In the Democratic Primary on Tuesday, September 4

Dr. Jon Santiago for Massachusetts 9th Suffolk District
A drive through the intersection of Mass. Ave. and Melnea Cass Blvd. was once a perfunctory commute, but is now a heartbreaking trip. Victims of the country's opioid epidemic are herded from one side of the street to the other, as commuters and tourist look on helplessly.

Meanwhile, a trip down Harrison Avenue or South Washington Street may have once been gritty, but is now a gleaming example of the neighborhood's gentrification.

Both areas of the South End exemplify the challenges our neighborhood faces. Income inequality, opioid addiction, managing growth while protecting affordable housing are issues that need immediate attention and strong leadership.

Dr. Jon Santiago has made these issues the centerpiece of his campaign. Elected officials and government leaders are turning to doctors for assistance in battling addiction and to reduce the health impact that poverty and inequality can have on our neighbors. Santiago, an emergency room doctor at Boston Medical Center, is uniquely situated to offer solutions.

Voters are right to consider incumbent Representative Byron Rushing's 35 years representing the district. Rushing has been a pioneer on LGBTQ rights, civil rights, marriage equality, social justice, healthcare equity. But Santiago would bring a fresh perspective and vitality to issues plaguing the South End.

Ayanna Pressley for the Seventh Congressional District

South Enders are well aware of City Councillor Ayanna Pressley's work for fairness, justice and equality. Oh, and her attention to policy detail. Politicos know that the Boston City Council, due to its charter, does not wield a lot of power. Yet Pressley has managed to get quite a bit done. From just and equitable liquor license reforms, to championing women and girls, and victims of sexual assault and human trafficking.

The Boston Globe notes in their endorsement of Pressley that she "represents the present of the Seventh District and the future of the Democratic Party." The Seventh is a minority majority district, yet when it comes to who votes, it's not. 55 percent of the registered voters in the district are white. The reasons for low minority voter registration are many, but one is the lack of visible representation. Electing Ayanna Pressley, the first African American woman elected to the Boston City Council would energize the district.

Incumbent Representative Michael E. Capuano has served the South End well, but Pressley is both of the district and for the district.

Jay Gonzalez for Governor

Reality check time. If you're a Democratic voter, hoping to replace ever-popular Republican incumbent Governor Charlie Baker, you've got to pick a candidate who can bring the heat.

Jay Gonzalez is a progressive who's campaigned on single-payer health care, high-speed rail to Springfield, early education, K-12 education. Gonzalez shares a common background with Baker-a career in healthcare, experience in government finance, makes him the choice for Democrats to take on Baker in November.

Rachael Rollins for Suffolk County District Attorney

Voters have a bounty of choice in the Suffolk County District Attorney's race. The field of candidates in the Democratic primary are diverse, experienced, and progressive. All the candidates have plans to build community trust, offer treatment instead of jail, increase diversity.

Rachael Rollins brings best combination of experience. She's been a prosecutor, a defense attorney, a civil rights lawyer, and has managed employees. All skills essential to running the office of District Attorney.

Josh Zakim for Secretary of State

Same-day voter registration, automatic voter registration, weekend elections, no-excuse absentee voting and ranked choice voting. These are all options for voters that Massachusetts does not have, and ideas for which candidate Josh Zakim is advocating.

The office of Secretary of State also oversees the state's public records law, and Massachusetts often ranks as among the states with the worst public records law in the nation. The law has been on the books since 1851 and, compared to other states, we have less power to demand records from state and local agencies.

In 2014, The Boston Globe ran an article about Secretary of State Bill Galvin headlined "Secretary of State regularly keeps government records secret".


Galvin has been in office since 1995 and has had plenty of time to make progress on these issues. He hasn't. It is time to give someone else a shot.