Candidate says it is time for change in the state legislature
By Pamela Julian
Wednesday, June 25, 2008, 11:51 AM EDT
Roslindale, MA, West Roxbury Transcript -- There’s a movement for political change happening in this country, and I want to seize that momentum and turn it loose at the local level.That’s why I’m running for state representative in the 10th Suffolk District in West Roxbury, South Brookline and parts of Roslindale.I’m an ordinary citizen, not a politician, but I have an extraordinary desire to participate in local politics and bring about change — good change and lots of it.A single mother of two grown children, I’ve been a community activist my entire adult life. I returned to college as a nontraditional student, attending MassBay Community College and later transferring to Sarah Lawrence College in New York. At the age of 52, I’ve been writing papers and cramming for tests as well as learning and succeeding. And I’ve also been meeting lots of young people.These young people are smart and have loads of energy, but many of them are disillusioned by politics. Two years ago, I conducted a survey for one of my political science classes. Of the 100 college students who participated, 81 percent said they were registered to vote. Yet only 35 percent said that they had voted in the 2004 election, and only 37 percent said that they had voted in the 2006 election. Something’s wrong here, and I want to help fix it. Not enough high school and college students are learning the importance of civic participation or voting. Instead these future voters end up relying on political advertising and the opinions of media personalities when choosing a candidate or, worse, as my survey results indicated, they may decide not to vote at all.
I want to work with legislators and educators to bring back civic education and critical-thinking skills to classrooms. I’m convinced that if we teach young people that they have the power to bring about change and show them how to do it, then the changes will come. And the changes will be in things that we all talk about and know are necessary, such as the need for universal health care, better education for our children, affordable housing, environmental protection, more livable-wage jobs, lower tuition costs, and an end to skyrocketing gasoline and home heating oil prices.
Last year, I co-authored a first-in-the-nation bill that would allow eligible high school and college students to register to vote when they register for classes. The On-Campus Student Voter Registration bill was reviewed by the Legislature and is now stuck in committee. I’m hopeful that the bill will be approved. It’s only a first step, but I think it’s a meaningful one that, if coupled with civic education, would actually lead to more students participating in our democracy and in our very future. With the success of Sen. Barack Obama and the 18 million votes gained by Sen. Hillary Clinton, we’re on the brink of historic political change, and I’m hoping that voters, both young and old, will be inspired by this movement and join my campaign.
I’m happy to report that a number of college students are not only enthusiastically supporting me, but are already hard at work on my campaign. There’s Erick, who’s helping to set up a Web site. Mike, who’ll be going on to graduate school for economics in the fall, spoke publicly of his support for me at a press conference Thursday in West Roxbury launching my campaign. Erin made fliers. And Rigoberte drove all the way from Malden just to offer her support for me at the press conference. But it’s not just college students who are getting involved.
The press conference itself was held at the home of longtime friend and West Roxbury native Geri Howard. They and others are helping me organize a Listening Tour of West Roxbury, South Brookline and Roslindale. I’ll be going door-to-door in each of the 23 precincts in the district, talking to residents, to find out what your concerns are. I’m ready to listen to you. I want to develop a working relationship with you, and I pledge to work just as hard for you as you do for your families. The norm of Massachusetts politics is status quo — that’s dysfunctional and unacceptable. It’s time to end the dysfunction and vote for change. Let’s seize the moment and make history.
Pamela Julian of Brookline is running for state representative in the 10th Suffolk District. She can be reached at pamelasjulian@gmail.com
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