Ross will challenge Patrick for governor (Mass)

[Forkboy]

Grace Ross, a liberal activist who ran as the Green-Rainbow Party’s nominee for governor in 2006, is planning to challenge Governor Deval Patrick for the Democratic Party’s gubernatorial nomination this year.

Ross delivered a letter to the Democratic State Committee just before yesterday’s 5 p.m. deadline to declare her candidacy and qualify for delegates this month. She will need 15 percent of the delegates at the party’s convention in June to qualify for the primary ballot.

As the Green Party candidate in 2006, Ross at times challenged Patrick from the left, particularly in debates. She ended up garnering less than 2 percent of the vote in an election in which Patrick won in a landslide, with 55 percent of the ballots casts in the four-way race.

Ross, 48, of Worcester, said she was running as a Democrat this year to see if the party truly represents everyday people. “Let’s see if the Democratic Party can live up that image, because we need it,’’ Ross said in a telephone interview. “Look at the job loss rates. Look at the homelessness. Look at the increasing hunger. The list is long.’’

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/02/05/ross_will_challenge_patrick_for_governor/

While I have nothing against Patrick really, Ross was one of just two non-Democratic votes I've ever cast in my life (the other a local town race where I knew the Dem personally and knew he was not a good man). She's been an outspoken activist for the poor and homeless, and during the Gubernatorial primaries last time she was the only candidate who didn't live in a mansion (the others all had at least one, two of the candidates more than one....Ross lived in a three story tenement). She was also the first open lesbian to run for the office. She's smart, extremely progressive, and she'll almost certainly get my vote once again. As she's now running as a Dem (if she qualifies) I hope she gets some of yours as well if you live in the State of Mass. :)

[midnight]

1. I like her stance on speaking out for the poor and homeless. We are going to

need more like her as the next wave of joblessness blankets the country...

[Forkboy]

2. She's a good person.

I hope more take a look at her, because you're right. We're going to need them.