SPRINGFIELD — Mental health clinician and longtime city activist Nicole Coakley announced her candidacy for state representative for the 11th Hampden District, making it a four-way race for the Democratic nomination.
“As a Black woman, mother of five and a mental health clinician, I know how affordability, safety and health care collide in real life,” Coakley said in announcing her candidacy Monday. “Women are holding up this city. It’s time state government invested more in women and children.”
Coakley is entering an already-crowded field for the seat. Bud L. Williams is running for his sixth term in the state House district and also is being challenged by Donnell Wright, president and chief executive of the InnerVizion Empowerment Consulting Center, and teacher Johnnie R.S. McKnight, who ran against Williams two years ago. The primary election is scheduled for Sept. 1.
“Everyone has a right to run. This is America,” Williams said. “The more the merrier, as far as I’m concerned.”
Coakley has run unsuccessfully for a city councilor at-large seat twice before, but said she has a passion for helping her community and is not ready to give up her chance to serve in elective office. On her first run, she faced off against 20 other candidates. While she was successful in the preliminary race, she did not win a seat.
Coakley said she is known as a community builder and for “showing up.” She is the executive director of the Gun Violence Elimination Alliance, has served on multiple boards and committees, and has been a strong advocate for youth and families.
As a college student, she worked part-time in early childhood education and learned how difficult it is for parents to afford child care, which started her interest in helping families. During the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter demonstrations that mobilized after George Floyd’s death at the hands of police in Minneapolis, Minnesota, she worked with youth to bring them together one-on-one with police to improve relationships.
“I’m running to make Beacon Hill more responsive to the need for affordable child care, safer neighborhoods and health care that meets families where they live,” she said.
If elected, Coakley said she plans to put her career experience to work to push for policies that expand access to culturally competent health and mental health services, especially for underserved women and families who are dealing with trauma and chronic stress.
Part of that includes a continuation of her advocacy to fight for investments in violence prevention and survivor support, especially those efforts connected to guns, domestic and sexual violence.
Included in her agenda is expanded state funding for affordable, high-quality, early childhood care for parents who earn low wages.
In addition, Coakley said she will fight for tax relief and delivery of more state aid to Springfield.
“We need a representative who is present in our neighborhoods, responsive to working parents, and unapologetic about centering women, children, and Black and brown communities in every policy conversation,” Coakley said.
Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here.