Election year 2010 promises to be a memorable one. Already, there are known open seats for many major statewide and mayoral races. Movement within the political class leaves vacant a half dozen seats in the Rhode Island General Assembly, each an opportunity to build progressive power and advance the causes of marriage equality, green jobs and sustainable environment, fair funding for education, transit, fair taxes, and civil and reproductive rights. 

Every dollar you can give will have a tangible impact on the tightly run, grassroots campaigns that the Progressive Leadership Fund is seeking to endorse, and will allow our experienced staff to mentor and consult with truly progressive candidates and their campaign teams.

Contribute to our shared progressive future today!

From the Rhode Island General Assembly website:

Mary Duffy Messier sworn in as State Representative

STATE HOUSE – Mary Duffy Messier of Pawtucket was sworn in today as the State Representative from District 62, East Providence and Pawtucket, during a ceremony held in the House of Representatives chamber at the State House.

Representative Messier, a Democrat, was the winner of last week’s special election to fill the District 62 House seat. The seat became vacant when former Rep. Elizabeth M. Dennigan resigned to run for the U.S. Congress.

Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis administered the oath of office to Representative Messier, who immediately took her seat on the House floor for the opening of the 2010 legislative session.

A Democrat, Representative Messier is a lifelong Pawtucket resident and retired educator, having taught in Cumberland for 35 years. A graduate of Tolman High School and the Community College of Rhode Island, Representative Messier is a graduate of Roger Williams University and holds a Masters in Education from Rhode Island College.

Although this is her first elective office, Representative Messier has for years been actively involved in politics, having worked on several election campaigns, including those of Charles Fogarty, Sheldon Whitehouse and former Representative Dennigan.

Mary Duffy Messier won the Special Election today in District 62 – East Providence, Pawtucket, with about 61% of the vote. Tomorrow, the Pawtucket Board of Canvassers will meet at 10am to verify write-in votes and provisional ballots, so the official results may vary.

Messier is also the first graduate of Ocean State Action’s New Voices Campaign Institute to be elected.

Dear Candidate,

Enclosed you will find The Progressive Leadership Fund’s 2008 Candidate Questionnaire and an Issue Guide which gives a detailed description of the issues at stake in each of the questions.

The Progressive Leadership Fund (PLF) is a political action coalition made up of the election arms of Rhode Island’s most progressive organizations.  The PLF members are:

• American Association of University Professors PAC
• National Association of Social Workers Rhode Island Chapter PACE
• National Education Association of Rhode Island PACE
• New England Health Care Workers Union, District 1199 SEIU PAC
• Sierra Club Political Committee
• Rhode Island Clean Water Action Vote Environment Advisory Committee
• Rhode Island National Organization for Women (RI NOW) PAC
• United Auto Workers Region 9A PAC
• United Nurses and Allied Professionals PAC

We are sending this questionnaire to all candidates running for the Rhode Island General Assembly.  This is one part of our process to identify, endorse, and work for progressive candidates in Rhode Island.  We may also request an interview with you as a part of our process.  The Progressive Leadership Fund operates in coalition, and makes its endorsement decisions by consensus.  No candidate for office can receive a PLF endorsement without submitting a completed questionnaire.

I welcome any questions you may have about the questionnaire or the process.  Please feel free to call me at 463-5368 or email me at danbass33@gmail.com.  In no way will a question about any topic raised in the questionnaire be construed to a candidate’s detriment.

No doubt you recognize the value of campaign assistance which arrives earlier rather than later.  With this in mind, we ask you to reply by Monday July 28^th if you have a primary opponent or by Friday August 1^st for general election endorsement. Missing this deadline may disqualify you from consideration for an endorsement.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Daniel Bass

Coordinator, Progressive Leadership Fund

You can fill out the questionnaire online,
or return it by mail to PLF, PO Box 8658, Cranston, RI,
or can also fax your completed questionnaire to 401-463-9749,
or return it in person to 99 Bald Hill Road, Cranston, RI.

Progressive values of economic, social and environmental justice are under attack in Rhode Island. You can help elect candidates that will champion progessive values and fight hard for Rhode Islanders’ shared future.

Donate easily and securely HERE

With eight years of failed Bush policies coming to an end, 2008 is shaping up to a critical year at the polls.  The future of health care, our environment and energy, foreign policy, women’s reproductive rights, jobs, taxes and our economy, and much more will be determined by this election.

The opportunity for real change has also taken root right here in Rhode Island, and the Progressive Leadership Fund needs your help to make it grow!

The Progressive Leadership Fund is dedicated to one mission: electing progressives in Rhode Island who are committed to the fight for social and economic justice.

The 2008 election cycle will be pivotal for the future of the Rhode Island General Assembly.  With more than a dozen open seats, we have an amazing opportunity to dramatically alter the dynamics on Smith Hill by electing candidates who share our priorities.

Your donation of $50, $100, $250, $500, or $1,000 will help us mobilize volunteers and provide strategic guidance to progressive candidates that will work in Rhode Island’s General Assembly to support bold and progressive change for our families and our future.  Easily and securely donate here or mail your contribution to Progressive Leadership Fund, PO Box 8658, Cranston, RI 02920.

In 2008, PLF has already had major success.  In the primary elections, five of the six candidates we endorsed won, including first-time candidate Chris Fierro who won a six-way primary in Woonsocket.  PLF helped these candidates win by organizing dozens of volunteers who made thousands of phone calls, knocked on doors, and volunteered on the ground on election day.

With the general election coming up, we’re going to make sure these and many other progressive candidates prevail in November.  (More information about our general election endorsements is available here.)

With Hope for a Progressive Future,

David Heckman
Treasurer, Progressive Leadership Fund

P.S.  We are ready to put your donation to work right away to help the best progressive candidates run the strongest campaigns.  The sooner you make your contribution, the more valuable it becomes!