Meet Margaret
First elected State Representative for the First Middlesex District in 2022, Margaret Scarsdale is a dedicated public servant, committed to fierce advocacy for her constituents.
Early Days
The daughter of a military veteran, Margaret grew up outside of Ft. Benning, Georgia. Her family often struggled to make ends meet, and she dropped out of high school at the end of her junior year to work full time and help make ends meet.
In 1984, Margaret moved to Massachusetts and immediately put down roots. She ran her own business for many years. She met her husband and best friend, Jim Scarsdale, during this time. They settled first in Groton and then in Pepperell to raise their son and daughter.
Margaret returned to school, graduated with the Chancellor’s Medal of Honor with a dual degree in American Studies and Sociology from UMass Lowell, and received a full scholarship to a doctoral program in Sociology at Northeastern.
Hometown Volunteer
When her children were older, Margaret helped launch Ayer’s downtown revitalization efforts. She administered over a million dollars in state grants while working at Ayer Town Hall.
She later obtained her teaching certification and passionately taught English Language Arts to middle schoolers.
In her hometown of Pepperell, Margaret is a long-time volunteer at the Albert Harris Center and was a community leader in the fights to stop the Kinder-Morgan Pipeline and the proposed toxic dirt project.
Margaret served as Chair of the Light, Air, and Noise Bylaw Committee and then on the Pepperell Select Board, where as chair she stepped up to write and secure funds for economic development.
Committed to Public Service
As our State Representative, Margaret’s approach has remained steady and pragmatic. Her work is guided by listening carefully, working collaboratively, and delivering real results. This leadership has helped secured millions of dollars in state funding to support our schools, infrastructure, and local priorities.
Margaret knows from the conversations she has every day that people in the First Middlesex District, of all political beliefs, simply want their elected leaders to roll up their sleeves and work for them. Margaret is proud to be that champion for all of her constituents on Beacon Hill.
Margaret’s family is also committed to public service: Her husband works for a sustainable energy company, her son uses his astrophysics degree to help understand planetary habitability, and her daughter is a paramedic.
Join our dedicated team of volunteers. Your time and energy are invaluable resources that can make a tangible difference in our outreach and engagement efforts. Let's help Rep. Scarsdale get re-elected to the State House in 2026.