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CANDIDATES FOR
CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR, & SCHOOL COMMITTEE
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BOSTON |
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Ayanna Pressley
tops the ticket in re-election for Boston City Council At-Large. |
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On November 8th, Ayanna will be one of seven candidates competing for the four City Council At Large seats. As an incumbent, she has developed an agenda to address issues related to women, girls and healthy communities, as well as local jobs, victims of violence and anti-discrimination. She is the only woman and the only woman of color running for an At-Large position.
Many of the issues Ayanna has been working on, like human trafficking, are new to the city council but she has not held back from putting them on the public agenda because she is convinced they are “the business of the city.” Ayanna has a powerful personal story of overcoming adversity and pushing on to achieve many accomplishments. She has not been afraid to raise tough issues that touch her deeply on a personal level and has made that part of her personal style and motivation. 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 2009, Ayanna made history as the first African American woman to hold any seat on the council. In her 16 years of public service, she has worked on behalf of families throughout Massachusetts as U.S. Senator Kerry's Political Director, and as an aide for U.S. Congressman Joe Kennedy. She 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. She lives in Dorchester.
www.AyannaPressley.com
For Campaign Contributions: Make check payable to Friends of Ayanna Pressley Committee, 140 Bayswater Street, Boston, MA 02128.
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Felix G. Arroyo
proudly earns a second place for Boston City Council At-Large. |
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Felix is seeking to hold on to one of the four At-Large seats in the City Council, in a race with seven candidates. In 2009, he finished strong in third place below two incumbents. Felix’s agenda in the City Council has been focused on issues related to youth, jobs, labor, public health, and the LGBT community. He is the only Latino candidate in the City Council ballot.
During his first term in office, Felix was instrumental in the creation of a Youth Task Force and a Boston Youth Agenda, the settlement of the contract with the Firefighters Union, and the defense of youth jobs and libraries in the city budget. True to his conviction that community organizing is a powerful tool for change, he developed the Arroyo Youth Training Institute where over 50 young leaders learned how city government works and how to engage in community organizing
Felix G. Arroyo has worked professionally in public service and community organizing as Field Director for Northeast Action, as Political Director for SEIU Local 615, and as campaign and legislative aide in the Boston City Council. 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. Felix serves as volunteer youth baseball coach and mentor to children and youth in his neighborhood. 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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After the recount, Suzanne Lee still an unprecedented challenger for Boston City Council, District 2. |
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Suzanne Lee stunned the political establishment by finishing first in the primary for the District 2 seat against the South Boston-based incumbent. She has run an impressive campaign that has reached out to all the neighborhoods in the district. As one of only three women in the City Council ballot, Suzanne’s message is resonating with voters who want a more inclusive and responsive city government. She needs additional support to ensure she can reach all voters in District 2 and that a strong turnout leads her to victory on Election Day.
As a former teacher and school principal, Suzanne wants to apply the experience and skills she gained after 35 years in education to the issues affecting District 2 communities. After having led the successful turnarounds of two schools in Massachusetts, she is advocating for adequate investments in all schools so that every child has the opportunity to learn. On the campaign trail, Suzanne reminds everyone about how she used to ride the buses with a group of Chinatown and South End mothers and their children all the way to Charlestown during the contentious school busing era in the 1970s. Seeing that children needed protection to enter the school buildings safely reaffirmed Suzanne’s conviction that every citizen needs to have a voice in the political process. As a result, Suzanne brought residents together to create the Chinese Progressive Association, a respected community organization that since 1977 has fought for affordable housing, justice for garment workers, job training programs and bilingual ballots.
Suzanne came to the U.S. when she was 11 years old, after being separated from her parents due to stringent immigration policies. Her mother had been forced to leave Suzanne at the care of her grandparents in Hong Kong in order to join her father and brother in the U.S. She attended Boston Public Schools and was the first in her family to go to college, earning degrees from Brandeis University and Harvard University. She lives in Chinatown.
www.SuzanneLeeBoston.com
Campaign Contributions: Make check payable to Friends of Suzanne Lee Committee, P.O. Box 120436,
Boston, MA 02205
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Sheneal Parker's first race brings a fresh voice to Boston City Council, District 7. |
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Sheneal Parker is an African American public school teacher, small business owner and a single mother of a 15-year old who entered the District 7 race to ensure all children, youth and families in Boston are afforded the opportunities and quality of life they deserve. She is one of only three women on the City Council ballot. Her candidacy answers the call for more women of color to run for office, especially those who are leaders in creating alternatives to address community needs.
The issues that guide Sheneal’s campaign are deeply tied to her personal experiences. She learned responsibility at an early age by helping take care of her siblings after their mother passed away. Sheneal has also been active advocating for community policing, gun control, interventions for high-risk youth, and safe and clean parks after losing her son’s father to violence in the streets of Boston. As a teacher, she is acutely aware of the barriers to a quality education for all children. She is an active volunteer and mentor for youth and sports organizations, and has taught dozens of kids how to develop their own businesses as a way to motivate them to stay in school and plan for a successful future.
As a board member of the Fenway Community Development Corporation and Batavia Cooperative Housing, Sheneal has been an advocate of affordable housing and the protection of expiring-use properties. She has also negotiated significant community investments to benefit her Fenway neighborhood by participating in the Children’s Hospital Advisory Committee and the Wentworth Institute of Technology Community Task Force. Sheneal holds graduate degrees in Criminal Justice and Public Administration.
www.ShenealParker.com
Campaign Contributions: Make check payable to Committee to Elect
Sheneal Parker, PO Box 230113, Boston, MA
02123.
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FITCHBURG |
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Lisa Wong wins a third term as Mayor of Fitchburg. |
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When she won a historic election in 2007 at the age of 28, Lisa Wong became the first woman of color Mayor of Fitchburg and the first Asian American mayor in the history of the Commonwealth. Lisa has been a strong leader and a tireless worker for Fitchburg. After making tough fiscal choices that have improved Fitchburg’s economic standing and increasing civic participation across the city, Lisa is seeking re-election in a undoubtedly tough race. She needs our support to ensure her campaign can deliver her message and turn out voters throughout Fitchburg.
When Lisa first took office she went to work to stabilize Fitchburg’s finances, balance the budget, increase the city’s bond ratings and make capital investments, such as new boilers and roofs on almost every school. She has been a champion of public education by providing additional resources to create healthy learning environments. For example, her administration restored middle school sports, added more arts and after school programs for all students, as well as a new teen health center in the high school. She has also focused on economic development by attracting new businesses, dedicating thousands of acres to conservation, and continuing the development of the riverfront.
Lisa is also a regional leader, serving as chair of the US EPA LGAC Workgroup on Environmental Justice and the Montachussett Regional Transportation Advisory Board. Deeply committed to women’s leadership, she is also an Advisory Board member of Emerge Massachusetts and of the Regional Economic Development Institute at Fitchburg State University. Prior to her run for mayor, Lisa worked as Executive Director of the Women’s Institute for Housing and Economic Development (Boston and Hartford) and for the Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority.
www.VoteLisaWong.com
Campaign Contributions: Make check payable to Committee to Elect Lisa Wong, 50 Fitch Hill Avenue, Fitchburg, MA 01420.
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HOLYOKE |
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Gladys Lebron-Martinez is the new City Council for Ward 1 in Holyoke. |
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Gladys Lebrón-Martínez, the current School Committee Member for Ward 1, is now seeking higher office as City Councilor for Ward 1 in Holyoke. As a career counselor and a Latina running for City Council in a town with a high concentration of Latinos living in poverty, she understands the importance of representing her community and giving them access to the decision-making table where plans for the redevelopment of Holyoke are being discussed. Gladys needs our support to ensure she has the resources needed to expand her message and deliver it across Ward 1.
Over the last 30 years, Gladys has been a career counselor and a coordinator of youth and community prevention projects in Holyoke. She got started in community organizing when her own daughter faced challenges graduating from high school after the implementation of the MCAS exams across the state. Her involvement in that campaign and the support of her community prompted her to run for School Committee in 2003. Gladys holds leadership positions in a number of organizations focusing on the redevelopment of Holyoke and the support to children, youth, families, and schools. For instance, she is part of the leadership teams at Holyoke Community Land Trust, Holyoke Redevelopment Authority, Holyoke Public Schools, Baypath College Advisory Board, CareerPoint, and Innovation Task Force in Holyoke Redevelopment Authority.
Currently, Gladys works as MCAS Career Counselor/Youth Coordinator for CareerPoint in Holyoke. Previously, she was the director of Health & Human Services at Nueva Esperanza Inc. and an Outreach/Case manager for the CEDE/DPH Prenatal Community Initiative where she provided case management to Latina pregnant women who were not accessing prenatal health care.
VoteGladysLebronMartinez@gmail.com
Campaign Contributions: Make check payable to The Committee To Elect Gladys Lebron-Martinez for Holyoke City Council Ward One, PO Box 10303, Holyoke, MA 01041.
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Progressive Rebecca Lisi has been re-election as City Council At-Large for Holyoke. |
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Rebecca Lisi is a fresh voice pushing for stronger citizen participation and unity to address the challenges faced by the city of Holyoke. Being an organizer and a citizens’ advocate by training served Rebecca well in her first race, since she used those skills to engage voters and earn an at-Large seat in 2009. When she joined the 15-member council, she was one of only four women councilors. For the 2011 election, she will be one among a crowded field of 11 candidates (including all incumbents) competing for 8 at-large seats.
In her first term as City Councilor At-Large, Rebecca has worked hard on issues related to economic development, green industries and education. For her second term she is vowing to continue working with Holyoke’s Redevelopment Authority to implement the forthcoming Urban Renewal Plan, develop incentives that will make the city an attractive destination for investors in “Green” technologies, and help schools fill in funding or service gaps and leverage additional revenue sources.
Rebecca is a native New Yorker who moved to the Pioneer Valley in 2002 to work for Clean Water Action as an advocate and in support of citizens lobbying their elected officials to protect the environment and promote public health. She is an active member of the Holyoke Youth Task Force, the Holyoke YMCSA, the Holyoke Unites/Holyoke Se Une and currently serves on the board for Nueva Esperanza. Rebecca also co-founded C.R.U.S.H., Citizens for the Revitalization and Urban Success of Holyoke as a citizens’network to facilitate connections between residents, resources and ideas to make change possible in Holyoke. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in urban politics at UMass Amherst.
www.VoteLisi.com
Campaign Contributions: Make check payable to Committee To Elect Rebecca Lisi, 189 Suffolk Street, Holyoke, MA 01041.
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SPRINGFIELD |
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Amaad Rivera unable to reach City Councilor At-Large seat in Springfiled. |
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Amaad ran for the Ward 6 seat for the first time in 2009, and although he didn’t win in the general election, he gained a seat in the Springfield City Council after the incumbent resigned. In less than 2 years, Amaad has already established a strong track record of progressive policies in Springfield. Now as an At-Large candidate, Amaad is reaching out to a wider group of voters who have seen his proven determination to turn things around for low income families and communities. He certainly needs support to improve his 6th place finish in the primary to grab one of the five at-large seats.
Continuing with his campaign message of “Putting People First,” Amaad was born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts, and despite facing poverty and homelessness in his personal life he continuously finds opportunities to make positive change for himself, his family and his community. One of his great accomplishments has been passing a City Council resolution opposing the implementation of the Secure Communities program in Springfield. He also led the passing an anti-foreclosure measure that mandates pre-foreclosure mediation and asks banks to pay a $10,000 bonds to the city as a guarantee to maintain foreclosed properties. Amaad has served on numerous boards and community initiatives including the Racial Imbalance Committee advising the Department of Education and the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Educators Network (GLSEN). He organized the most recent LGBT Pride event this year in Springfield.
Amaad has been fighting inequality for more than a decade. Prior to the City Council position, Amaad led the National Racial Wealth Divide Program for United for a Fair Economy. In this position, Amaad worked with policy makers and organizations on implementing policy to eliminate economic inequality. He also published research reports and presentations on various forms of inequality across the country. As part of his prior experience, Amaad also worked with AmeriCorps, where he developed civic engagement initiatives for young people in the city of Holyoke, Massachusetts. He also founded the KidsVote initiative, which in its first year, had over 2,200 young people, aged 18 and under, engaged in the voting process. Most recently, Amaad served as the Director of the Massachusetts Alliance against Predatory Lending, where he worked to pass statewide legislation to reduce foreclosures and to protect tenants and victims of predatory lending.
www.AmaadRivera.com
Campaign Contributions: Make check payable Committee To Elect Amaad Rivera, 75 Pomona Street, Springfield, MA 01108.
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WORCESTER |
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Sarai Rivera achieves victory in race for Worcester City Council, District 4. |
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Sarai Rivera may be an exciting new Latina candidate entering the world of local Worcester politics, but her longstanding commitment to her community has already left an impressive mark. She is a pastor, a social worker, a clinical therapist; helping people in her community is what she does, but understanding and addressing the reasons why the community endures so many challenges is why she is running for City Council in District 4.
Sarai is interested in addressing issues related to investing in the community to create jobs, supporting a safe and healthy community environment for families to thrive in Worcester, and lifting up the community’s voice in local government. Sarai’s campaign has energized District 4 and she has a diverse multi-generational and multi-racial coalition of groups and individuals, especially youth, who are actively supporting and working on her campaign.
Sarai, who currently works as a clinical therapist, is the founding director of the Shalom Neighborhood Center and co-senior Pastor of Christian Community Church. She is a community activist and member of several community boards and organizations, such as the Chandler Elementary Community School Stakeholders, the Worcester Clergy/Police Partnership, the Main South Promise Neighborhoods Initiative, and the Mayor’s Task Force on Immigrants, Refugees and Women Together. Sarai, also known as Dr. Rivera, holds a master’s in social work and a doctorate in theology focused on urban ministries.
www.SaraiRivera.com
Campaign Contributions: Make check payable to The Committee To Elect Sarai Rivera, PO Box 30722, Worcester, MA 01603-0722.
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Virginia W. Ryan comes up short in race for Worcester City Council, District 1.
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Virginia W. Ryan has been acting as the de facto city councilor for seniors and retirees in Worcester for years. As Chair of the Coalition of Worcester Retirees, she has petitioned the City Council year after year to consider practical and sensible measures to ensure seniors don’t live in poverty and are not overwhelmed by property taxes, other city fees and rising health care costs. Tired of seeing incumbents ignore or delay votes on the retirees’ proposals, she decided to take matters into her own hands and run for office. Virginia herself has knocked on almost every door in the district!
As the daughter of small business owners, Virginia is also interested in attracting more small businesses to Worcester because she knows they are the backbone of any city’s tax revenues. Having served as a teacher in Worcester and in Germany,she would also bring a wealth of experience to the council around education issues. Finally, Virginia has vowed to be a full-time and responsive City Councilor who listens to her constituents.
Virginia finished second in the September primary by only 5 votes, which left the incumbent in third place and out of the race. Her one-of-a-kind retiree-led campaign is working hard to ensure that District 1 residents believe in the power they have to make their voices heard.
www.VirginiaWRyan.com
Campaign Contributions: Make check payable to Committee to Elect Virginia W. Ryan, c/o Lise Plante, 506 Massasoit Road, Worcester, MA 01604.
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LAWRENCE |
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Martina Cruz will remain a principled and vocal leader for Lawrence schools, students and families. |
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Martina Cruz is well known for speaking truth to power and her commitment to building a better Lawrence for all children and families. Since 2005, she has gained the respect and trust of her community to represent their interests as a School Committee Member. She has the support of her community but needs to reach and turn out every voter to counteract her opponent’s access to local machine politics.
Martina is a community leader who supports labor struggles, progressive candidates, and Latino, immigrant and women empowerment issues across the Commonwealth. When she came to the U.S. from the Dominican Republic at the age of 22, she brought with her more than 7 years of experience as a youth leader, Girl Scout, school leader and religion teacher. In the U.S. she joined with other leaders and organizers working in social justice issues similar to the ones she had addressed in her home country.
Martina strongly believes that the empowerment of parents in city schools is necessary so they can positively impact the education of all children in the community. She has 15 years of experience working with low-income families to meet the needs of their children, including those with children with mental health or learning disability issues. She has worked as a family partner in Salem and as a bilingual pre-school teacher in Lawrence. She is a Board member of the Women’s Institute for Leadership Development and is currently pursuing a B.A. in Human Services at Springfield College in New Hampshire.
Martina_M_Cruz@yahoo.com
Campaign Contributions: Make check payable to Committee to Re-Elect Martina Cruz, 40 Chestnut Street, Lawrence, MA 01841.
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LYNN |
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Maria Carrasco retains her Lynn School Committee seat. |
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María Carrasco finished 6th in the September primary among 8 challengers for Lynn School Committee. She needs to improve that standing to retain her seat in the November election. A third term for María Carrasco would mean she could continue representing Latino students and families which are generally unrepresented in local government.
María has devoted her life to advocating for local families and children in the City of Lynn. Originally a teacher in her native Dominican Republic, when she settled in Lynn she started working in a shoe factory and went to school to hone her English skills. Afterwards, she worked as a substance abuse counselor and later as a case manager for North Shore Career Services. She is the president of the Lynn Hispanic Scholarship Fund and has served on the Operation Bootstraps Board of Directors.
María was instrumental in helping to open up the School Committee meetings to parents so they may participate in the planning process and expanding opportunities for after-school programs for children and youth. 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.
www.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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SOMERVILLE |
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Katjana Ballantyne comes very close to Alderman Seat, Ward 7. |
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Katjana’s background in business, economic development and entrepreneurship will certainly serve her constituents well to strengthen the economic vitality of Somerville’s Ward 7. However, it is her commitment of over 20 years to raising her family and building community in the Teele Square area which really shows her potential as a powerful member of the Board of Aldermen in Somerville. In the September primary, Katjana finished in second place behind the incumbent by only 8 votes. She needs our support to add a progressive voice to the Board and complement the work done by the unopposed Ward 6 Alderman Rebehak Gewirtz.
Beyond her many years of experience in large companies, Katjana is also the founder and CEO of two local start-ups. She also served as board member and former president of the Somerville Community Corporation which has invested in several housing and commercial developments across the city. Katjana is also a public school volunteer, mentor, and ESOL tutor, as well as a PTA member of the Healey and Kennedy Schools.
As part of the Board of Aldermen, Katjana wants to make local government more open and inclusive, build strong communities by ensuring they are affordable for all, and expand job opportunities arising from local developments for Somerville residents.
www.Katjana.org
Campaign Contributions: Make check payable to Committee to Elect Katjana Ballantyne, 49 Russell Road, Somerville, MA 02144.
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Christine Barber brought people together in the race for Alderman seat in Ward 4. |
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Christine Barber is a progressive candidate who understands that local elected office is closest to the needs of the people. After many years of professional experience in state politics and national policy advocacy, she has decided to run for the open seat in Somerville’s Ward 4 to become the accessible and responsive Alderman that the Winter Hill and Ten Hills communities need. Christine could add a distinctly different voice to the Board of Aldermen, which in such a diverse city as Somerville currently has only 2 out of 11 seats held by women.
In her community, Christine has already been a leader in the Marshall Street Area Neighborhood Group advocating for improvements in the community. As an Alderman, she will work to attract new business to the area that benefit residents, ensure that area schools provide a first-rate education for all students, fight for the timely construction of the Green Line Extension, and advocate for neighborhoods that are affordable and where families can put down roots and thrive.
Christine has also taken a leadership role in local Democratic politics, including coordinating ward activity in elections for Governor Deval Patrick, Senator Patricia Jehlen and Representative Carl Sciortino. At the state level, Christine knows how the State House works and how to get things done. She is a former Researcher for the Health Care Committee at the State House where she worked for Representatives Patricia Walrath and Anne Paulsen to significantly expand health insurance across the Commonwealth. In her current position at Health Care for All, Christine develops solutions to benefit patients who face barriers to access health care.
www.ChristineBarber4Somerville.com
Campaign Contributions: Make check payable to Committee to Elect Christine Barber, 87 Thurston Street, Somerville, MA 02145.
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BROCKTON |
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Jass Stewart achieves second mandate for Brockton City Council At-Large. |
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Jass Stewart is the first-ever person of color or openly gay person elected to Brockton's City Council. During his first term in office, he has addressed issues of accountability, jobs, education and safety. He needs support to continue pushing a progressive agenda in one of the rising minority-majority cities in Massachusetts.
For example, he was one of the first elected officials to oppose the Brockton power plant due to air quality concerns. In addition, after a resident called about a water billing problem, Jass intervention prompted a comprehensive review of the city’s water department.
Since graduating from Boston University, Jass has served in key media outreach positions for major national and international media outreach companies. He also volunteers and serves on the boards of numerous civic and social organizations, including the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Brockton.
www.JassStewart.com
Campaign Contributions: Make check payable to The Committee to Elect Jass Stewart, 14 Clyde Street, Brockton, MA 02301
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STATE
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.