Maria's List

Massachusetts

Candidates for Office - 2010 Recommendations

	Research Selection Criteria: 1. Increase representation of progressive women and people of color; 2. Campaign is viable and consistent with our values; 3. Take advantage of the “open seat” or other election opportunities; and 4. Prioritize urban areas.

GOVERNOR 2010

Gov. Deval Patrick (D) is running for re-election for Governor of Massachusetts. Patrick is only the second African American ever to be elected Governor in the United States. He is pro-choice and has pushed a progressive agenda while wrestling with an entrenched legislative leadership and the worst economic crisis in decades. His achievements include major advances in clean and renewable energy initiatives, reorienting state environmental, housing and transportation funding priorities toward “smart growth,” and shifting the state’s approach to homelessness away from shelters to permanent housing. He will have strong opponents. View campaign website.

Candidates for Office - August 2009 Recommendations

	Research Selection Criteria: 1. Increase representation of progressive women and people of color; 2. Campaign is viable and consistent with our values; 3. Take advantage of the “open seat” or other election opportunities; and 4. Prioritize urban areas.

Ayanna Pressley

Felix G. Arroyo

Sam Yoon

Nilka Alvarez-Rodriguez

Maria Carrasco

Amaad Rivera


CANDIDATES FOR CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR, & SCHOOL COMMITTEE
	Ayanna Pressley is running for Boston City Council At Large.
	With a campaign theme of accessibility, accountability and advocacy, the dynamic Ayanna Pressley is running for Boston City Council At Large. She is the only woman running and if elected Pressley will make history as the first African American woman to hold any seat on the council. Ayanna has a powerful personal story of overcoming adversity and achieving many accomplishments. She has dedicated her life’s work to public service, and especially ensuring that women, minorities and children are given equal opportunities to succeed. In her 14 years of public service, she has worked on behalf of families throughout Massachusetts as U.S. Senator Kerry's Political Director and has also served in leadership positions with numerous groups. She mentors young women and serves on the Boards of many Boston and statewide organizations that serve children and create political opportunity for women. A strong contender, with numerous contacts in the city, she will change how the men do business in the council with her personal style and personal motivation. www.AyannaPressley.com For Campaign Contributions: Make check payable to Friends of Ayanna Pressley, 1910 Dorchester Avenue, #516, Dorchester, MA 02124
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	Felix G. Arroyo is running for Boston City Council At Large.
	Felix G. Arroyo has been working professionally in public service and community organizing for more than nine years. He is now running for Boston City Council At Large with a progressive agenda that seeks to “make Boston a better city.” Felix is currently a Field Director at Northeast Action where he is coordinating a New England wide campaign to win national universal health care during the Obama Administration. Felix was the Political Director for SEIU Local 615 and as a self-described organizer, he has participated in many organizing drives that have led to workers getting health care for the first time, pay raises, and respect and dignity at work. He sees the At Large City Council Seat in Boston as an opportunity for more effective organizing. Felix gained his campaign and legislative experience while working for a Boston city councilor, also named Felix Arroyo. His team is powered by am impressive array of sophisticated, passionate young professionals that are the future of the Boston political scene. Felix serves as volunteer youth baseball coach and mentor to children and youth in his neighborhood. He is a graduate of University of Massachusetts Boston and completed his Masters Degree in Community Economic Development at Southern New Hampshire University. He and his wife Jasmine, a Boston Public School Teacher, live in Jamaica Plain. www.FelixArroyo.com For Campaign Contributions: Make check payable to The Committee to Elect Felix G. Arroyo, P.O. Box 301031, Boston, MA 02130
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	Sam Yoon is running for Mayor in Boston.
	Sam Yoon is running for Mayor to bring the change that Boston needs and to move the city into the next century. Sam Yoon has represented the entire city for almost two terms as a City Councilor. He is a former public school teacher, community organizer and affordable housing developer who holds a graduate degree in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. He is running against incumbent Mayor Thomas M. Menino and another member of the city council. Yoon’s platform focuses on building educational partnerships between the city’s public schools and local universities; creating a 311 number to call for non–emergency municipal services; replacing the city’s motor fleet with Zipcars; and looking to Seattle as a model for urban policy. Born in South Korea and raised in Amish country in Pennsylvania, Yoon first came to Boston in 1993 to attend graduate school. After Harvard, he spent the next ten years as a community organizer in Boston before becoming the first Asian American in the city’s history to run for public office in 2005. Sam lives with his wife, Tina, and children in the Field’s Corner neighborhood of Dorchester. www.SamYoon.com Campaign Contributions: Make check payable to The Committee To Elect Sam Yoon, P.O. Box 51824 Boston, MA 02205
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	Nilka Alvarez-Rodriguez is running for Mayor of Lawrence.
	There are 10 people vying to be Mayor, including city councilors, former city councilors, a state representative, a high school teacher and a funeral home director but the clear progressive choice is Nilka Alvarez-Rodriguez for Mayor in Lawrence. Nilka Alvarez-Rodriguez has served on the Lawrence City Council for five terms with an agenda that has promoted the social and economic mobility of the city. Lawrence is one of the poorest cities in Massachusetts. She is now running for Mayor to stand up for the working families of Lawrence. Her platform focuses on the creation of good and local jobs, protecting families from losing their homes, ensuring that local schools get the resources they need as well as to insure that Lawrence children also have access to post-secondary education. Nilka is a community organizer and advocate and has consistently moved through the progressive agenda to improve the quality of life for those she has served. Nilka has worked, over the course of her life, to make local government more accessible, for the rights of workers, to promote health and environmental justice, to protect affordable housing for elders and to improve the condition of women. Nilka lives in Lawrence with her husband Richard and their two teen age boys. Campaign Contributions: Make check payable to Committee to Elect Nilka Alvarez-Rodriguez for Mayor, 21 Hoffman Avenue, Lawrence, MA 01841
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	Maria Carrasco is running for reelection for Lynn School Committee.
	Maria Carrasco has devoted her life to advocating for local families and children in the City of Lynn. She has been a career counselor for 19 years and is president of the Lynn Hispanic Scholarship Fund. In her first term as school committee member, she has been able to open up the School Committee meetings to parents so they may participate in the planning process and has expanded opportunities for after-school programs for children and youth. It was a successful first term. She is running for re-election to the Lynn School Committee to prevent youth violence and to increase parental involvement in the public school system. http://maria-carrasco.com Campaign Contributions: Make check payable to Committee to Elect Maria Carrasco, Community Credit Union 1 Andrew Street, Lynn, MA 01901
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	Amaad Rivera is running for Springfield City Councilor Ward 6.
	Amaad I. Rivera is running for Ward 6 Springfield City Councilor with a “Putting People First” campaign message. Amaad was born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts. Despite facing adversity in his personal life, he continuously finds opportunities to make positive change for himself, his family and his community. Amaad has been fighting inequality for more than a decade and currently leads the National Racial Wealth Divide Program for United for a Fair Economy. In this position, Amaad works with policy makers and organizations on implementing policy to eliminate economic inequality. He publishes research reports and presents on various forms of inequality across the country. Born to a teenage mother whose hard work and determination helped his family rise from the depths of poverty and homelessness, Amaad attended Bentley University. He completed his Bachelor of Science and then served a year of service with AmeriCorps, where he developed civic engagement initiatives for young people in the city of Holyoke, Massachusetts. While serving in AmeriCorps, Amaad founded the KidsVote initiative, which in its first year, had over 2,200 young people, aged 18 and under, engaged in the voting process. Amaad earned his Master of Education at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in May 2009 www.amaadrivera.com Campaign Contributions: Make check payable make a check payable to The Committee To Elect Amaad Rivera, 32 West Alvord Street, Springfield, MA 01108
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CANDIDATES CHALLENGING INCUMBENTS
	Sara Orozco ran against a Republican incumbent in the General Election for the Norfolk, Bristol, and Middlesex District and was defeated 41% - 49%.
	Sara Orozco is a Needham resident with twin eight year old boys in the local public schools. Raised in Miami to Cuban-born parents, Sara is a first-generation American who came to Massachusetts thirteen years ago to pursue her dream of an academic appointment at Harvard Medical School. Sara's priorities are smaller class sizes and longer school days, improve access to high quality health care. Sara will also fight for decent and affordable housing, disease prevention and health promotion. Dr. Orozco runs a private practice in Needham and is the CEO and founder of her small business, Orozco and Associates, a leadership development and training firm. She has worked at various non-profit organizations including the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, The Wellness Community and the Brookline Community Mental Health Center. She was Clinical Director of Commonwealth Psychology Associates, LLC for over two years before branching off to start her private practice and small business in Needham. Dr. Orozco gives credit to the accomplishments in life to the opportunities offered to her through public education, women having equal access to athletics through Title IX, and through access to quality health care when she was diagnosed with breast cancer ten years ago. She is deeply committed to giving back and now helping to shape a system of state government in which we can all believe. www.SaraOrozco.com This is an important race. I hope that you will join me in insuring that Sara wins. For campaign contributions (Please include your name, address, phone number, your occupation, and employer): The Committee to Elect Sara Orozco, c/o Dina Creiger - Treasurer, 5 Alfreton Road, Needham, MA 02494.
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OPEN SEATS
	Julia Fahey ran for State Representative to succeed Rachel Kaprelian in the 29th Middlesex District and came in second in the September Primary 55% - 39% - 6%.
	Julia has worked since 2002 as an attorney for the Service Employees International Union/National Association of Government Employees (SEIU/NAGE). Through her work at SEIU/NAGE, she has gained valuable experience in state government while fighting to protect the rights of working men and women. She has worked on health and safety and environmental protection matters. Her commitment to equality and her commitment to work with diverse constituencies make her an exceptional candidate for this office. www.JuliaFahey.org For campaign contributions (Please include your name, address, phone number, your occupation, and employer): Julia Fahey Committee, c/o Paul T. O'Reilly - Treasurer, 158 Belmont Street, Watertown, MA 02172.
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	Danielle Gregoire prevailed in the General Election for State Representative to succeed Steve LeDuc in the 4th Middlesex District 48% - 44% - 8%.
	She has been working in the State House for nearly five years serving the people of Berlin, Marlborough and Southborough as Steve LeDuc's legislative aide. Danielle's three priority issues are increasing state aid to cities and towns, specifically Chapter 70 Education funding, and a re-examination of the Chapter 70 formula, economic development and sustainability, and transportation challenges facing our district. www.DanielleGregoire.com For campaign contributions (Please include your name, address, phone number, your occupation, and employer): Committee to Elect Danielle Gregoire, 39 Country Lane, Marlborough, MA 01752.
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	Jennifer Benson prevailed in her General Election race for State Representative to succeed Rep. Eldredge in the 37th Middlesex District 56% - 44%.
	Jen is currently Chair of the Lunenberg School Committee and has a strong record of experienced, effective leadership. Jen is the only Democrat in the race. Jen's commitment to public education led her to run for the Lunenburg School Committee in 2003. She has served for over five years and is currently the elected Chair. Jen will work to grow our economy and create jobs by investing in the clean energy economy to create green jobs, provide property tax relief and affordable housing to help our existing workers and improver our schools to educate the next generation of innovators and creators. www.JenBenson.org For campaign contributions (make checks payable to - The Committee to Elect Jennifer Benson. Please include your name, address, phone number, your occupation, and employer): The Committee to Elect Jennifer Benson, P.O. Box 202, Lunenburg, MA 01462.
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	Kate Jackson was defeated BY THREE VOTES in the Democratic Primary for State Representative to succeed Rep. Leppor in the 2nd Bristol District 50% - 50%.
	With a slogan of "Tomorrow Starts Today," Kate has been working to improve the quality of life for all families in Attleboro. Kate has served as an Attleboro At-large City Councilor for 8 years and a Vice President of the City Council for 4 years. Kate will work to ensure that our schools have the funding they need to offer a well-rounded curriculum, keep class sizes down, and attract and retain excellent teachers. Kate will work to advance education reform efforts to expand access to early childhood education, provide full-day kindergarten, increase investment in math and science, and expand access to public higher education. Additionally, she supports efforts to close corporate tax loopholes that cost us hundreds of millions of dollars each year in lost tax revenues. She advocates for active and concerned efforts to address environmental issues, including global warming, clean air, and clean water. Kate also supports efforts to develop clean and renewable energy sources that reduce global warming, reduce our reliance on foreign oil, and drive innovation and economic growth in Massachusetts. www.KateforStateRep.com For campaign contributions (Please include your name, address, phone number, your occupation, and employer): The Kate Jackson Committee, 93 Spruce Lane, Attleboro, MA 02703.
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	Washington
	GOVERNOR

	Christine Gregoire (WA) won 53% - 47% Rossi
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2008 RECOMMENDATIONS

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2008 RECOMMENDATIONS


Five Women Candidates for Office - August 13, 2008 Recommendations

	The research selection criteria for state candidates prioritizes viable candidacies that: 1. include progressive women and people of color; 2. make use of the "open seat" election opportunity to expand representation; and, in districts that are predominantly urban.