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March 3, 2005

Former House Speaker Thomas Finneran’s January departure from the 12th Suffolk District House seat has drawn five candidates into special election to fill the seat.

The candidates now have less than two weeks to get their message out to voters in the district, which includes parts of Hyde Park, Mattapan, Dorchester and Milton.

To help readers make a more informed decision in this race, the Banner has asked the candidates Emmanual Bellegarde, Eric Donovan, Linda Dorcena Forry, Stacey Monihan and Kirby Robeson to respond to four questions: Why are you running, what distiguishes you from the other candidates, what is your platform and how can you meet the diverse needs of the 12th Suffolk District.

The following are responses received by the Banner.

Emmanual Bellegarde

Why are you running?

I want to use my experience to address quality of life issues like education, public safety and housing. I know first hand the difficulty in obtaining affordable housing and health care. There are a lot of people in this district who rely on emergency room care.

What distinguishes you from the other candidates?

I’m the only candidate in this race who actually graduated from public schools, the only one who worked in both the House and the Senate and has a current relationship with the people who represent this district in the House and the Senate and with community agencies.

What is your platform?

My platform is focussed on quality education, and public safety. We have to get tough on crime and focus on ways to do thins better. In housing, we have to make more affordable housing opportunities available to people. And we need to make health care more affordable to people.

How can you meet the diverse needs of the 12th Suffolk District?

At the end of the day, what people are looking for is that you take care of their issues when they call you. My focus is on constituent services. People want their rep to know it’s a local seat. They want you to come to their community meetings.

Stacey Monihan

Why are you running?

From a young age I have always had deep commitment to public service. I was a founding member and president of the Ashmont-Adams Neighborhood Association and currently serve as a member of the Democratic State Committee and am a Dorchester Ward 16 Committee member.

When this seat opened I saw an opportunity to serve the people of the 12th Suffolk District in a greater capacity. I am the best candidate for the job because my professional and civic experience will enable me to immediately begin to meet the needs of the constituents of the District.

What distinguishes you from the other candidates?

My professional experience as Boston chief of staff for Congressman Stephen F. Lynch, and my extensive civic experience have provided me the tools necessary to immediately be an effective State Representative both in the neighborhoods and on Beacon Hill.

What is your platform?

My platform consists of:
• Creating jobs and economic opportunity
• Ensuring quality, affordable health care
• Equal access to quality public education
• Improving public safety to increase the quality of life for the constituents of the 12th Suffolk District.

How can you meet the diverse needs of the 12th Suffolk District?

I feel that the diversity of our district is our strength. As I have demonstrated in both my professional experience and through my actions on the campaign trail, the best way to serve all of the people of the district is to be in each neighborhood and to be accessible and responsive to my constituents.

A state representative is the local face of government and it is important that people feel comfortable approaching you for help, whether they are looking for a job, for help with a fuel bill, finding affordable housing or trying to get a loved one substance abuse treatment. I have both the heart and the mind to be a terrific state representative.

Linda Dorcena Forry

Why are you running?

I am a public servant at heart, and I am about helping people. For nearly 10 years, I have dedicated my career to public service. I worked at the State House as a legislative aide for Charlotte Richie for 3 1/2 years and have been the executive assistant for Boston chief of housing Charlotte Richie for nearly 6 years.

What distinguishes you from the other candidates?

All public service is local. With my experience at both the State House and City Hall, I can hit the ground running. Also, with the endorsement and support of state Representative Marie St. Fleur, who also is the vice chairperson of the Ways & Means Committee, I know that I will have a friend at the State House who will help ensure that I can be effective right away.

What is your platform?

I look forward to building a new partnership in the 12th Suffolk District, where all residents, whether they live in Mattapan, Milton, Hyde Park, or Dorchester, know that they will have a voice in the State House.

I will fight for health care for all, strong public school educational opportunities for our children, and community-based public safety iniatiatives.

How can you meet the diverse needs of the 12th Suffolk District?

I have campaigned aggressively everywhere in the district, and have learned that the residents of the 12th Suffolk District have much in common. They want accessible and affordable health care, quality public schools, safe and secure neighborhoods, and improved public transportation options.

By continuing to have an open door policy throughout the district and by listening to all residents in the 12th Suffolk District, I believe I can ensure that all residents will have an ally in the State House.

Kirby Robeson

Why are you running?

I have decided to run because I feel that my background and experience in the district offers me the best opportunity to capture this once-in-a-lifetime chance to change this district.

What distinguishes you from the other candidates?

I am 45 years old and am married with two children. I have worked in all parts of this district either as a volunteer or as a professional. I am a Milton Town Meeting member and serve on the town’s Finance Committee. I serve as a member of the Codman Square Merchants Association.

I have served on the boards of many organizations in the district, including the Haitian American Public Health Initiative and the Haitian Multi-Service Center. I’m a community advisory board member of the Whittier Street Health Center. I’ve been able to work with people from different backgrounds from all over the district.

What is your platform?

• Enhance educational opportunities in the district.
• Family health
• Job creation
• Affordable housing

Education for me has to be 21st century, first class education. I would work in concert with universities and businesses to help invest in a community workforce.

How can you meet the diverse needs of the 12th district?

I am the most diverse candidate in the race. I speak English, French, Spanish and Haitian Creole. I’ve worked in Milton and am very intimately involved in their government.

I’m very accessible. People know my door is always open. This is going to be the best opportunity for people to get someone in office whom they can relate to.

Eric Donovan

Why are you running?

My wife and I are lifelong residents of Dorchester. Today, we are raising our three young children here. I know this district like no other candidate. I will fight for local aid so that our children may realize all of the benefits our community has to offer.

On account of my experience as a prosecutor, I know firsthand how crime impacts not only victims, but communities as well. For the past 5 years I have written the laws of the Commonwealth as lawyer for the House of Representatives. When elected, I know how to write and enact the laws that will make our streets safer.

What distinguishes you from the other candidates?

My experience as a prosecutor and as a lawyer for the House of Representatives clearly distinguishes me from the other candidates. Our state representatives are charged with writing the laws for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. On account of my unique experience, I can hit the ground running and immediately write and enact laws that will benefit this community. Furthermore, the relationships that I have built with the leadership and rank and file members of the Legislature places me in a position to deliver the tools and resources that this district needs.

What is your platform?

When elected, I will immediately go to work on several initiatives. I will fight to fully fund Prescription Advantage for our seniors; I will also advocate for tax abatements for senior homeowners. Today, we have Drug-Free School Zones where those who distribute drugs within 1000 feet of a school or park receive enhanced sentences for their crimes. Conversely, there is no law that increases the penalties for those who carry illegal hand-guns in our parks and schoolyards. I will write a law for Gun-Free School Zones. No child should feel threatened in school or at a playground.

I will pursue increased opportunities for homeownership in this district. Above all, I will be a tireless, accessible public servant with an open-door policy for the entire district.

How can you meet the diverse needs of the 12th Suffolk District?

Over the years, this district has changed. On a daily basis we have new residents arriving in the community. My wife and I want to raise our children in the same place that we have called home our entire lives. Our decision to stay here is proof of my commitment to working with my neighbors. Diversity comes in many forms and I will always advocate for the residents who call this community home.

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