Carl Sciortino
Carl M. Sciortino, Jr. (b. July 6, 1978) is a former Democratic member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, representing the Thirty-Fourth Middlesex district from 2005 to 2014.
On March 25, 2014, Sciortino announced his resignation on April 4, 2014, in order to become the executive director of the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts. In his announcement, Sciortino acknowledged that he is HIV-positive, making him the first such leader of the Committee since 1982.[1]
Sciortino was a 2013 Democratic candidate seeking election to the U.S. House representing the 5th Congressional District of Massachusetts.[2] He was defeated by Katherine Clark in the Democratic primary on October 15, 2013.[3]
Sciortino served as Vice Chair of the Medford Democratic City Committee and was a founding member of the Progressive Democrats of Somerville.[4]
Biography
Sciortino's professional experience includes working as Manager of Research Operations at Fenway Community Health Center and a research associate at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.[4]
Committee assignments
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Sciortino served on the following committees:
| Massachusetts committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets |
| • Global Warming and Climate Change |
| • Ways and Means |
| • Public Health Joint |
| • Ways and Means Joint |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Sciortino served on the following committees:
| Massachusetts committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets |
| • Public Health Joint |
| • Transportation Joint |
| • Ways and Means |
| • Ways and Means Joint |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Sciortino served on the following committees:
| Massachusetts committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Transportation Joint, Vice chair |
| • Ways and Means |
| • Health Care Financing Joint |
Campaign themes
2012
Sciortino's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[5]
Education
- Excerpt: "Carl supports legislation insuring adequate resources to help all students achieve high standards."
Healthcare
- Excerpt: "Carl considers improving access to affordable healthcare to be one of his top priorities. He supports the effort to include universal health insurance in the Massachusetts State Constitution."
Support for Cities and Towns
- Excerpt: "Carl believes that support for cities and towns is essential for real economic and community growth."
Corporate Taxes
- Excerpt: "Carl is committed to ensuring that corporations pay their fair share of taxes."
Economic Issues
- Excerpt: "Carl believes wages should be set at a fair rate, and workers should be compensated for their contributions."
Syria
On September 9, 2013, Representative Alan Grayson (D) joined Sciortino in a conference call to argue against U.S. military intervention in Syria.[6]
Grayson, who endorsed Sciortino in August 2013, was a leader in the U.S. House in opposing U.S. military intervention in Syria. Sciortino, a state representative, was the first among five Democratic elected officials running for Congress in Massachusetts’ 5th District to say he would oppose the use of military force in Syria. However, by September 9, 2013, all five Democrats had come out against the use of force.[6]
“I question what message a military strike will send if followed by additional bloodshed,” Sciortino said. He also said the U.S. needs to seek a political solution through diplomacy and a negotiated ceasefire.[6]
He said the U.S. must exhaust every diplomatic option before turning to the military. “I fear if we begin with a military option, it will lead to an escalation of war, not peace,” Sciortino said. He called on the other Democrats in his race to oppose the use of military force.[6]
Greyhounds
Sciortino was a supporter of the Massachusetts Greyhound Protection Act (2008), pledging to resist any efforts in the legislature to repeal it or delay its implementation.[7]
Elections
2013
Sciortino was a 2013 Democratic candidate seeking election to the U.S. House representing the 5th Congressional District of Massachusetts.[8] The election was held to replace outgoing Rep. Ed Markey (D) who was elected to the U.S. Senate in the June 25th election for John Kerry's vacant seat after his appointment as Secretary of State.[9][10] He was defeated by Katherine Clark in the Democratic primary on October 15, 2013.[3]
| U.S. House, Massachusetts District 5 Special Democratic Primary, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
 Katherine Clark |
31.6% | 21,983 | ||
| Peter Koutoujian | 22% | 15,303 | ||
| Carl Sciortino | 16% | 11,160 | ||
| Will Brownsberger | 14.6% | 10,163 | ||
| Karen Spilka | 13.1% | 9,088 | ||
| John Paul Maisano | 2.2% | 1,520 | ||
| Martin Long | 0.6% | 398 | ||
| Total Votes | 69,615 | |||
| Source: Official Results from Massachusetts Elections Division | ||||
2012
Sciortino won re-election in the 2012 election for Massachusetts House of Representatives Thirty-Fourth Middlesex District. Sciortino was unopposed in the September 6 Democratic primary and defeated David Rajczewski (R) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[11][12]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Carl Sciortino Incumbent |
84.2% | 13,842 | |
| Republican | David Rajczewski | 15.8% | 2,595 | |
| Total Votes | 16,437 | |||
2010
Sciortino won re-election to the Thirty-fourth Middlesex seat in 2010. He had no primary opposition. He defeated Richard Cannava (I) in the general election on November 2, 2010.[13]
| Massachusetts House of Representatives General Election, Thirty-fourth Middlesex District (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Car Sciortino (D)
|
7,599 | |||
| Richard Cannava (I) | 2,734 | |||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Sciortino won re-election to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Thirty-Fourth Middlesex, unopposed.[14]
Sciortino raised $123,729 for his campaign.[15]
| Massachusetts State House of Representatives, Thirty-Fourth Middlesex (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Carl M Sciortino Jr. (D)
|
12,088 | |||
| All Others | 261 | |||
| Blanks | 3,274 | |||
Campaign finance summary
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Endorsements
2012
Human Rights Campaign
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) – the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization – announced the endorsement of Sciortino on July 12, 2013.[16]
Bay State Stonewall Democrats
The Bay State Stonewall Democrats (BSSD) announced their endorsement of Carl Sciortino on August 30, 2013.[17]
“There is a clear difference between the candidates in this race,” said BSSD co-chair Steve Iannaccone, “and Carl Sciortino’s unwavering commitment to the LGBT community in the State House made this endorsement an easy decision. His willingness to lead the tough fights and build the coalitions to win those fights, is what gave him the edge in our endorsement process.”[17]
“Carl’s tireless work on LGBT issues, especially Marriage Equality and the Transgender Equal Rights Bill, were important factors when deciding to make this endorsement,” stated Claire Naughton, co-chair of the BSSD, “and we are proud to support him in this race so he can bring that work to the U.S. House.”[17]
Progressive Change Campaign Committee
On September 18, 2013, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee announced their endorsement of Sciortino stating, "Among several good candidates, Carl proved these past two weeks that he is the type of bold leader we can count on."[18]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Sciortino has been a member of the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Organization for Women, Massachusetts Chapter of the Sierra Club and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.[4]
Sciortino married Pem Brown in Massachusetts in October 2013.[8][19]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term Carl + Sciortino + Massachusetts + Legislature
See also
- Massachusetts House of Representatives
- House Committees
- Joint Committees
- Massachusetts state legislative districts
- Massachusetts State Legislature
External links
- Campaign website (Archived)
- Profile from Open States
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign contributions: 2008, 2006, 2004
- Carl Sciortino on Facebook
- Carl Sciortino on Twitter
Footnotes
- ↑ WCVB, "Mass. state representative has HIV, will lead AIDS group," March 25, 2014
- ↑ WBUR "Labor Makes Its First Foray Into Race To Succeed Markey" accessed June 27, 2013
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 WCVB TV, "Massachusetts' 5th congressional primary results," accessed October 15, 2013
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Project Vote Smart, "Carl Sciortino's Biography," accessed March 27, 2014
- ↑ Committee to Elect Carl Sciortino,, "Accomplishments," accessed March 27, 2014 (Archived)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Masslive.com, "U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson joins Mass. Congressional candidate Carl Sciortino to lay out case against military intervention in Syria," accessed September 10, 2013
- ↑ Wicked Local Belmont, "Dog racing industry charges election fraud against ban group," June 23, 2009
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 WBUR.org, "State Rep. Carl Sciortino Announces Congressional Bid," accessed September 18, 2013
- ↑ Boston.com, "Secretary of state to set Senate special election date of June 25," January 28, 2013
- ↑ The Boston Globe, "William ‘Mo’ Cowan to be interim US senator," January 30, 2013
- ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, "2012 State Primary Results," accessed February 13, 2014
- ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, "Return of Votes - For Massachusetts State Election - November 6, 2012," accessed February 13, 2014
- ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, "Return of Votes - For Massachusetts State Election - November 2, 2010," accessed February 13, 2014
- ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, "Return of Votes - For Massachusetts State Election - November 4, 2008," accessed February 13, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Massachusetts 2008 - General Election Results," accessed February 13, 2014
- ↑ HRC, "HRC Announces Endorsement of Carl Sciortino for Congress," accessed July 11, 2013
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Wicked Local: Lexington',' "FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: Greater Boston Stonewall Democrats endorsement Carl Sciortino for Congress," accessed September 2, 2013
- ↑ Politico, "Progressive group backs Carl Sciortino," accessed September 18, 2013
- ↑ Washington Blade, "Gay congressional candidate marries in Mass.," accessed October 8, 2013
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Massachusetts House of Representatives Thirty-fourth Middlesex 2005–2014 |
Succeeded by Christine Barber (D) |
