April 19, 2006

CONTACT: Cyndi Roy
617-776-2676

Gubernatorial candidates join as Chairman Johnston welcomes Massachusetts Victory '06 Coordinated Campaign leaders

BOSTON — In an unprecedented show of Democratic unity, gubernatorial candidates Chris Gabrieli, Deval Patrick, and Tom Reilly joined Massachusetts Democratic Party Chairman Philip Johnston today as he announced the leaders of the Massachusetts Victory '06 Coordinated Campaign.

The three candidates joined for the first time to help welcome Cam Kerry and Katherine Clark as co-chairs of the Massachusetts Democratic Party's coordinated campaign. They also welcomed Tracey Lewis as the Victory '06 campaign manager.

“ Cam , Katherine, and Tracey are longtime political activists with the experience and commitment Democrats need to reclaim the corner office this November,” Chairman Philip Johnston said. “Never before have we seen this level of excitement and solidarity so early in a campaign.”

The Massachusetts Victory '06 Coordinated Campaign is made up of elected officials and candidates who are committed to a Democratic victory in 2006. The Massachusetts Democratic Party is building a statewide grassroots organization of activists and volunteers to support our Democratic nominees and win back the governor's office.

“We will not rest until November,” said Cam Kerry, an attorney and brother of US Sen. John Kerry. “In January, when one of these men takes the oath of office as Governor, we will all work together to restore Massachusetts as a leader among the nation.”

“Democrats are serious about winning back the governor's office this year,” said Katherine Clark . “As a former candidate for state Senate, I know firsthand how important it is to reach out to our neighbors. That is why this year we are throwing out the old playbook and returning to the grassroots.”

“I'm excited to take a lead in a coordinated campaign that will take our message of progressive leadership door-to-door in neighborhoods across Massachusetts ,” said Tracey Lewis.

gubernatorial candidates talked about the need to elect a Democrat who will work with our state representatives, senators and congressmen to move Massachusetts forward.

“For 16 years, all we've heard is promises,” said Chris Gabrieli. “But we still haven't seen results. I refuse to believe that Massachusetts can't do better.  I will always believe that with the right leadership, Democratic Leadership, government can get real results for people.”

"It is time for a change of leadership in the Governor's office," Attorney General Tom Reilly said. "Under the Romney-Healey administration, we have lost jobs and lost population because of the high costs of energy, housing, and health care. We need proven leadership to get this state moving again on the issues that matter in the lives of regular families - creating jobs, improving our schools, and making health care more affordable.”

“For the past year, I've been running a grassroots campaign, focusing on the issues people care about — health care, making our schools consistently excellent, and creating and keeping jobs in our state,” said Deval Patrick.  “That kind of campaign works for me.  It's the right kind of campaign for the Democratic Party and for Massachusetts , too.  Democrats need to spend less time talking to people about how we are going to win, and more time talking with people about why we should.  Today's announcement marks the beginning of that change."

For more information on Massachusetts Victory '06, visit www.massvictory06.org .

Cameron Kerry, co-chair of the Massachusetts Victory '06 Campaign, is a longtime political activist who has been a leader in his brother's campaigns in Massachusetts and for President and has helped many other candidates in Massachusetts and elsewhere. He wore many hats in John Kerry's 2004 Presidential campaign including as a leader of the Massachusetts organization. Cam is a member in the Litigation Section of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. in the firm's Boston and Washington offices. He practices at the intersection of litigation and regulation, where he has been called on to solve novel and complex legal problems in a variety of settings. Cam lives with his wife Kathy Weinman in Brookline , and has two daughters, Jessica and Laura.

Katherine M. Clark, co-chair of the Massachusetts Victory '06 Campaign, is an attorney and a former candidate for state Senate in 2004. She served as General Counsel for the Massachusetts Office of Child Care Services, where she oversaw civil prosecutions of child care providers and managed the legal department. Katherine was elected to the Melrose School Committee in Nov. 2001 and served as Chairman for three terms. She has topped the ticket in the Melrose city elections in 2003 and 2005. Katherine is married to Rodney Dowell and are raising their three sons, ages 9, 6, and 4, in Melrose .