This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

SIGNIFICANT ENDORSEMENTS: WALTHAM MAYOR MCCARTHY JOINS SPEAKER DELEO, WARREN TOLMAN, AND BETSY MYERS IN HIGH PROFILE ENDORSEMENTS OF PETER KOUTOUJIAN FOR CONGRESS

Mayor of Waltham Follows DeLeo, Tolman, and Myers in Offering Support for Koutoujian And His Decades-Long Track Record of Standing Strong For Middle Class Families on Women’s Rights, Gun Control, And Healthcare For All

Waltham Mayor Jeanette McCarthy today announced her endorsement of Peter Koutoujian’s campaign for Congress today.  In sign of coalescing support from key Fifth District leaders, McCarthy adds her name to a growing list of endorsers including House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo, longtime State Senator Warren Tolman, and Betsy Myers, current Director at the Center for Women and Business at Bentley University and former Director of the White House Office of Women’s Initiatives and Outreach.

“I’m proud to have the endorsement of my hometown mayor, Jeanette McCarthy,” said Koutoujian.  “In addition to being a great friend, as mayor of Waltham she has been a dedicated public servant to the city I have always called home.  I could not ask for a stronger boost heading into the last weekend of the race.”

Find out what's happening in Walthamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

McCarthy’s announcement follows similar expressions of support from Speaker DeLeo, Warren tolman, and Betsy Myers.

"I know how important it is for a district to have a strong dedicated and intelligent representative always willing to do what is in the best interest of his or her constituents,” said DeLeo. “Peter will be that person for the Fifth Congressional District. Peter has proven to be a leader on issues important to the fifth district , including issues relating to working families, health care, women's rights, seniors and protection against gun violence. This is why I am proud to endorse my friend Peter Koutoujian for Congress."

Find out what's happening in Walthamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“For decades Peter Koutoujian has been an ally and fierce advocate for the Middle Class,” said Tolman.  “He delivered his maiden speech from the State House floor on gun control.  He wrote stalking legislation, fought off cuts to the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners program, and helped pass the bill that requires all hospitals in Massachusetts provide emergency contraception to women who need it.  And he chaired the Public Health committee when Massachusetts passed first-of-its-kind healthcare laws that now ensure 98% of residents and 99% of children are covered. 

“At a time when Republicans in Washington have shut the federal government down over the Affordable Care Act—a program that provides millions of Americans affordable healthcare—I can’t imagine a more qualified person to fill Ed Markey’s shoes.  Peter’s always known how to stand strong for our core values and win, and I know those skills will serve our district well in Congress,” said Tolman.

“Peter’s a champion on women’s rights,” said Myers.  “From equal pay for equal work to a woman making her own reproductive health decisions, he understands the kind of issues that affect women and our families.  The first race he ever won was against an anti-choice incumbent, and he didn’t stop there: Peter passed the law that ensures every hospital in Massachusetts provides emergency contraception to women that need it.  He stood strong for funding for the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners program.  To this day he serves as a board member for REACH Beyond Domestic Violence.

“The Affordable Care Act makes sure insurance companies no longer treat being a woman as a pre-existing condition, and Peter’s experience as Chair of the Public Health Committee is invaluable to that effort.  He oversaw the implementation of our first-of-its-kind healthcare system and he’ll bring the leadership he showed then with him to Congress,” added Myers.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?