Former City Council President and 2011 mayoral candidate Jose Tosado officially announced his plans to run for the 9th Hampden state rep seat today.
“The residents and business owners of the 9th Hampden District deserve experienced representation,” Tosado said in his announcement. “I have a proven track record of effective yet compassionate leadership in high levels of government. I believe that my extensive and effective leadership experience provides me with the qualities that would best serve the 9th Hampden District.”
Tosado didn’t outline a specific platform but rather spoke more generally of his commitment to “working hard to bring home the resources we need to address the challenges we have in our District and to enhance our assets.” Among the matters he’ll focus on, he said, are public safety, education, economic development and senior issues.
“Over the past two months Tosado has been meeting with residents and business owners of the District in order to learn more about the unique issues in each neighborhood,” the announcement said. “Tosado is known as being methodical and doing his homework on the issues. He researches them and develops plans to address the issues.”
Tosado, a social worker and manager for the Mass. Department of Mental Health, served on the City Council, the School Committee and the Police Commission. His announcement highlighted his “leadership on the City Council to gain support for Ward Representation and for co-sponsoring the legislation for a binding referendum with then Mayor Charlie Ryan” as well as his push, as a School Committee member, for a financial audit of the city’s bilingual education program.
He jois a crowded field competing for the 9th Hampden seat, which has been left open by incumbent Sean Curran’s decision not to run for re-election. Ed Collins, a labor leader with the Mass AFL-CIO and the electrician’s union; School Committee member Peter Murphy; and Robert Underwood have also declared their candidacies.
