ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY OF COLOR LEADERS ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS HIGHLIGHT REPUBLICAN CHARLIE BAKER’S NEW INTEREST IN CITIES

Leaders From Boston and Holyoke Cite Sudden 2014 Interest

BOSTON – Additional leaders of color from communities across Massachusetts are criticizing Republican Charlie Baker’s newfound interest in Gateway Cities, following on comments last week from elected officials in Mattapan, Springfield and New Bedford.

Recent news reporting has observed how Republican Charlie Baker’s interest in cities was absent from his 2010 campaign.

“Earning the trust of voters in communities of color doesn’t happen overnight,” said Boston At-Large City Councilor Michelle Wu. “Our residents in Gateway Cities need proven advocates who will fight for equal opportunities in education, transportation and job creation every year, not just leading up to an election.”

Last week, Springfield City Councilor Bud Williams, Mattapan State Rep. Russell Holmes, and New Bedford City Councilor and Massachusetts Democratic Party Communities of Color Director Dana Rebeiro also expressed similar sentiment.

“We need to know what a candidate is going to do to continue the efforts going on in Gateway cites,” said Holyoke State Representative Aaron Vega. “It takes more than one comment or a few signs to get support and win votes in Western Mass. As Democrats, we understand the importance of going door to door and being in our cities, not just for some photo ops.”

In 2010, Republican Charlie Baker was exposed for failing to have a presence in western Massachusetts and claiming a vacant office as a campaign space. For a look back at Republican Charlie Baker’s phantom western Massachusetts office, watch this story from CBS3-Springfield.

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Background from Paul McMorrow’s story in Commonwealth Download:

“In conversation, he repeatedly name-checks cities like Lowell, New Bedford, Worcester, and Springfield. His platform is heavy on talk about school turnarounds and economic opportunity — issues that would seem to resonate deeply in urban communities. A Globe story two weeks ago had Baker trying to broaden his base, and drum up support among black supporters from Hyde Park and Mattapan. “It’s no secret that the reason we lose on Election Day is because we lose in urban cities,” state GOP chairman Kirsten Hughes told theGlobe. “It’s not rocket science. We have to go to places we haven’t typically gone.”

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