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Social Media Links on the Senate Forum | Press Coverage Samples of the Senate Forum | Watch the SEIU Forum



BOSTON —1199SEIU members, along with members from SEIU 509, 615, 888, the Committee of Interns and Residents, and SEIU Community Action hosted a senate forum for two of the candidates for former Senator John Kerry’s U.S. Senate seat on March 9. There were more than 500 attendees.

Congressmen Ed Markey and Stephen Lynch appeared in the Dorchester offices of 1199SEIU for a wide-ranging forum that included questions on immigration reform, health care, the federal budget and other issues important to SEIU members.

“SEIU members had a huge and historic impact this past November. We re-elected President Obama and we reclaimed Senator Kennedy’s legacy with the election of Elizabeth Warren,” said Veronica Turner, Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU. “SEIU members were excited to hear from these candidates on the issues that matter most to working families.”

The forum is the first time in the campaign that the Democratic candidates have appeared together on the same stage. The candidates for the Republican nomination, Dan Winslow, Gabriel Gomez, and Michael Sullivan, declined invitations to attend the forum.

“I believe in our health care system and I believe we need to continue to improve it,” said Margaret Menz-Calabro, a personal care attendant from Quincy. “I was glad to hear both candidates say that they support protecting Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security and keeping children on their parent’s health insurance until they are 26.”

This forum reflects the vital role that member voices play in guiding the endorsement process. Scorecards on the candidates completed by members were a primary factor in determining the SEIU State Council endorsement.



The members-only forum was streamed live on masslive.com.

On March 14, the SEIU State Council, the governing body of the union, awarded its endorsement to Congressman Ed Markey. Members of SEIU will be knocking on doors, making phone calls and speaking with Massachusetts residents about the importance of voting in this election.

Primary Day will be held on Tuesday, April 30. Election Day will be on Tuesday, June 25.



Social Media Links on the Senate Forum



1199SEIU Facebook Album



1199SEIU Twitter





Press Coverage Samples of the Senate Forum



Boston Globe: Lynch, Markey make cases before union (Page B1)



Boston Herald (with video and photos): Dem Senate hopefuls vie for union support

Associated Press: Forum to feature Mass. Senate candidates

Springfield Republican: Democratic Senate hopefuls Ed Markey and Stephen Lynch debate health care, immigration reform and more at Massachusetts SEIU forum

WUNI-TV 27 Univision: SEIU realizó foro con candidatos al Senado