April 4 , 2006
Firefighters Association Local 950 Endorses Deb Goldberg for Lieutenant Governors

Boston, MA — Deb Goldberg’s campaign for Lieutenant Governor announced today that the Firefighters Association Local 950 of Brookline has endorsed Goldberg’s candidacy for Lieutenant Governor. The union cited Goldberg’s strong record of achievement as Chair of the Brookline Board of Selectmen and dedication to supporting local communities as key reasons for the endorsement. The Firefighters Local 950 joins the more than 50 state and local elected officials from across Massachusetts who have endorsed Deb Goldberg. The candidate visited with firefighters at Brookline’s Fire Station #1 on April 3; digital photographs are available to the press upon request.

“As Chair of the Brookline Board of Selectmen, Deb Goldberg proved she has what it takes to lead in tough times,” said Local 950 President Paul Canney. “The Firefighters Local 950 proudly supports Deb’s campaign for Lieutenant Governor because she has the hands-on experience to get the job done. She is the only candidate with an unfailing record of making sure our communities have the resources they need and that hardworking people are treated fairly.”

James “Chet” Riley, President Emeritus of Firefighters Local 950, said, “City and town budgets aren’t just numbers to be crunched, they must reflect the needs of the community. I worked closely with Deb when she was Chair of the Board of Selectmen. When she learned Brookline needed a new generation of young firefighters she worked to hire them. When retired firefighters desperately needed a cost of living increase, she made it happen. Deb Goldberg gave firefighters a voice in Town Hall. As Lieutenant Governor she will speak for everyone in Massachusetts, and Firefighters Local 950 is proud to support her campaign.”

“I’m honored that the dedicated firefighters of Local 950 are supporting my campaign,” Goldberg said. “They know, like I do, that local communities shouldn’t have to choose between the elderly and kids, teachers and firefighters. As Lt. Governor, I will help get Massachusetts moving again by making sure our cities and towns have the support they need and that people have something more to look forward to.”

Deb Goldberg, a fifth generation resident of Massachusetts, has the skills and experience to help get the state moving again. Goldberg, whose family founded Stop & Shop, learned how to run a company with 50,000 employees who needed dependable jobs to support their families. Even with a small 1% profit margin, they still managed to give quality health insurance to all employees—full-timers and even part-timers.

Goldberg was elected to the Brookline Board of Selectmen in 1998. Her first priority was revitalizing the town’s three commercial areas. She was a key player in working with developers, neighborhoods, and local government to attract appropriate development that did not negatively impact town services. As Chairman from 2002 until 2004, she was responsible for the town’s $190 million annual budget. Under her leadership in tough economic times, Brookline, with a population of 58,000, maintained a strong financial position and was the only community in the state to add fire fighters and police each year without costly overrides.

Deb Goldberg, 51, lives in Brookline with her husband, Michael Winter, and their two teenaged children, Evan and Meredith.

Elected Officials and Unions Supporting Deb Goldberg for Lt. Governor (list still in formation)
Congressman Barney Frank (MA-4)
State Sen. Cynthia S. Creem (1st Middlesex and Norfolk)
State Sen. Steven Panagiotakos (1st Middlesex)
State Sen. Dianne Wilkerson (2nd Suffolk)
State Rep. Ruth Balser (12th Middlesex)
State Rep. Deb Blumer (6th Middlesex)
State Rep. Stephen Canessa (12th Bristol)
State Rep. Robert Coughlin (11th Norfolk)
State Rep. Paul Donato (35th Middlesex)
State Rep. Barry Finegold (17th Essex)
State Rep. Tom Golden (16th Middlesex)
State Rep. Geoffrey Hall (2nd Middlesex)
State Rep. Louis Kafka (8th Norfolk)
State Rep. Kay Khan (11th Middlesex)
State Rep. Stephen Kulik (1st Franklin)
State Rep. Elizabeth Malia (11th Suffolk)
State Rep. Douglas Petersen (8th Essex)
State Rep. Cheryl Rivera (10th Hampden)
State Rep. John Rogers (12th Norfolk)
State Rep. Mike Rush (10th Suffolk)
State Rep. John Scibak (2nd Hampshire)
State Rep. Frank Smizik (15th Norfolk)
State Rep. Harriett Stanley (2nd Essex)
State Rep. Tom Stanley (9th Middlesex)
Gov. Councilor Michael Callahan (6th)
Gov. Councilor Mary-Ellen Manning (5th)
Gov. Councilor Marilyn Petitto Devaney (3rd)
Commissioner Jeffrey Welch (Plymouth)
District Attorney William Keating (Norfolk)
Treasurer Joseph Connolly (Norfolk)
Register of Deeds David Simas (Bristol, North)
Register of Probate Patrick McDermott (Norfolk)
Mayor David B. Cohen (Newton)
Mayor John Hanlon (Everett)
Sheriff Richard Bretschneider (Nantucket)
City Councilor Martin Gately (Malden)
City Council President Arthur Guinasso (Revere)
City Councilor Thomas Hoye (Taunton)
City Councilor James Leahy (Holyoke)
City Councilor Armand Mercier (Lowell)
City Councilor Michael Ross (Boston)
City Councilor Gregory Shanahan (Weymouth)
City Councilor David Swartz (Haverhill)
Selectman Matthew Albanese (West Bridgewater)
Selectman Robert Allen (Brookline)
Selectman Jason Booth (Tyngsborough)
Chair of the Board of Selectmen John Bulian (Needham)
Selectman Nancy Daly (Brookline)
Selectman Daniel Matthews (Needham)
Board of Selectmen Clerk Jerry Wasserman (Needham)
Alderman Susan Albright (Newton)
Alderman Ted Hess-Mahan (Newton)
Alderman Marcia Johnson (Newton)
Alderman Richard Lipof (Newton)
Firefighters Association, Local 950
Pipefitters’ Association, Local 537