MARBLEHEAD — Doug Thompson, a former health care executive and one of six running for state representative in the 8th Essex District, received the endorsement of 50 female leaders in the district, which covers parts of Lynn, as well as Swampscott and Marblehead.
The endorsers backed Thompson as the candidate they believe in to protect reproductive rights and access to abortion care, citing his detailed post-Roe plan and Thompson’s proposal to create a Champions of Choice council with legislators from other states where abortion is still legal.
The council would create similar laws for protecting reproductive rights, patients, and providers across all states with safe abortion, make sure the medical abortion pill is widely available, support online resources for finding out-of-state providers, scheduling appointments, and accessing telemedicine, develop a 24/7 hotline for women pre and post-abortion, provide funding for transportation, housing, and food for women that need to travel from a different state for safe abortion.
“For more than two decades, Doug has been creating innovative ways to make health care more affordable and accessible. He has the skills needed for negotiating and passing legislation to strengthen abortion laws across our Commonwealth,” the endorsers wrote in their letter. “Doug is the only candidate whose plan includes helping and working with other states. At the end of the day, we are one country. If any woman is denied abortion care that affects us all, even if she is not from Massachusetts.”
Katie Arrington, Judith Black, Kate Borten, Kathy Breslin, Elise Brink, Susan Buchanan, Sue Burgess, Pat Cardenas, Susie Cheatham, Laurie Cohen, Loretta Connolly, Martha Curry, Ruth Davidson, Mary Dechillo, Nancy Demuth, Marina Dreeben, Naomi Dreeben, Laurie Fullerton, Cheri Garrett, Iris Goldman, MaryLou Harvey, Mimi Hollister, Jenny Honig, Rebecca Kinchley, Margarita Kuksin, Brigitte Lagoutte, Nancy Marland, Patia Massey, Betsy Morris, Lynn Nadeau, Sheryl Perlow, Eileen Norcott, Ingrid Pichler, Nancy Powell, Amy Powell, Betsy Rooks, Alexis Runstadler, Tina Peregrin Sanchez, Heidi Shear, Emily Sherwood, Mary Spitzer, Ingrid Strong, Jill Sullivan, Cheryl Verrette, Kathy Walters, Wendy Webber, Lilly Worthley, Michelle Wright, and Irma Zarinsky all signed the letter endorsing Thompson.
“I am humbled by the support of these women who have been fighting to keep abortion legal in Massachusetts and the country,” said Thompson. “They have my commitment to be a champion on this issue, in the Commonwealth and beyond.”
Charlie McKenna can be reached at [email protected].