32BJ SEIU Gets Out the Vote for Cindy Friedman

[Caption: 32BJ SEIU Member and Arlington resident Santiago Brito]

ARLINGTON, MA — Mailers in support of State Senate candidate Cindy Friedman began arriving at Democratic voter households in the 4th Middlesex District today, sent out by an independent expenditure campaign at 32BJ SEIU District 615, a local comprised of over 18,000 janitors, security officers and other building service employees across Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The union has also announced that members will be knocking on doors this weekend for Friedman, whom members endorsed as the best candidate in Tuesday’s special primary election to continue the crucial work of the late Senator Ken Donnelly.

A longtime champion of working people, Senator Donnelly passed away in April after a nine-month battle with brain cancer. During Senator Donnelly’s nine years in the State Senate, Cindy Friedman served as the Senator’s Chief of Staff.

“Cindy Friedman is more qualified than any other candidate to uphold the Senator’s vision through the rest of his term and beyond,” said Santiago Brito, a janitor and member of 32BJ who lives in Arlington. “Working people in Arlington had a great friend in Senator Donnelly. He fought hard to support union rights and decent wages. As an immigrant, I’m also proud of his defense against President Trump’s attempts to tear apart immigrant families. I know Cindy Friedman will continue that work.”

“But that’s not the only reason I will be out this weekend knocking on doors for Cindy Friedman,” Brito continued. “My family strongly believes it’s important to increase the number of women in the State House who can make real changes.”

“I work at two jobs, my wife at another, and my 25-year-old son at a third,” Brito explained. “We work hard to provide for our family and save a little for a better future. But it’s getting harder and harder to do that. Cindy Friedman understands our struggles. She’s a mother and grandmother; she’s a former elementary school teacher; she knows this community. She stands behind Paid Family Leave, better access to healthcare for women, increased school funding. She can help open up the men’s club on Beacon Hill. By electing Cindy Friedman, we can send a message to all Massachusetts and beyond – it’s time to stop looking backward, and begin making real changes that help us all.”