FIRST WHITE HOUSE DIRECTOR OF WOMEN’S INITIATIVES AND OUTREACH TO CHAIR “WOMEN FOR KOUTOUJIAN”

Betsy Myers to Chair Group With Co-Chairs Representatives Kay Khan And Ruth Balser, Revere’s First Woman Superintendent Carol Tye, And Longtime Koutoujian Supporter Davina Fankhauser

Peter Koutoujian’s campaign for Congress today announced the formation of “Women for Koutoujian,” releasing a list of co-chairs that mixes national leaders, local representatives, and grassroots activists.

“Peter’s record on domestic violence stands strong among Massachusetts public officials,” said Betsy Myers.  “When Sandra Berfield was murdered by a stalker in 2000, he began a decade-long fight to pass stalking legislation giving police the authority to protect victims of stalking who have no relation to their assailant.  He made sure that the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) program—which guarantees victims of sexual assault both the care and the justice they deserve—remained funded in the face of budget cuts.  He got the White Ribbon Day campaign off the ground in Massachusetts, empowering men across the commonwealth to stand strong as allies against domestic violence.  I have known Peter for more than a decade.  He’s always been an incredible advocate for women’s issues, and I am excited to advocate for him in his race for Congress.”

Myers was the first director of the White House Office of Women’s Initiatives and Outreach during the Clinton Administration, where she served as Senior Adviser to the President on women’s issues.  After a stint as Executive Director of the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, she joined then-Senator Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in 2007.  As Chief Operating Officer she was tasked with planning and building a $100-million dollar organization, in addition to advising on women’s issues as chair of Women for Obama.  Myers now serves as Director at the Center for Women and Business at Bentley University.

As chair she will take Koutoujian’s strong, progressive message to voters across the Fifth District.  Co-chairs include Koutoujian’s longtime friends and colleagues Representatives Ruth Balser and Kay Khan.

“For more than a decade we worked closely with Peter Koutoujian as the three of us comprised the Newton legislative delegation for the Massachusetts House of Representatives,” said Representatives Kay Khan and Ruth B. Balser.   “He was our ally and our friend. We saw first hand his deep commitment to his constituents, always willing to go the extra mile to see that their problems found solutions.  He was a leader on health care reform, and fought tirelessly for programs to address violence against women.  His energy and his ability to get things done made him a leader on Beacon Hill, and will surely make him an effective Congressman.”

The list of co-chairs also includes grassroots leaders Carol Tye—the first woman school superintendent of Revere—and Davina Fankhauser, a longtime supporter and grassroots leader for Koutoujian.