Wilkerson kicks off sticker campaign to secure Senate seat

Serghino René

When Dianne Wilkerson was running her first state Senate campaign 14 years ago, she made a promise that became her mantra: “We must do better.”

With several successful elections under her belt, a battle-tested Wilkerson appeared last week in front of her South End campaign headquarters to once again ask Second Suffolk County district voters to send her back to the State House, where she can continue to make good on that promise.

“As I stand here before you, I ask for you to give me another two years,” Wilkerson said to supporters. “I believe I have delivered on that promise and hope that you believe so too.”

Wilkerson rattled off a number of her achievements, including the redevelopment of the Boston State Hospital site, helping secure funding for METCO and shepherding the most comprehensive racial profiling bill in the nation through the State House.

“I have focused primarily on issues of equity, fairness and justice,” said Wilkerson. “That focus has often led me into some hot water and fierce battles.”

Not all of those battles have been with other legislators. Last fall, Attorney General Thomas Reilly filed a civil suit against Wilkerson alleging that she misused campaign contributions and expenses.

In 1997, Wilkerson was sentenced to six months’ house arrest and hit with a $2,000 fine after pleading guilty to tax charges.

And just when she thought matters couldn’t get worse, they did.

As a result of failing to submit the required 300 signatures to qualify for the September Democratic primary, a prerequisite for appearing on the November ballot, Wilkerson was forced to mount a sticker campaign — where candidates literally hand out stickers to voters who in turn apply them to the ballots as write in votes. The city election department ruled that almost half of the 491 signatures that her campaign submitted were invalid.

Wilkerson’s misfortune opened a window of opportunity for Sonia Chang-Diaz, a 28-year-old Jamaica Plain resident who declared her candidacy in May. Mounting a sticker campaign of her own, she goes door to door, reaching out to at least 100 new voters a week, reminding them to vote on September 19.

Wilkerson and Chang-Diaz champion many of the same issues, such as affordable housing and quality public education. But Chang-Diaz told the Banner that she is displeased with the present state of leadership and feels she is capable of raising the bar.

“There are two things voters want,” she said. “They want someone who is going to represent their political values and hold a high standard of conduct. Voters should never be asked to choose between those two things. They want the total package from leadership.”

Chang-Diaz is no stranger to the State House and brings a broad array of experience to the table. She served as senior legislative aid to former state Sen. Cheryl Jacques, worked on both local and national elections, served as board member for MassVOTE and at one point was as a public school teacher.

Chang-Diaz is not the only Diaz in the race. Republican Samiyah Diaz decided to mount her own sticker campaign. Although she hopes to appeal to Democrats, she is aware that voters may not listen to her message because of her political affiliation. But she said she is prepared to cross political lines to get things done.

Approaching her campaign with the utmost optimism, Diaz said, “People will see where I stand and realize that I am on their side.”

In a recent statement, Diaz challenged Wilkerson on her support of an amendment that would preserve and extend the term of embattled Massachusetts Turnpike Authority Chairman Matthew J. Amorello.

“Sen. Wilkerson should own up to her part in the culture of Beacon Hill business as usual,” said Diaz. “This culture, this backdoor effort to give or extend jobs for their political friends hurts public confidence in our government and drives up the cost of getting things done in Massachusetts.”

It may seem that having two S. Diazes in the race will create confusion among voters, but Chang-Diaz is convinced that it won’t be an issue. She gives voters the benefit of the doubt.

“People are looking for someone who stands with their values,” Chang-Diaz said. “Voters will be aware of that on their own.” Given that Second Suffolk County primarily votes Democrat, she said that she is sure that voters will “immediately be disinterested in voting for a Republican.”

Whoever wins the Democratic primary in September will move to the general state election in November to face Republican challenger Diaz.

For her part, Wilkerson is not ignoring her mishaps. At last week’s kickoff event, she told her supporters that she is aware of how her mistakes have tainted her public image.

“I suspect there are times when you winced at a time or two at an article or story regarding some aspect of my very public life,” said Wilkerson. “To all of you, I say that I am sorry for any action of mine that has led you to question my judgment.”