This fall several communities will be electing new State Senators. What do our senators do? How can they affect our lives? What qualities make a senator effective?

This month we talk to Laura Barrett, a communications specialist for the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the largest state union and two state senators, Steve Tolman and Karen Spilka about these issues.

The goal of "The Public Square" this month is to give people information as they make their choice for State Senator.