by Brandon Simes, www.mysouthend.com, South End News, Boston, MA
Managing Editor
Monday Feb 8, 2010
Dr. Jill Stein, of the Green-Rainbow Party, officially declared her candidacy for governor on Monday, Feb. 8, at a rally in front of the State House, adding another challenger to Governor Deval Patrick to a list that includes Republicans Charlie Baker and Christy Mihos and Independent Tim Cahill.
This will not be Stein’s first race. She ran for governor in 2002, when she received less than four percent of the vote, but did better in her next two races, first for state rep. in 2004 when she won over 20 percent of the vote and finished second, and in the 2006 race for secretary of state when she garnered over 350,000 votes in a second-place finish to incumbent William Galvin.
Stein believes 2010 is her year.
“Clearly, there’s a voter rebellion in the works,” she said. “Our campaign is going to give people the opportunity to vote for real change and real solutions to the grave problems facing our families, communities, working people and small businesses.”
Stein also believes the number of candidates will favor her, and will attempt to position herself as an outsider who can clean up local politics.
“People have had enough of bailouts, layoffs, sweetheart deals, unaffordable health care, cruel foreclosures, crushing costs of wars, and foot-dragging on the climate crisis,” she said. “It’s time for real change, not more of the same. We are going to break the stranglehold of lobbyists and insiders, and get Beacon Hill back to work for the ordinary people of the Commonwealth. Together we can build the healthy, secure green future we so urgently need.”
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m enthusiastically supporting Jill Stein, but I noticed Simes left out the name of Grace Ross, a former member of the Green-Rainbow Party of Massachusetts, who announced last week that she was challenging Patrick for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Ross was the Green-Rainbow candidate for governor in 2006. So currently there are six candidates in the race including the incumbent.
Jill,
I am so grateful that you have decided to run, so the citizens can finally vote someone without holding their nose! You are a model of a good public servant, and an inspiration to all of us who have worked with you and heard you speak. I will help you as much as I can! This time, you’ll win! The people are ready, finally, for someone with your intelligence and integrity.