LETTERS TO THE EDITOR To the Editor: I am writing with an important request: to ask residents of the 8th Suffolk District to vote for Marty Walz as our next State Representative in the Democratic Party primary on Tuesday, September 14. I have known and worked with Marty Walz for 15 years. She is an extraordinarily talented individual, with unquestioned integrity and a proven capacity for effective leadership. Marty already has a distinguished record of service to the communities of our district. As President of her neighborhood association, she fought on behalf of the community to improve our quality of life. Marty works effectively with community groups and solves local problems. These are key responsibilities of a State Representative, and Marty has an established record of success. She won't need to learn on the job. Marty's leadership roles with Boston Public Schools and Jumpstart for Young Children demonstrate her dedication to high-quality education for all children. She knows first-hand what it takes to improve our schools. Marty is a board member of the Women's Lunch Place, a daytime shelter for poor and homeless women. She doesn't just talk about creating affordable housing and addressing homelessness -- she lives her commitment. As Chair of the Boston Ward 5 Democratic Committee and now as a member of the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee, Marty has worked tirelessly to elect progressive Democrats. The Boston Ward 5 Democratic Committee overwhelmingly endorsed her, even though her opponent is also a member of the committee. Add her many years in private law practice, and it is clear that Marty has wide-ranging experience that makes her well-qualified to tackle the difficult problems we confront every day in the Legislature. This district has a storied history of progressive, independent representation in the Legislature. Marty Walz is the candidate best qualified to continue this wonderful tradition. I strongly urge you to join me in voting for Marty Walz for State Representative on Tuesday, September 14. Paul C. Demakis Beacon Hill Times To The Editor: As longtime residents of Beacon Hill, we are enthusiastically supporting Marty Walz to be our next State Representative. Over the years, we have been privileged to have an all-star cast of elected representatives in the State House, and we believe Beacon Hill residents should insist on having only the highest caliber State Representative. Marty Walz is that person. Each of us knows Marty in a different way, but there are common elements: we are impressed by her intellect, her passion, and her dedication to serving our community. Most of all, we see in her the attributes of a leader, of someone who will do more than be a reliable vote in the legislature. We believe Marty will not only vote in a way that is consistent with our values but she will also step forward and lead us to a better Massachusetts. We face myriad challenges in our state, none of which are simple to address. It is easy to feel discouraged, but Marty sees the challenges as a tremendous opportunity to make a positive difference. We join with the many, many others who support Marty Walz and urge residents of the 8th Suffolk District to vote for her on Tuesday, September 14. Michael Rotenberg Ron Mallis Carol Geyer Beacon Hill Times Walz is the right choice I am writing to urge residents of the 8th Suffolk to vote for Marty Walz for state representative. Marty is extraordinarily talented, with unquestioned integrity and a proven capacity for effective leadership. Marty has a distinguished record of service:
I strongly urge you to vote for Marty Walz for state representative on Sept. 14. PAUL C. DEMAKIS Cambridge Chronicle Public education is key in primary On Sept. 14, residents of Area IV and Cambridgeport have the opportunity to vote for an outstanding Democrat for the House of Representatives: Marty Walz. We support Marty enthusiastically and believe she will continue the 8th Suffolk District's tradition of thoughtful and respected leadership. She has a track record of accomplishment that shows that she rolls up her sleeves and gets the hard work done. As president of her neighborhood association, Marty worked hard on local issues. At Jumpstart for Young Children, Marty is making first-rate early education available to at-risk preschool children across the country. Marty is also on the board of NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts, fighting for women's reproductive rights. Most importantly to us, Marty has a track record of working for high-quality public education. She has worked for the Boston Public Schools helping schools assess their progress and improve student learning. She understands the complexities of school improvement and knows that success means a combination of high standards and real support. She will help Cambridge and our School Committee continue the progress our schools are making. We strongly urge all the residents of the 8th Suffolk District to vote for Marty Walz in the Democratic primary on Sept. 14. BEN LUMMIS FRED FANTINI NANCY WALSER Cambridge Chronicle Let's focus on the issues From the outset of the campaign to replace retiring State Rep. Paul Demakis, I have been focused on what matters to the voters of the 8th Suffolk district: education, affordable housing, health care, social justice and the environment. I have also worked hard to explain how I am ready to carry on our district's tradition of respected, independent and progressive legislative leadership. I know that my opponent in the Democratic primary has faced controversy over some of her credentials and claims. I sincerely hope she can dispel these questions because I think we are all better served by a contest that is focused on issues that matter to our neighborhoods and the well-being of all of us who live in them. The substantive issues facing our state and my own qualifications as a neighborhood activist and as a leader on civil rights and education are all I have ever discussed or debated. I do not relish or encourage the distractions surrounding my opponent. I will continue to campaign as I always have - with a positive and issue-centered appeal to my neighbors in Boston and Cambridge. MARTY WALZ Cambridge Chronicle Walz is a friend to working families On Sept. 14, voters in the 8th Suffolk have the opportunity to vote for a true friend of working families: Marty Walz. As Cambridge residents and union members, we are proud to support Marty. The Massachusetts AFL-CIO and other unions too numerous to list all endorse her. The endorsements have a common theme: Marty will fight on our behalf. We face important challenges that require smart, dedicated leaders. Whether the issue is affordable health care or affordable housing, Marty is who we want in the legislature working on meaningful solutions. We know there are no easy answers, and we respect Marty's ability to analyze a problem and focus on pragmatic, realistic steps forward. Rhetoric in campaigns is easy. Leadership isn't. We need a leader who will both vote with us and work with us closely, advocate for our interests, and be our champion. We need Marty Walz. As Rep. Paul Demakis leaves office, organized labor is losing an ally. Just as Demakis has endorsed Marty, we have too because we know she is the best choice to carry on the tradition of progressive leadership in the 8th Suffolk District. We urge you to vote for Marty Walz on Tuesday, Sept. 14. SUSANA SEGAT DONNY DAILEY DAVID HOLWAY Cambridge Chronicle With the DNC behind us, we urge voters to focus on the Sept. 14 primary election. Voters in the 8th Suffolk have an accomplished leader seeking our support: Marty Walz. In a week when Marty has been endorsed by City Councilor Denise Simmons and the Massachusetts National Organization for Women PAC, we add our voices to the chorus. We need more women in the State House. In an election with two women running against each other, why are we supporting Marty? Because she is the most qualified candidate, with a proven track record of leadership and integrity. Marty works to ensure at-risk preschool children have an equal chance for success. She volunteers her time to help poor and homeless women. She is a fierce advocate for women's reproductive rights. She is a neighborhood organizer and a longtime member and former chairwoman of the Boston Ward 5 Democratic Committee. She is a lawyer with over a decade's experience ensuring equality in the workplace. We have full confidence that Marty will be our champion in the State House. For all of us who want to elect only the finest leaders, we urge you to vote for Marty Walz. CYNTHIA KAMISHLIAN GENEVA MALENFANT LINDA NATHAN Cambridge Chronicle To the Editor: Our retiring State Representative Paul Demakis has been a courageous leader on behalf of women's issues. We have a choice on Tuesday, September 14 when voting for his successor, and we urge you to chose Marty Walz. In a race between two women, we support Marty because she is a bright and accomplished leader who has devoted herself to our community and to women. From her service on behalf of homeless and poor women as a member of the board of the Women's Lunch Place to her advocacy for women's reproductive freedom as a board member of NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts, Marty has a proven record. Further, as an attorney, Marty has fought hard for equal rights in the workplace. It is no wonder the Massachusetts chapter of the National Organization for Women has endorsed her. There are remarkably few women in the legislature, and even fewer in leadership positions. We know Marty, and we have total confidence that she will serve us well in the State House and be a leader on our behalf. Please join us in supporting Marty Walz in the primary election on Tuesday, September 14. Nancy Marttila Vicki Olesky Andrea Serlin Marcy Axelrad Beacon Hill Times Lavender Alliance supports Walz Marty pledges to be a leader in the fight to preserve equal marriage rights. Her record of accomplishment as a civil rights lawyer makes us confident that her pledge as a candidate will be followed by real action as a legislator. The fight for equality has not been won, and we need Marty in the State House. We need Marty working with us, fighting our battle for full and equal participation in our society. We also support Marty because of her dedication to Cambridge. We were impressed by her desire to represent all of the neighborhoods in the district and by her focus on getting to know us and our issues. Her experience as president of her own neighborhood association is a strong predictor of what Marty will do as an advocate for our community. We believe Marty will be an active representative for Cambridge. On behalf of the Cambridge Lavender Alliance, we urge you to vote for Marty Walz on Tuesday, Sept. 14. Help us elect an ally in the fight for social justice. SUE HYDE ROBB JOHNSON Cambridge Chronicle Honesty is the best policy During a campaign, most voters don't question a candidate's credentials, and, instead, they trust the candidate and the media for an accurate picture of the candidate. That trust has been compromised in the 8th Suffolk District race. Democrat Kristine Glynn is misinforming voters of at least two things: Glynn stated recently she was endorsed by Sen. Dianne Wilkerson, and that she authored and secured passage of the racial profiling bill sponsored by Sen. Wilkerson. From speaking with Sen. Wilkerson's chief of staff, I learned that Glynn has not been endorsed by Sen. Wilkerson and did not author the racial profiling bill. This makes me wonder if Glynn's character on the campaign trail reflects how she will serve us in the State House. I want a representative who has a record of progressive successes and presents them honestly. I don't want a representative who exaggerates her record and ascribes endorsements where none exist. Marty Walz (www.martywalz.com), the other Democrat in the race, is running a campaign based on intelligent analyses of the issues. As a proven leader in grassroots neighborhood organizing and other progressive causes, it's her intelligence and pragmatism that attract my vote. I encourage voters to get to know her and her platform. We all win when honesty and transparency are the rule not the exception. JENNIFER HESS Say no to lobbyists Cambridge Chronicle Walz leadership is needed Cambridge Chronicle Walz supports school We wholeheartedly agree with our neighbors who wrote of their support for Marty Walz as our next state representative ("We support Walz," July 6, 2004). There is one important reason to support Marty they did not mention: her support for a public elementary school on Beacon Hill. Marty spoke recently to a group of Beacon Hill residents about her commitment to working with us to bring a public school to our community. While the odds seem long, she is undaunted. Marty believes we should continue to advocate for the school both for our children and for the long-term health and stability of Beacon Hill, even if it may take years for us to achieve our goal. Marty understands education. She has worked for Boston Public Schools and now works for an education nonprofit, Jumpstart for Young Children, that provides an early education program for at-risk preschool children across the country. She doesn't just talk about her commitment to education - she lives it. This is exactly the type of elected leadership we need; someone who understands local neighborhood issues, who will be on our side, and who will work with us no matter what or how long it takes. We encourage you to learn more about Marty by visiting her website www.martywalz.com and hope you will choose to support her in the primary election on September 14. Suzie Tapson Beacon Hill Times We support Walz The 8th Suffolk District has a long tradition of electing independent, progressive representatives, including such illustrious and distinguished examples as Barney Frank, Mark Roosevelt and, most recently, Paul Demakis. Paul has decided to not seek re-election. He has endorsed Marty's candidacy because, as he put it, she will carry on the tradition of this district sending strong, progressive leaders to represent us in the State House. We have known Marty for many years. She has demonstrated that she is smart and dedicated, and has shown that she can be an exceptional community leader, which is just what Beacon Hill - both our neighborhood as well as the other golden-domed "Beacon Hill" - truly needs. The Boston Ward 5 Democratic Committee is composed of dedicated members from many of the neighborhoods of Boston, including Beacon Hill, Back Bay, the Fenway, Bay Village and parts of the South End, who care deeply about the political process and how to make it work effectively on behalf of our communities. In endorsing Marty in the contested Democratic primary race for State Representative, by a vote of 24 - 5, the members of the committee examined Marty's record of accomplishments and her commitment to the communities of the district. We concluded that she was the best candidate to represent all of the neighborhoods of the district, including, most importantly for us, our own Beacon Hill. Marty Walz is currently vice president of development at Jumpstart for Young Children, Inc., a local nonprofit that serves at-risk preschool children. Previously, she has worked for Boston Public Schools and as an attorney in private practice. She has a long record of community service, serving as president of the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay (NABB) and a board member of The Women's Lunch Place, a daytime shelter for poor and homeless women. Marty is a former chair of the Boston Ward 5 Democratic Commit-tee, and is a current member of the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee. She is also a member of NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts, an organization dedicated to protecting women's reproductive freedom. We believe that the breadth, depth and scope of Marty's experience has prepared her to serve us well, and therefore, we enthusiastically support Marty's candidacy. We urge that our fellow Beacon Hill neighbors join us in electing her as our next distinguished State Representative. Robert A. Whitney Deborah Volpe Frances Burke Herbert Weiss Beacon Hill Times
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