GREENFIELD — Greenfield Mayor Roxann Wedegartner was joined by seven Greenfield city officials today who announced their endorsement of Ed Markey in his re-election for the U.S. Senate. Other Greenfield officials include: City Councilor Sheila Gilmour, City Councilor Doug Mayo, School Committee Member Glenn Johnson, Democratic Town Committee Chair Elizabeth Fisk, former School Committee Chair Adrienne Nunez, former City Councilor Karen “Rudy” Renaud, and former City Councilor Danielle Letourneau-Therrien.

“Workers are going to feel the impacts of the coronavirus long after this pandemic ends, and we need experienced elected officials at the helm of our economic recovery–especially at the municipal level,” said Senator Ed Markey. “I look forward to partnering with these Greenfield officials to help revitalize the local economy, and I am proud to announce their endorsements in this race.”

“I enthusiastically endorse Senator Markey in the upcoming election,” said Mayor Wedegartner. “He has strong, progressive Democratic values that have given us a voice in D.C. Lately I have had the opportunity to work closely with him and his office and I know that he supports Greenfield’s best interests.”

Mayor Roxann Wedegartner has served as the “Chief Executive Officer” of the city of Greenfield since January 2020. Wedegartner has previously served on the city’s school committee and planning board, giving her experience on local issues, economic development, and education.

“Senator Markey is a fierce advocate for our state. I want him to continue the momentum he’s built with his experience in the Senate,” said former City Councilor Danielle Letourneau-Therrien.

“I am proud to endorse Senator Markey in his reelection campaign. Senator Markey’s work on the Green New Deal demonstrates his commitment to robust economic development that centers on strong local economies and high-quality jobs without compromising our children’s futures or the future of our planet,” City Councilor Sheila Gilmour said. “He shows up for workers and their families during times of crisis and is a tireless advocate for Medicare For All, arguably one of the most critical policies aimed at protecting Americans from financial ruin.”

Sheila Gilmour, is an Air Force veteran, city councilor for Greenfield’s Precinct 6, and an active member in her union, the University Staff Association (USA). As a city councilor, she serves as the chair of the Apportments and Ordinances, advocating for public school funding and environmental initiatives in Greenfield.

“I support Senator Markey because over and over again he has proven himself to be a strong progressive ally for working people and union members in western Massachusetts. He also understands the mental health crisis we are in and is fighting to make sure we have all the resources we need to fight this battle,” said former City Councillor Karen “Rudy” Renaud.

Renaud has served on the Greenfield City Council from 2011-2020. In that capacity she chaired 3 committees, and served in every officer position including 2 years as the president of the city council. She is also on the board of the Western Massachusetts Area Labor Federation; serves as a trustee for the Hampshire/Franklin Central Labor Council; is a member of the vestry at St. James and Andrew Episcopal Church in Greenfield; and is the western Massachusetts Director of Strategic Campaigns for the Massachusetts Nurses Association.

“I endorse Senator Ed Markey for re-election because he is an essential advocate for progressive values in the Senate. As co-author of the Green New Deal (among many other key environmental bills) Markey embodies the visionary leadership needed to steer our nation into a sustainable future,” said Adrienne Nunez. “In addition to his noteworthy and ongoing environmental work, Senator Markey works hard to ensure the success of our public schools. As the former chair of the Greenfield School Committee, supporting public education is important to me. Senator Markey’s continual fight for education funding and work on key programs including E-Rate and Headstart show his support for the success of students in the Commonwealth. I am supporting Ed Markey in this race because I know he will not stop fighting to protect our environment, transform our economy, and ensure that our students receive the education they need to succeed.”

Nunez was a member of the Greenfield school committee since 2014 and served as its chair for the past two years. She’s dedicated her tenure to opening communication through the school committee and the town and striking a balanced, thriving budget.

“I am standing with Ed Markey because I believe he has, and will continue, to look out for the needs of our public schools,” said School Committee member Glenn Johnson. “From his work with E-Rate to Head Start, I know that Ed Markey holds our students’, teachers’, and public school administrators’ best interests at heart. Ed Markey has spent his career working to ensure our students receive the education they need and deserve. He has always stood with educators, and now it is time we stood with him.”

Johnson is a newly elected member of the School Committee and is an advocate for a just and equitable investment for public schools from both Beacon Hill and Capitol Hill.

“I believe the Senator has been very good to Franklin County and Massachusetts and would be a great benefit to re-elect him to another term in the United States Senate. He has been outstanding and it is my honor to endorse him” said City Councilor Doug Mayo.

“Senator Markey’s values are my values, his priorities are my priorities. He is a tireless advocate for health care access for all, particularly reproductive health care. I think Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund’s endorsement said it best. More than 34,000 patients rely on Planned Parenthood for reproductive health care in Massachusetts. Those patients, and everyone in our Commonwealth, need a champion in Congress like Senator Markey to fight for equitable access to care,” said Democratic Town Committee Chair Elizabeth Fisk.

Fisk leads the town Democrats as the committee chair, after years of leadership roles within the organization. She is an Account Executive at WHAI.

Senator Ed Markey and fellow lawmakers recently secured $222,589 for Greenfield’s Community Health Center of Franklin County, Inc., under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to expand COVID-19 testing capabilities. In January, Senator Markey and lawmakers also announced that Greenfield Housing Authority would be awarded $63,961 by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide caseworkers to support professional development of residents.

Senator Markey has served in the United States Senate since winning the special election in 2013 and has amassed a deep record on environmental, climate, gun safety, and consumer protection issues. He co-authored the Green New Deal, and his leadership has led to legislation to address the humanitarian crisis on the southern border, protect LGBTQ+ rights, work toward racial justice, and ensure that Donald Trump cannot launch a nuclear first strike without Congressional approval. Raised in Malden, Ed Markey has always stood up for the priorities of Massachusetts.

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