing that the people who represent me do so with integrity and thoughtfulness. It’s really been an awesome experience!”
Halsey is a rising senior at Lynnfield High School. His diverse interests include law, politics, including judicial and economic policy, as well as business, journalism and history.
“The State House internship program was a great opportunity to get a closer look at the work done in state government,” said Halsey. “Throughout the internship, I got to do a lot of interesting work researching legislation that relates to me and that I’m passionate about. I also got to meet and have insightful conversations with a lot of interesting people. During the internship, I realized that state government is not filled with the same constant polarization of Washington, D.C. Everyone works together (for the most part) regardless of party affiliation for the good of their citizens. Because of this, I now want to pursue a career in politics.”
Halsey is interested in pursuing a double major in business and political science in college.
Lynnfield students who are interested in learning more about internship opportunities in Rep. Jones’ office can contact Local Affairs and Scheduling Director Sara Doran at Sara.Doran@mahouse.gov. Internships are unpaid, but in some cases, there may be an opportunity to earn college credits.