Progressive Mass is proud to endorse Mara Dolan for re-election to the Governor’s Council.
Boston neighborhoods in District 3: Boston — Fenway (W4P10, 12; W5P2, 10, 12, 15; W21P1); Boston – Allston/Brighton (W21P2-16, W22)
Other cities and towns in District 3: Acton, Arlington, Ayer, Bedford, Belmont, Billerica, Boxborough, Brookline, Burlington, Cambridge – West Cambridge (W8P2; W9); Carlisle, Chelmsford, Concord, Harvard, Hudson, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Marlborough, Maynard, Newton, Southborough, Stow, Sudbury, Waltham, Watertown, Wayland, Wellesley, Weston, Woburn
State Senators’ Districts within D3: Mike Barrett, Will Brownsberger, Cindy Creem, Jamie Eldridge, Cindy Friedman
Incumbent: Mara Dolan (D)
Challenger: Margie Palladino (D)
The Governor’s Council needs a public defender to help us decide who our judges are going to be, who sits on our Parole Board, and who receives commutations and pardons.
From my own professional experience, I have seen that we must have judges who respect the science around addiction, as far too many who need recovery are taken into custody following relapse. It’s expensive, it doesn’t work, and often it makes recovery even harder. Additionally, we must have judges who respect the science around brain development in children and emerging adults, so that we don’t treat a 13-year-old the way we would treat a 35-year-old.
Everyone who leaves court should feel that they have been treated fairly, with equal justice under the law. Judges must treat the people who appear before them with respect, model healthy conflict resolution, and be exceptional examples of our government.
As a public defender, I see the court system through the eyes of my clients. They can either leave court better positioned to make their lives the way they want them to be, or face an even higher hill to climb. As Governor’s Councilor, I will make sure that every nominee who appears before me shows that they have the character, experience, values, and courage to uphold the law and treat everyone who appears before them equally.