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Letter from Donoghue: I’ve fought for change
By Eileen Donoghue/Congressional Candidate
Thu Aug 09, 2007, 12:11 PM EDT
Lowell -Twelve years ago, I never thought I would run for public office. But when a special request came to my door by the former congressman from the 5th Congressional District, I took on the challenge and ran for city council in Lowell. And I won.
From that day on I was redefined. I was now a public servant, one who would put the needs of the taxpayers, the workers, and the business owners ahead of their own. I never dreamed of becoming mayor, but I was elected to two terms — and only the second woman in the history of the city to do so. It has been one of the most enriching experiences of my life to serve the people of Lowell, and I want to do the same for the entire congressional district.
When my tenure in office began in Lowell, the city was in need of an economic facelift. We had empty storefronts, abandoned lots and schools that were falling apart. I knew its transformation would be a challenge, but I never knew how much we could get done when everyone came to the same table. Some things moved along easier than others, but I was never afraid to push the envelope when I knew it was the right thing for our city.
It meant showing leadership when everyone else at the table said you were wrong. It meant pushing the through obstacles so the city can proudly host a minor league baseball team. It’s that leadership that made the Merrimack Valley what it is today.
Today, we have hundreds of new units of housing, new recreational arenas and fields, hundreds of millions of dollars in new schools, and a downtown we can be proud of. These are just some of invaluable experience you gain as mayor and city councilor for 12 years of the district’s largest city. It is first-hand experience and it cannot be overlooked.
Throughout this campaign, I have made my priorities clear. As my first action in Congress, I will file and push for an updated G.I. Bill of Rights that provides our returning soldiers with the services they need. I will join my colleagues who are former mayors in calling for a moratorium on unfunded mandates, particularly special education mandates that are bankrupting our schools. I will protect the rights and fight for the needs of our seniors, our greatest generation, to ensure our Social Security system does not dry up. And I will push for real health care reforms that will make a difference tomorrow, not in 10 years, in getting universal access to affordable health care.
I’ve spent my life fighting for change and getting results. You don’t learn those skills on the floor of the House of Representatives, you live them.
