How Much Judges Matter, and the Ballot Improvement Coming Soon!
Hi Everyone,
As we wait to learn whether a federal judge in the Northern District of Texas will issue a preliminary injunction to take mifepristone -- the abortion pill that has been accessible for years -- off the market, we are are again reminded of the extraordinary power of judges. We must be certain that every judge, at all levels of our judiciary, is 100% pro-choice and ready to uphold the law.
The fight continues both in our courts and at the ballot box, all across the country, including right here in Massachusetts where we rightly do not elect our judges, but we do elect the people who choose them. My commitment to making sure our judiciary is 100% pro-choice, follows science, and is anti-racist remains steadfast, along with my commitment to make sure all voters understand the importance of the work of the Governor’s Council.
To that end, I am very pleased to let you know that your ballot is on the way to being much clearer. As you know, our ballots have read simply “Councillor” instead of “Governor’s Councillor”. I asked Secretary of State Bill Galvin if there was a way to change that, and he told me it needs to be done by statute. So I went right to my own State Senator Mike Barrett and my own State Rep. Simon Cataldo and asked if they would sponsor legislation to do just that. They immediately said yes, and filed S.406 and H.665, An Act Clarifying the Role of Governor’s Council on the Ballot. Once the bill was filed I reached out to legislators to ask for their support. Senators Jamie Eldridge, Pat Jehlen and Anne Gobi have already agreed to co-sponsor, along with State Reps. Jim Arciero, Michelle Ciccolo, Ken Gordon, John Lawn, Tom Stanley, and Dave Rogers. Other Governor’s Councillors are enthusiastically on board and reaching out to the electeds in their districts. This commonsense legislation is long overdue, and will reduce the number of voters who get to the polls but do not vote for “Councillor” because they simply do not know what it is. Next year, all across the Commonwealth, voters should be able to cast their vote for “Governor’s Councillor”.
Your continued support is essential, not only for what it will make possible, but to show everyone just how strong we are going into next year’s race. I’m asking everyone who contributed last time to match that contribution this year. With your help, we will elect the first full-time public defender to the Governor’s Council, someone you can count on, with the inside knowledge of the day to day workings of our court system to tackle the issues we face and make our judiciary reflective of the will of the people. With your support, we will finish what we started very soon. Please give what you can today.
Take Care,
Mara
