Deb Pasternak, (617) 852-2641, debp@massachusetts.sierraclub.org
Craig Altemose, (201) 841-7105, craig@betterfutureproject.org
Vingesh Ramachandran, (510) 676-4691, vignesh@betterfutureproject.org
BOSTON--Two leading Massachusetts climate organizations: The Massachusetts Sierra Club and 350 Mass Action have endorsed newcomer Nika Elugardo in her race to unseat incumbent House Ways and Means Chair Jeffrey Sanchez.
Voters in Jamaica Plain, Roslindale, Mission Hill, and Brookline will decide between Elugardo and Sánchez in the upcoming Democratic primary on Tuesday, September 4.
In support of Ms. Elugardo’s candidacy, Deb Pasternak, Chair of the Chapter Executive Committee and Incoming Interim Director said:
"We are very excited to endorse Nika Elugardo’s candidacy. Her platform on climate change, environmental justice, and immigrants rights shows that she understands that these important issues need champions in the State House to make the changes that Massachusetts residents are seeking. We will work to get our membership involved in this race.”
In support of Ms. Elugardo’s candidacy, Craig Altemose, Executive Director of 350 Mass Action said:
“After a nearly unanimous vote of our membership, we are proud to endorse Nika Elugardo for State Representative. Ms. Elugardo will be a strong champion for climate, immigrant, and racial justice, and by taking the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge and swearing off campaign donations from dirty energy companies and utilities, she has shown where her loyalties lie (while Rep. Sanchez proudly continues to accept industry money to bias his decisions). Nika Elugardo will be the people’s representative, and we will work hard to get her elected.”
Both organizations had waited to vote on any endorsement in the 15th Suffolk District state house race until the end of the session to wait and see which bills will be passed by the legislature this year. Ms. Elugardo will be taking on 8-term incumbent, Jeffrey Sánchez whose role as Chair of the powerful Ways and Means Committee allows him to oversight over which bills make it to the House floor for a vote.
Of Mr. Sanchez’ record this session, Emily Norton, Chapter Director of Sierra Club said:
“We are very disappointed with Chairman Sánchez lack of leadership on important issues this session. While the Senate passed a robust clean energy bill, the legislation that emerged from Sánchez’s Ways and Means Committee included only an incremental change to current climate policies and failed to include provisions around environmental justice or improving access to solar energy.”
On Ms. Elugardo’s candidacy, Klara Kuemmerle, of the Sunrise Movement said:
“As the generation who will bear the brunt of climate disaster and pollution, young people cannot afford the lackluster leadership we saw in this last legislative cycle. We need leaders like Nika Elugardo in the statehouse, who have a proven track record of maintaining loyalty to the people, not just to power, and standing up to the fossil fuel CEOs and lobbyists who threaten our futures. We look forward to getting out in the streets and talking to thousands of voters in the upcoming weeks to make sure Nika is the 15th Suffolk district's representative come September.“
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.