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Community Corner

Peter Koutoujian for Congress

Peter Koutoujian is well known in Waltham and the surrounding area for his 14 years as a State Representative and his current position as Sheriff of Middlesex County.  He was an effective and highly thought of legislator.  As sheriff,  he has earned the respect of his officers, providing them with support in what is a very difficult job.  He has been recognized for his efforts to develop educational and vocational programs for inmates so that when they are released they can have some resources to stay out of jail.  So that is the public Peter Koutoujian.

I want to tell you about the man that I am proud to call my friend and political mentor.  A man who has been there for myself and my family since we met 10 years ago during the gay marriage debate.  He was a guest when my partner and I married.  He read books to my daughter's kindergarten class.  He helped me to craft a bill when I was concerned about the bed closings in DMH.  Even since becoming sheriff, he has continued to offer his assistance and help whenever asked.  He educated my spouse on how to advocate against a bill that would have adversely impacted her work.  He can always be depended upon to offer that level of constituent services.

But he goes far beyond that.  He can be counted on when the chips are down.  Recently when my 16 year old niece died, he was gracious and caring enough to have trees planted in her memory in Armenia, one for Erika and I and one for her parents, who he had never met.  They had no idea who he was when they received the certificate, but this caring gesture meant so much during a very trying time.  When my nephew was having legal problems and was being threatened with being held in jail, it was Peter, who devised a back up plan for him to be held in a special unit that provided mental health services.

Peter is the real deal as a man and as a politician.  Come October 15th there will be a democratic primary.  I hope you will come out and vote for Waltham's own favored son and send this man of ability and humanity to be our voice in Congress.

Rhonda J. Bourne




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