Fellow elected officials rally around Linda Dorcena Forry: (from left) Rep. Russell Holmes, Rep. Carlos Henriquez, Sheriff Steve Tompkins, Rep. Liz Malia, City Councillor-at-Large Ayanna Pressley, Rep. Linda Forry, Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz, City Councillor Tito Jackson, City Councillor-at-Large Felix Arroyo, State Rep. Byron Rushing.
Rep. Linda Dorcena Forry was joined by a dozen elected officials from Boston who have endorsed her candidacy for State Senate last week outside the State House.
Among the elected officials who are supporting Rep. Forry’s candidacy are: Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz, Rep. Michael Moran, Rep. Byron Rushing, Rep. Russell Holmes, Rep. Jeffrey Sanchez, Rep. Liz Malia, Rep. Carlos Henriquez, Rep. Gloria Fox, Sheriff Steve Tompkins, City Councillor-at-Large Ayanna Pressley, City Councillor-at-Large Felix Arroyo and City Councillor Tito Jackson.
“I am honored to have the support of my colleagues from both city and state government at my side,” said Rep. Forry, a fifth-term state lawmaker who is Chairman of the Committee on Community Development and Small Business. “They know first-hand the work I’ve done on Beacon Hill and in our communities to improve the quality of life for all Bostonians.”
State Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz — who represents the Second Suffolk district— said she is eager to have Rep. Forry join her in the Senate chamber this year. Sen. Chang-Diaz spent the day on Sunday knocking on doors in the First Suffolk district to ask voters to support Rep. Forry’s candidacy.
Rep. Jeffrey Sanchez, Rep. Forry and Rep. Michael Moran
“Linda Dorcena Forry is one of the most effective and accomplished state lawmakers on Beacon Hill,” said State Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz. “She and I have partnered on several key pieces of legislation in the last few years, including the last session. She has been an outstanding state representative and she will be a great addition to the Senate chamber. I am excited to join her effort to win election to this seat.”
Rep. Michael Moran worked alongside Rep. Forry as chairman of the House Redistricting Committee in 2011-12.
“Linda Forry is one of the Legislature’s most effective legislators because she commands the respect and friendship of her colleagues,” said Rep. Moran. “We know that Linda is one of the hardest working and most dedicated people on Beacon Hill– and also one of the nicest people in government that you will ever meet. Linda cares about her constituents and never forgets why she’s up here. I think she will be an outstanding State Senator for those same reasons.”
Councillor-at-Large Ayanna Pressley has partnered with Rep. Forry on key issues across Boston and the Commonwealth.
“Linda Dorcena Forry gets things done,” said Councillor Pressley. “As the mother of four kids, she understands the pressures on working families in our city. She has never shied away from taking tough stands when she has to stand up for her constituents. But Linda is also a consummate bridge-builder who understands that we need to develop partnerships to bring about a better Boston. I cannot think of anyone better suited to represent the First Suffolk district in the State Senate.”
Councillor Tito Jackson said Rep. Forry’s roots in Boston make her the strongest candidate in the field.
“Linda was born and raised in Dorchester and she’s lived here for her entire life. She got her start in public service as a teenager, working to give young people a voice through the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative. She’s been a leader throughout her life and now she is a seasoned, highly effective legislator who is ready to step into the State Senate today and represent everyone— South Boston, Mattapan, Hyde Park and her native Dorchester— on day one. I am proud to stand with her.”
Councillor-at-Large Felix Arroyo said that Rep. Forry’s experience in both city and state government over the last two decades makes her uniquely qualified to fill the now-vacant Senate seat.
“I am proud to join the effort to elect Linda as the next State Senator for the 1st Suffolk. She is an experienced legislator whose desire to serve comes from her commitment to community. She has always and will always put people first.”
Sheriff Steve Tompkins said that Rep. Forry is well regarded as someone who can tackle tough issues and build consensus.
“Rep. Forry moved up quickly into leadership positions in the Legislature, because her peers recognized that she has special skills in building consensus and finding solutions to difficult problems,” Sheriff Tompkins said. “As chair of the Committee on Community Development and Small Business, Linda didn’t wait for advocates to bring their ideas to state government. She led a statewide tour to go out to Main Streets all over the Commonwealth. She came back with real solutions, passed new laws to help small businesses create new jobs. This is real leadership. Linda Dorcena Forry will make a great State Senator and I’m proud to support her candidacy.”
Rep. Russell Holmes, who works alongside Rep. Forry in representing parts of Dorchester and Mattapan, said Rep. Forry is ready to lead the district right away.
Rep. Gloria Fox, right, with Rep. Forry
“There will be no learning curve for Linda in representing our communities,” Rep. Holmes said. “Rep. Forry has spent years building a network of community leaders from all over her district and beyond. She hosts a monthly breakfast that convenes civic and business leaders from across the city to share ideas, meet with state and city officials and plan for the future. This is the kind of leadership that Linda will bring to this wider Senate district. This sort of approach to governing will help us build a better city and state.”
Rep. Forry, 39, is currently a fifth-term state legislator representing the 12th Suffolk district, which includes parts of Dorchester, Mattapan, Hyde Park and Milton. Elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 2005, Representative Forry has championed improvements to the state’s education system, job creation and business development efforts. Representative Forry has also remained committed to community development efforts across the state, access to high quality healthcare, housing affordability, effective public safety policies, growth of emerging technologies and preservation of the state’s precious natural resources.
She and her husband Bill Forry are parents to four children. They live in Dorchester Lower Mills.
