News endorses Provost for state rep.

   Before Denise Provost was ever elected to public office, Somerville knew she had courage. She began her municipal career as assistant city solicitor to former Mayor Eugene C. Brune in the corruption-ridden days of 1981. Her first assignment ‚Äì investigate if the city could fire employees who had been indicted. Hardly a light undertaking.
    In 1993, Provost once again proved she was a courageous advocate for clean, open government when she ran for alderman in Ward 5 ‚Äì the center of the city‚Äôs good old boy political machine. She lost by 60 votes in a race with an incredibly high voter turnout.

    Politicians who display such individuality and courage often find themselves isolated and ineffective when they finally break through to elected office.
    This has not been the case for Provost who counts a Republican, Alderman-at-Large William A. White, as one of her closest colleagues on the board.
    Since she joined the Board of Aldermen in 1999, Provost exhibited dedication to her progressive ideals while at the same time effectively building coalitions to ensure that city services reach her constituents across the city ‚Äì in particular those constituents too short to reach the ballot box. She helped the Council for Children develop a successful child abuse prevention program and played a pivotal role in creating Somerville‚Äôs first community-built playground, Hoyt-Sullivan on Central Street.
     It is for these reasons that The Somerville News has endorsed Denise Provost in the special election for state representative of the 27th Middlesex district.
     It was a difficult choice and is in no way a condemnation of her opponent, Elizabeth Moroney, a practical and qualified candidate who has earned a network of support in the city. We are hoping Moroney, who has served the city on the Planning Board for six years and is familiar with Beacon Hill as chief of staff for state Senator Pam Resor, will continue her skilled and effective advocacy for Somerville in the future.
      Somerville is the most densely populated city in New England and could be on the verge of an economic upswing as developers pounce on under-used land along the rail lines. Denise Provost is the state rep. candidate to help Somerville realize its immense potential and become a model for 21st Century urban living.