NEWTON — The College Democrats of Massachusetts today are proud to announce our endorsement of Setti Warren for Mayor of Newton in 2009. This is a historic moment for the College Democrats of Massachusetts as this is the first endorsement our organization has made in a local race since adapting our bylaws to allow for them in 2007.
First, we would like to acknowledge the three other candidates for this office whom we admire for their loyalty to the Democratic Party, to Newton and for their willingness to serve. Representative Ruth Balser, Alderman Ken Parker and Alderman Paul Coletti are all admirable public servants and we wish them well and congratulate them on all they have achieved.
Setti Warren was raised in Newton and attended high school at Newton North where he demonstrated his leadership as class president for four years. He went on to become only the second African American to be elected student body president at Boston College and earned a JD from Suffolk University. Setti has designed a high school internship program, was on the front lines of a presidential re-election campaign and has worked in many cabinet agencies in Washington. Setti furthered his experience as New England Regional Director of FEMA, where he led as an executive, overseeing a critical agency and interacted with mayors and legislators on a daily basis. As the campaign begins in earnest, Setti is now leaving the office of Senator John F. Kerry, a man we are proud to call a friend and admire as our Senator. Setti also exemplifies the meaning of service, having served not only in various levels of government, but also on the front lines as a Naval Intelligence officer in Iraq.
Above all what draws us to Setti are his new ideas, fresh perspective and commitment to civic engagement. Setti stands stands for strengthening schools, rebuilding infrastructure, preserving fiscal responsibility, developing clean energy and investing youth in their government through the Newton Volunteer Corps.
Setti is a unique and inspirational leader, with an unparalleled and diverse set of life experiences that set him above the rest and will serve him well as mayor. “Setti Warren represents what’s best about the Democratic Party and has shown a commitment to service and country throughout his life,” said CDM President Matt Zagaja. “He is a leader, and an example for young people across Massachusetts, and he emblemizes the kind of leader we hope to see more of in years to come.”
Many of us are not from Newton, but we know the city well as it is the home to one of our strongest and largest chapters, Boston College. BC Democrats will be leading the charge in our effort to help Setti win this fall, and no chapter is more excited about this announcement than our members at BC.
We believe Newton is poised to set an example for the rest of the Commonwealth, for our own hometowns; a hotspot for innovation and progress, under the able leadership of Mayor Warren. We look forward to spending a lot of time in Newton over the next months to help Setti campaign and meet the people and hear their concerns and hopes.
The Boston College Democrats and College Democrats of Massachusetts will kick-off our efforts with a community service event in Newton, where we hope to learn more about the city and give back with service; date and location to be announced. In addition we will hold a “Canvass Kick-Off” event sometime in the early spring, to help begin the work of electing Setti Warren as the next Mayor of Newton.