by Press Release, MassEquality
Tonight MassEquality, the state-wide effort dedicated to upholding the Goodridge decision, praised the election of pro-equality attorney Bob Rice of Gardner, who handily defeated his Republican challenger Patrick Dennehy. Rice will now fill the seat vacated by Brian Knuuttila, who consistently voted for an anti-gay, anti-marriage constitutional amendment. Additionally, Denise Provost, a strong ally of equality, won an uncontested special election in Somerville to fill the seat vacated by Pat Jehlen, now a state senator.
At the same time, MassEquality saluted the uphill campaign of retired high school teacher Claire Naughton who challenged the widow of former Rep. Michael Coppola in a special election in Foxboro district. Naughton is a strong proponent of marriage equality, while both Coppolas supported the anti-gay amendment.
"We netted one more vote for equality tonight," said MassEquality campaign director Marc Solomon. "Bob Rice's strong victory in Gardner again demonstrates that voters in rural and conservative parts of the state will stand with supporters of equality. Claire had an extremely tough battle and we worked hard to get her over the finish line. She didn't make it, but she carried the message of marriage equality throughout the district and we were proud to be associated with her campaign."
Dozens of MassEquality volunteers were involved in every aspect of the campaigns, knocking on hundreds of doors, making more than 3,000 phone calls to voters, and contributing thousands of dollars.
Over the last two years, MassEquality has become a leading player in Massachusetts state politics, spending nearly $800,000 on campaigns and organizing thousands of members to volunteer and contribute. The results, said Solomon, are clear: every incumbent legislator who voted for equal marriage rights for same-sex couples -- in urban, suburban and rural districts has won re-election. In races for the 14 open seats where a pro-equality candidate faced a candidate supporting the anti-gay constitutional amendment, 11 were won by pro-marriage candidates. In addition, two incumbents who supported the discriminatory amendment lost their seats to equal marriage supporters in the November 2004 elections.
Posted on February 07, 2006 |
