Carl Sciortino

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Carl Sciortino
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
from the 34th Middlesex district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 2005
Preceded by Vincent Ciampa
Personal details
Born (1978-07-06) July 6, 1978
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Francis Pemberton Brown (Oct. 2013-Current)
Residence Medford, Massachusetts
Alma mater Tufts University
Website carlforcongress.com

Carl M. Sciortino, Jr. (pronounced shor-TEE-no; born July 6, 1978), is an American politician from Massachusetts. A Democrat, he is a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives representing the 34th Middlesex district. The district includes parts of Medford and Somerville. Sciortino was a candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 2013 special election to succeed Ed Markey as a U.S. Representative for Massachusetts's 5th district.

Massachusetts House of Representatives

In the General Court, Sciortino serves on the House Ways & Means Committee and the House Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures, and State Assets. He also serves on the Joint Committee on Public Health and the House Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change.

A graduate of Tufts University, Sciortino is one of seven openly LGBT members of the Massachusetts General Court as of 2009.[1][2] His campaigns have been supported by both MassEquality and the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.

On February 6, 2014, State Representative Sciortino distinguished himself as one of five members of the legislative body to vote against the expulsion of State Representative Carlos Henriquez. Henriquez had been convicted January 15, 2014 on multiple charges stemming from a July 2012 assault in which he forcibly restrained and repeatedly punched a woman for not wishing to engage in sexual activity with him.[3]

Political campaigns

2004 election

Sciortino was first elected to the house in 2004, defeating sixteen-year incumbent Democrat Vincent Ciampa in a bitter contest. The 34th Middlesex district is heavily Democratic and the primary election is the key contest. In 2004, Sciortino defeated Ciampa in the Democratic primary by just 93 votes – 51% to 49%. Ciampa, who believes marriage is defined as a union between one man and one woman, faced Sciortino, who supports same-sex marriage.[4]

After defeating Ciampa in the primary, Sciortino faced no Republican opponent in the general election and his was the only name on the ballot. However, Ciampa launched a write-in campaign to hold on to his seat. Ciampa received 4,254 write-in votes but Sciortino, with 8,889, defeated him by more than two-to-one.

2008 election

In April 2008, Somerville Alderman Bob Trane announced his intention to challenge Sciortino in the Democratic primary. Both Trane and Sciortino collected the necessary number of signatures to qualify for the ballot but several pages of Sciortino's nomination papers disappeared from his State House office before he had handed them in to the Secretary of State's office.[5] As a result, Sciortino's name did not appear on the Democratic primary ballot, where Trane was listed as the sole candidate. Nevertheless, Sciortino mounted a write-in and sticker campaign, managing to win renomination with 2,678 votes (55 percent) to Trane's 2,217 (45 percent).[6]

2010 election

On 2 November 2010, Sciortino was reelected as the representative for the 34th Middlesex District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He stated that, "education reform will...continue to be a priority of [his]" over the coming two year term, along with the Green Line extension to the Medford/Somerville area. Sciortino received 74% of the vote in the 2010 election, defeating independent opponent Richard Cannava.[7]

2012 election

On November 6, 2012, Sciortino was re-elected, receiving 84% of the vote and defeating Republican challenger David Rajczewski. He citing continuing to prioritize "strong public schools, improving public transportation, making health care and housing more affordable, increasing the minimum wage, closing corporate tax loopholes, and ensuring equal opportunities for all." [8]

2013 election

Anticipating that Representative Ed Markey will win the special election to succeed U.S. Senator John Kerry in June, Sciortino announced on February 8, 2013, that he plans to run in the special election to succeed Markey representing the Massachusetts 5th district in Congress.[9] As of the end of June he had raised more than $350,000.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute: Out Officials". Retrieved 2007-07-23. 
  2. ↑ "Senator's candid remarks described as 'courageous'". Retrieved 2009-07-08. 
  3. ↑ "Jailed rep expelled from House by 146-5 vote". Boston Herald. 2014. 
  4. ↑ Kuhr, Fred (2004-12-07). "Glimmers of hope: the election of pro-gay lawmakers ends the threat of a backlash in Massachusetts". The Advocate. Archived from the original on November 9, 2005. Retrieved 2007-09-03.  .
  5. ↑ "State rep says his nomination papers were stolen; judge is unmoved". The Boston Globe. 2008-05-23. Retrieved 2008-09-17. 
  6. ↑ "Trane conceeds (sic), Sciortino celebrates victory on stickers". Retrieved 2008-09-17. 
  7. ↑ "Sciortino wins re-election to 34th Middlesex District house seat". Retrieved 2011-01-27. 
  8. ↑ "Overview Statehouse - 2012 Massachusetts Election Results". Retrieved 2013-02-13. 
  9. ↑ Rizuto, Robert (February 8, 2013). "Massachusetts State Rep. Carl Sciortino declares candidacy for U.S. Rep. Ed Markey's Congressional seat". Springfield Republican. Retrieved February 9, 2013. 
  10. ↑ Bencks, Jarret (July 10, 2013). "Sciortino raises $200k in 2nd quarter of congressional run". Boston Globe. Retrieved July 16, 2013. 

External links

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