Coming soon to a door near you
by Laura Kiritsy, Bay Windows
2/14/2008
State Rep. Carl Sciortino is warming up his door-knocking hand in anticipation of an electoral challenge in his Somerville-Medford district this year. According to Sciortino and Brian McNiff, spokesman for Secretary of State Bill Galvin, a man by the name of Michael DiBenedetto has taken out nomination papers for the seat. McNiff could offer no other information about the would-be candidate and we were unable to get in touch with him to inquire about his intentions. All Sciortino knows of DiBenedetto and his wife is that they both called his office last year to inquire about his position on marriage equality. "If he chooses to make that a campaign issue that's up to him," says the openly gay lawmaker, who unseated a long-term anti-equality incumbent in 2004 with plenty of help from an energized LGBT community, an upset that set tongues wagging on Beacon Hill "Obviously my record is clear on supporting civil rights."
After knocking on every door in his district several times during his insurgent 2004 campaign but having no challenger in 2006, Sciortino says he's ready to hit the streets again. "I think people saw in 2004 that I'm energized by a campaign and I love door knocking and I'm ready to go," he says. He adds that over the past two terms he's had the opportunity to work directly with constituents on a host of issues from affordable housing to fuel assistance and has engaged residents on other issues important in the district. "I know I'm much more of a known entity now then when I started four years ago," says Sciortino. "And I often get positive feedback from constituents, so I'm feeling confident."