ARCHIVES OF LEAD STORIES
March 3, 2005
Candidates make pitch for 12th Suffolk seat
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.
Back
to Lead Story Archives
Home
Page