Former Lt. Governor candidate Mike Lake endorses Steve Morabito for State Senate

Arrived today from the Morabito campaign:

I am proud to announce my endorsement of Steve Morabito as the Democratic nominee for State Senator for the First Suffolk and Middlesex district of Massachusetts. I have come across many public servants and politicians from my tenure at the White House to my campaign for Lt. Governor of Massachusetts, but Steve truly stands out for his passion, commitment to community, energy and the breadth and depth of his ideas. He has the commonsense leadership and experience that will make him the type of State Senator the people of the district deserve. 

Frankly, beyond his obvious qualifications, the reason I am supporting Steve and ask the residents of the First Suffolk and Middlesex district to do the same is because Steve understands the importance of standing up for others, taking action, being accountable and being loyal to the community that you serve. We need more leaders just like Steve Morabito to emerge from this new generation.

I have known Steve for years and we both agree that tackling the opioid crisis statewide must be controlled with preventive education, cracking down on the overprescribing of powerful prescription drugs and making sure mental health care is easily accessible for addicts. We also agree that we must properly support our public schools to ensure a brighter future for our state and the children who trust us to provide them the best education so that they may succeed in the 21st century.  

Steve's perspective on how we must be the number one state in providing support to our Veterans as well as his progressive approach on increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour, fair wage equality, affordable housing, and his great interest in our senior citizens and his opposition to increasing fares on the MBTA makes him the ideal candidate for the Senate Seat.

I ask you to join me in supporting Steven Morabito for State Senator for the First Suffolk and Middlesex district. His understanding of the issues in the district and his commitment to public service will make him the strong and affective leader you need and deserve.

Respectfully,
Michael LakeFormer CandidateLt. Governor of Massachusetts President/CEO at Leading Cities

Party leaders endorse Laura Rigas for Republican State Committee for Suffolk and Middlesex District

REVERE — Today, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr endorsed Laura Rigas for Republican State Committee for the First Suffolk and Middlesex District. The district includes Revere, Winthrop, East Cambridge, as well as Boston's Beacon Hill, Chinatown, North End, and East Boston.

Rigas has already been endorsed by Governor Charlie Baker, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, and Revere City Councillor Anthony Zambuto.

“I am honored to be endorsed by Minority Leader Bruce Tarr in my campaign for Republican State Committee” Laura Rigas said. "Senator Tarr has led the fight for reform in the Massachusetts Legislature, is a strong leader among grassroots activists, and I've been proud to stand by him and help elect strong Republican leaders in the Commonwealth."

"We need leaders like Laura Rigas who can help us build a stronger Republican Party so we can build a stronger Massachusetts," said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, a favorite among grassroots advocates.

Bruce E. Tarr is the minority leader of the Massachusetts Senate. He has been a member of the Senate since 1995, representing the 1st Essex and Middlesex District. He is a member of the United States Republican Party and a former member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

L-R: Revere City Councillor Anthony Zambuto, Laura Rigas, Senator Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, and Governor Charlie Baker. Photo Credit: Friends of Laura Rigas.

Laura Rigas, who lives and works in the district, is the Communications Director for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Education in Boston. Prior to this, she worked as Vice President for Strategic Communications at Wise Public Affairs and National Communications Director for the American Conservative Union in Washington, D.C., which hosts the largest political gathering of conservatives in the nation, the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). 

She served in several appointed leadership positions in the administration of President George W. Bush, at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Justice, and at the White House. She earned a Masters of Public Administration at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and a Bachelor of Arts at the College of William & Mary, where she was student body president and the first student member of the Board of Visitors.

She is a sustaining member of the Junior League of Boston. She has assisted in numerous statewide and local Republican campaigns in Massachusetts and is an instructor at the Leadership Institute, where she helped found its first grassroots and campaign training for women by women. She and her husband, Michael J. Rigas, live in Revere.

For more information about Laura Rigas and her campaign, please visit www.LauraRigas.com.

Source:  Laura Rigas

Gove Street Citizens Association to meet on Feb. 29

The Gove Street Citizens Association monthly meeting agenda:

MEETING DATE: Monday, February 29, 2016 

TIME: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

LOCATION - The Noddle Island Community Room located on the first floor of the Logan Rental Car Center at 15 Transportation Way.                                                                                                       
EDUCATION / PRESENTATION 

• Meet & Greet the Democratic Candidates for the First Suffolk and Middlesex District State Senate seat.
• Update on current status of GSCA area projects.
• 202 Maverick Street – Proposal for a 23 Multi-Unit Residential Dwelling with 20 parking spaces
• (2nd appearance and vote) – Attorney Richard Lynds 

DIRECTIONS: 
Driving - Free event parking available in front of the building and in the Porter Street parking lot adjacent to the building.  Walking Situated at the end of Porter Street, just a 4-minute walk from the Embassy Suites Hotel.  

All meetings are held on the last Monday of each month at the above location except for Holidays. Meetings will then be held on the following Tuesday.

Senate Candidate Dan Rizzo visits Donna's in Orient Heights

Senate candidate and former Revere Mayor Dan Rizzo stopped by Donna's Restaurant in Orient Heights yesterday.

Chinese-American Women Officials Endorse Diana Hwang: Hail Her Leadership on Mentoring Young Asian Women

(Boston, MA 2/16/2016) – Former Fitchburg Mayor Lisa Wong (Wong Sou Fun), Quincy City Councilor Nina Liang and Newton City Councilor Amy Mah Sangiolo (Mah Hwei Mei) have all endorsed Diana Hwang for State Senate, citing her work as a mentor for young Asian women across Massachusetts.

“The significant needs of young Asian-American women were largely neglected until Diana Hwang’s ground-breaking organization, Asian American Women’s Political Initiative (AAWPI), began to reach out to them and awaken their interest in public service and political power,” said City Councilor Amy Mah Sangiolo.  “I have witnessed first-hand the power of Diana’s leadership to make a difference in these girls’ future.  As the longest serving Asian American in the state, I would be thrilled to see Diana elected to the State House.”  Amy Mah Sangiolo has served Ward 4, City of Newton since 1997, and was the first Asian-American elected to the Newton City Council.

Founded in 2009, the Asian-American Women's Political Initiative (AAWPI) is the nation’s first and only leadership organization for Asian-American women. The organization grew out of Diana’s direct experience of being the only Asian in the State House – and the recognition that those numbers would not increase unless the role of politics – and the power of government were better understood by the next generation of young women leaders.  Over the last 6 years, under Diana’s tutelage, more than three dozen young women completed a one-of-a-kind State House fellowship and mentoring program and most have gone on to work on campaigns, in legislative offices and actively participate in their communities.

Quincy City Councilor Nina Liang, the first Asian-American woman to serve on the Quincy City Council also cited Diana’s work for AAWPI in her endorsement.

“I had the privilege to attend one of AAWPI’s graduations and see the transformative difference that Diana Hwang had made in these young girls’ lives,” said Nina Liang.  “I encounter, in my own community, Asian youth who serve as their families’ only link to the outside world and yet feel intimidated by the power of the State House and the larger political community to affect change.  Diana and her organization made a difference to that with her leadership and passion, and she would bring the same commitment to changing the system from inside the building when she is elected to the State Senate.”

Lisa Wong, the former mayor of Fitchburg Massachusetts, was the first Asian-American Mayor in Massachusetts history. “Diana Hwang is a true trailblazer who has the proven ability to organize, lead and most importantly to listen to the needs of the community,” Mayor Wong shared.  “Diana has spent her entire career fighting for women, immigrants and working families.  As State Senator, she would fight fearlessly for the needs of the district as she has for the needs of the Asian girls she has mentored.”
 
Mayor Wong, Councilor Liang and Alderwoman Mah Sangiolo join a growing list of endorsements for Diana Hwang’s State Senate Campaign.  In previous weeks Diana has been endorsed by Boston State Representative Dan Hunt and the only two minority women in the State Senate, Senators Sonia Chang-Diaz and Linda Dorcena Forry.

The daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, Diana Hwang previously served as a legislative aide in the State House and a Chief of Staff in the Boston City Council.  Diana serves as Board member of the UMass Center for Women in Politics, served as co-chair of the Boston Women’s Fund and is a founding member of Mayor Walsh’s Women’s Commission.  Diana currently lives in East Boston and previously lived in Revere.

Source:

Cayce McCabe
press@dianaforsenate.com
617-615-7011

East Boston Savings Bank Honors Board of Director Vincent D. Basile

(EAST BOSTON) On January 12th, the Board of Directors and the management team of East Boston Savings Bank joined Chairman, CEO and President Richard J. Gavegnano for a reception to honor retiring Board of Director member, Vincent D. Basile.

The reception was held at the Rosaria Steakhouse and Function Facility in Saugus.

Mr. Basile has served as the Corporate Secretary of Meridian Bancorp, Inc. (formerly, Meridian Interstate Bancorp, Inc.) and has been a Corporator of Meridian Financial Services, Inc. since 1977. Throughout his career, he was a self-employed Management Consultant, a Clerk of Meridian Financial Services and held the position as a Regional Administrator in the Massachusetts Office of the Commissioner of Probation. In addition to his career contributions, he proudly served his country as a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Mr. Basile has been an Independent Director of Meridian Bancorp, Inc. since 2002 and has since served as a member of the Board of Directors for East Boston Savings Bank until December 31, 2015.

“Vinny has truly been an asset to the growth and success of EBSB throughout the years, and his years of dedicated commitment and service to the bank will continue to speak volumes within the communities that we serve, said Gavegnano.

Founded in 1848, EBSB is a proven community bank that offers products and services that meet the deposit and financing needs of both consumers and businesses.  And customers can rest easy knowing that their deposits are fully insured by both the FDIC and Depositors Insurance Fund (DIF). 

East Boston Savings Bank currently operates 29 full-service branches in the greater Boston metropolitan area, and offers a variety of deposit and loan products to individuals and businesses located in its primary market, which consists of Essex, Middlesex and Suffolk counties.

Board Member Vinny Basile honored upon retirement from East Boston Savings Bank board (L-R) EBSB Board of Director member Edward Lynch and Domenic Gambardella ; Chairman, CEO and President Rich¬ard J. Gavegnano; Vincent D. Basile; and Jim DelRossi.

Source: East Boston Savings Bank

David Bowie - Sense of Doubt (1977)

David Bowie at his most mysterious.