Dispatches from the Barrett Campaign

Mike Barrett, the , heralded his campaign’s 400th volunteer and provided an update on his “Educate the Candidate” tour in a pair of press releases circulated this week.

According to the Barrett campaign, a Lincoln resident named Terri Morgan became the 400th individual to offer her help in supporting Barrett, who has picked up endorsements from , D-Lexington, and retiring U.S. Rep Barney Frank.

“What draws me to Mike is his working knowledge of how the state operates,” said Morgan, who volunteered to stake a yard sign in front of her Lincoln home. “He’s great on health care, human services and care for the disabled, all of which matter to me.”

Barrett, a former state legislator who left politics 17 years ago after unsuccessful bid for governor in the 1994 Democratic primary, has announced his candidacy last fall, before . Since then, the race has thickened, with four other local Democrats and two area Republicans also throwing their hats in the ring.

“To get to 400 [volunteers] this early is amazing,” said Rivka Barrett, visibility coordinator for her dad’s campaign, said in the press release. “I count only those who offer their time, their lawns, their bumpers or their reputations (as public endorsers). Donations are great, but I don’t include them in my volunteer count.”

In addition to touting the volunteer count, the Barrett campaign also this week released an updated schedule for Mike Barrett’s “Educate the Candidate” meetings, a slate of open-air office hours happening throughout the district this month and next.

Remaining dates include:

• Sudbury.  Saturday, July 28, 9-10 a.m. Sudbury Farmers Market, Wayside Inn.
• Chelmsford.  Saturday, Aug. 18, 9-10 a.m. Outside Rosie’s Diner, North Chelmsford.
• Waltham: Saturday, Aug. 4, 9-10 a.m. Outside Hannaford Market, 55 Russell St.
• Weston: Saturday, Aug. 11, 9-10 a.m. Outside Bruegger’s, 31 Center Street.

At a recent appearance at the Lexington Farmers Market, Barrett chatted with residents about ways to “think globally but act locally” on climate change, and then he headed to Lincoln where he heard about open space preservation and support services for special needs children and adults, according to his campaign.

"Every day, as long as I make sure to talk to voters," said Barrett in a press release, "I end the day smarter than I began it. All the hoopla aside, a campaign should be a listening experience for candidates. This one has been for me."