Wellesley Community Leaders Back Dr. Natalia Linos for Congress

WELLESLEY, MA -- Yesterday, three leading members of the Wellesley community announced their support for Dr. Natalia Linos for Congress. The endorsements include Town Meeting Member and Natural Resources Commissioner Raina C. McManus, Harvard Medical School Associate Professor of Medicine, Wellesley Town Meeting Member, and Former Natural Resources Commissioner Dr. Regina LaRocque, and Boston Society for Architecture Board Member, Former Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Boston President, and Former Wellesley Historic District Commission Green Ribbon Study Committee Member, Ellen Watts. In addition, Linos has also gained crucial support from younger Wellesley voters with Elizabeth and Mary Olney Fulham also announcing their support. All of these endorsements are being made in a personal capacity.

Linos will be hosted by Watts, McManus, and the Olney Fulham sisters, as well as Phyllis Theermann and Catherine Clark, for a Wellesley Meet the Candidate event at 7:30 pm tonight, Wednesday, July 8. Members of the local community are invited to register online: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUpceuhqzIoHN0cGz6cMXrLg4uWB8iGegOC

Raina C. McManus
Wellesley Town Meeting Member and Natural Resources Commissioner
“With the emergence of COVID-19, we are now experiencing firsthand the devastating intersection between our economy, our health, and a warming planet. As a social epidemiologist, Dr. Linos fully understands the science behind these issues, and will draw on her stellar education - and her global experience in organizations such as the U.N., and the NYC Health Department during the Ebola outbreak - to bring about the urgent changes we need in order for our planet, and consequently us, to be healthy, safe, and economically sound. Natalia is currently the Executive Director of the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard. At a time when our country’s social inequities and injustices are being laid bare, could we ask for a person with a more relevant skill set?”

Dr. Regina LaRocque
Harvard Medical School Associate Professor of Medicine, Wellesley Town Meeting Member, and Former Town of Wellesley Natural Resources Commissioner
"As an infectious disease physician, I'm supporting Natalia because I know we need public health expertise and science at the table representing Massachusetts District 4."

Ellen Watts
Boston Society for Architecture Board Member, Former Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Boston President, and Former Wellesley Historic District Commission Green Ribbon Study Committee Member
“Wow!" was my reaction upon first hearing Dr. Natalia Linos speak. My excitement about her only grew when I listened to the Environmental League of Massachusetts candidates' forum and also "Women Leading Through Crisis," her conversation with UN leader and former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark. Dr. Linos is a scientist who understands that public health and planetary health are inextricably linked and promise economic recovery and climate justice but only if we act with vision, speed, and data-based approaches.”

Elizabeth Fulham
“I’m 23 years old and just graduated from Franklin & Marshall College in May. I’m doing City Year in Buffalo, NY starting in early August and hope to become a teacher. I’m particularly passionate about climate change, and the fact that it is one of the centerpieces of Natalia’s campaign was initially impressive to me. I believe that Natalia’s science-based and analytical approach is much needed in Congress, especially during this climate crisis and the pandemic. I was also persuaded by the way she speaks about issues that she is still researching and doesn’t always have the perfect political answer — a rare trait in many politicians that I’ve encountered.”

Mary Olney Fulham
“I’m 26 years old and just got back to the US after living in Amman, Jordan for 16 months. I graduated from George Washington University in 2018, where I got my bachelor’s degree in Middle East Studies and Arabic. Like my sister, I am so impressed by Natalia’s work on climate change, and her demonstrated understanding of the intersectionality of climate change, health, and justice. I am also struck by her international experience and her eagerness to apply her experience to domestic politics. She is a very effective, authoritative, and convincing speaker, while still humble about what she doesn’t know yet and clearly is working hard to learn more. I really admire her transparency and her commitment to facts and data-based decision making—unlike many politicians, she won’t just give you an empty line, she will wait to answer until she has the information she needs!”