Coakley Speaks to Friendly Crowd

Attorney General, Medford Resident Speaks to Dems About Senate Campaign

– Allison Goldsberry

Attorney General Martha Coakley spoke before a friendly crowd of Medford Democrats at City Hall on Wednesday night at the Dems’ September meeting. Coakley last week launched a campaign to fill US Senator Ted Kennedy’s vacant seat and would be the first woman to hold that office in Massachusetts.

“We have the most qualified, knowledgeable, and experienced person right in our own backyard,” said Dr. Quaye, Ward Six Chairperson for the Democrats.

Coakley, first elected to public office in 1998 as Middlesex District Attorney, said her experience, skills, and willingness to do the job informed her decision to run. The nine-year Medford resident said she expected economic stabilization, health care, and energy to be “front and center” issues for her.

“We are at a crisis in many respects…As elected officials we have a responsibility to face those issues and try to get some resolution to them,” said Coakley.

Coakley said she is running for US Senate because “government should work well, and it should work for everyone.” She said the government should not be “incompetent, lazy, or ignore people’s problems.” She ripped into the Bush administration, and accused it of creating problems and ignoring them, and of “being asleep at the switch.”

Coakley also said she believes government has a responsibility to “level the playing field” to help make life more “fair,” yet not to “get in the way” and make things unfair.

The Attorney General touched upon her experience fighting for consumer protection and civil rights as efforts to help make life “more fair” for the citizens of Massachusetts.

Coakley supporters lined up outside City Hall and formed a wall of banners (pictured above). Prominent Medford Democrats sat behind Coakley and are pictured above, including State Representatives Paul Donato and Carl Sciortino, State Senator Pat Jehlen, and State Representative Sean Garballey.