Somerville Councilors Endorse State Auditor Candidate Chris Dempsey

SOMERVILLE, MA — Five Somerville City Councilors have endorsed Democratic Candidate for State Auditor Chris Dempsey.

Somerville City Council President Matthew McLaughlin, City Council Vice President Benjamin Ewen-Campen, and City Council Members Willie Burnley, Jesse Clingan, and Jake Wilson announced their decision Thursday.

The Councilors join Somerville State House leaders Rep. Christine Barber and Mike Connolly in their endorsement of Dempsey’s campaign. Dempsey has also been endorsed by the Massachusetts Democratic Party, Progressive Massachusetts, 350 Mass Action, Bay State Stonewall Democrats, and Boston’s Mayor Michelle Wu, and many other progressive organizations and leaders.

"I'm thrilled to support Chris because I know he will fight for public transit, climate justice, and housing justice,” Ewen-Campen said in a statement. "Chris would be an ideal auditor to make sure our government is following through on its commitments."

“I am honored to endorse Chris Dempsey for State Auditor. Chris has the background, experience, and toughness to hold our State government accountable,” Wilson said in a statement. "From his work standing up for taxpayers in No Boston Olympics to his time as a transit advocate leading T4Mass, we can count on Chris to always have our backs."

Dempsey served as Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Governor Deval Patrick and has worked outside of state government as Co-Founder of the grassroots No Boston Olympics and Director of the non-profit Transportation for Massachusetts.

“As a former Somerville resident, I am particularly honored to receive the endorsement of these Somerville leaders,” Dempsey said in a statement. "They are helping to make sure Somerville and our entire Commonwealth respond to the challenges of the 21st century in ways that advance equity, fairness, and inclusion. In a time when there is so much uncertainty about attacks on our rights, we need progressive leaders in local and state government."

Party endorsement on the back of a grassroots campaign with over 2,000 individual donors. He has also secured endorsements from Auditor Suzanne Bump, Progressive Massachusetts, the Environmental League of Massachusetts, JP Progressives, Our Revolution Massachusetts, and Progressive Democrats of Massachusetts.