When state Rep. Rachel Kaprielian (D-Watertown) decided she would not seek reelection, choosing instead to head the Registry of Motor Vehicles, Julia Fahey was immediately intrigued.

[img_assist|nid=195|title=Julia Fahey|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=180|height=155] "It's an opportunity that I couldn't pass up," Fahey told PolitickerMA.com Monday. "I have a strong background in public service. I grew up in this community. I live there now and I care deeply about the community. I want to give back."

When the Democratic committees in Watertown and Cambridge Ward 9 decided against naming a nominee for the November ballot, the race for the September primary opened up to everyone. Fahey, an attorney with the National Association of Government Employees, quickly declared her candidacy, becoming the first candidate and first serious contender officially in the race.

For Fahey, who has taken a leave from her work at NAGE to campaign full time, her reasons for running strike at the core of what she believes is the role of government.

"I believe government was established to help people - to lift people up that can't lift themselves up," she said. "I would be honored to help the people of this community."

Fahey said the district is facing several issues. "Central to everyone is the economy," she said. "We are in a situation where costs of food and health care are sky rocketing.

"We need to look at other ways to stimulate the economy," she added. In particular, Fahey supports creating so-called "green" jobs, meaning jobs that help develop environmental technologies. She said she considers these "win-win" jobs because they create employment opportunities and help protect the environment. Fahey also said she believes she is well-prepared to help create green jobs because of her work in labor and employment law.

Improving public schools in the district are another issue that is important Fahey. She has recently been impressed by aspects of Gov. Deval Patrick's (D-Milton) education reform package. In particular, she supports Patrick's call for all-day kindergarten and universal pre-K. She is also calling for increased funding for the district and smaller class sizes.

Fahey also acknowledges that the district faces significant budget issues and said she will fight to obtain more local aid for the community. "I know that we've had budgetary crisis in Watertown and other local areas," she said. "I will work to secure more local aid so that we don't have to make cuts in public safety or services that people rely on."

"Especially right now," she added, "people are relying on services to stay afloat."

Fahey also noted that she supports gay marriage and is pro-choice.

Fahey faces organizational challenges and two talented opponents in the race. Because the committees did not name a nominee, the field is wide open right up to election day. It is also a sticker campaign, meaning voters will either have to write in their choice or place a sticker in the write in space on the ballot. This poses a hurdle for campaigns because in addition to all of the other activities they must coordinate, they must also distribute the stickers and educate voters on how to use them.

Fahey's two top opponents are Watertown Councilors Jonathan Hecht and Stephen Corbett. As has been reported at PolitickerMA.com, Democrats in the district see all three candidates as very capable of running strong campaigns and winning.

Fahey has organized quickly and is the first candidate to have signs up in the district. She also has volunteers out regularly on street corners holding her signs. She has begun going door-to-door through the district. "I'm getting out there and telling folks what I am doing and that I am to it 100 percent," she said.

Asked about the challenges posed by a sticker campaign, Fahey responded: "It's going to take a lot of coordinated effort from all my volunteers. I am very positive and I'm enjoying myself...Our campaign is grassroots effort like most campaigns. Getting out, knocking on doors, identifying voters."

"I do think that, like any campaign, visibility and signs and canvassing - it all comes together," she added. "It will be a traditional campaign in many senses."

Stephanie Zaiser, Fahey's campaign spokesperson, said the campaign has received a lot of positive feedback and is organizing very quickly. "I think things are going extraordinary well," she said. "We are very well organized. We're raising the type of money that it takes to run a very good, organized campaign."

Zaiser also said the campaign plans to launch a campaign web site in the next two weeks.

Fahey said she didn't have a target amount of money she is hoping to raise, but plans to fundraise all the way through election day. Because it is a sticker campaign, anyone could jump into the race at any time, she said, so she wants to be sure the campaign is prepared to compete against everyone.

For now, Fahey is working hard getting her team organized and communicating her message to voters.

"If elected this will be my full time job," she said. "I plan to focus on it 100 percent. I look forward to meeting voters this summer. I am really enjoying the campaign so far and it would be an honor to serve the people of this district and I hope I can do that."