Brookline’s Raul Fernandez Endorsed By 'Act On Mass' In State Rep Race

BROOKLINE, MA — Brookline State Representative candidate Raul Fernandez has been endorsed by Act On Mass, a good-government advocacy organization.

In their endorsement, the group emphasized Fernandez’s track record of transparent and open government as Vice Chair of the Brookline Select Board and his commitment to reforming the culture of secrecy on Beacon Hill.

“Raul is the only candidate in this race committed to bringing a transparent legislative process to Beacon Hill,” AOM spokesperson Erin Leahy said in a statement. “The incumbent representative has repeatedly voted against making committee votes public and against giving representatives enough time to read bills and amendments before voting on them.”

State House rules do not require recorded votes in the committee meetings where most legislative business is decided.

“I know what is possible when government opens its doors and engages people in the process of creating policy to improve people’s lives. I did this in partnership with our community on the Brookline Select Board, and as State Rep I will bring that transparency to Beacon Hill,” Fernandez said in a statement. “I’ve seen that we make the best policy when we bring everyone to the table, from the Task Force to Reimagine Policing in Brookline to the Small Business Development Committee to the working group to support the Brookline Housing Authority and its residents to language access in Brookline.”

“I’m proud to have Act On Mass’s support this year, and I’m proud to be the only candidate in the race to sign their Transparency Pledge,” he continued.

Legislators and candidates who sign the pledge commit to publish their committee votes and push for recorded votes in committee meetings and on the floor.

Act On Mass joins state and local elected leaders and organizations in endorsing Fernandez in the September 6 election, including former Select Board member Jesse Mermell, Select Board member Miriam Aschkenasy, School Committee Member Suzanne Federspiel, School Committee Member Mariah Nobrega, Brookline Asian American Family Network Chair Chi Chi Wu, Brookline for Racial Justice and Equity, the Brookline Equity Coalition, Mass Alliance, and Incorruptible Mass.

More information on Fernandez’s campaign is available at www.raulforrep.com.