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Sarno endorses Markey for Senate

Date: 6/13/2013

By G. Michael Dobbs

news@thereminder.com

SPRINGFIELD — With about two weeks before the special election on June 25, Mayor Domenic Sarno announced his support for Congressman Edward Markey for Senate.

Sarno said the long-time Democratic congressman was a "statesman." He made his endorsement on June 10 at the Markey headquarters on Island Pond Road.

According to a poll conducted for WBUR, Markey is ahead of Republican candidate Gabriel Gomez by 46 to 39 percent with 11 percent undecided.

The mayor said that Markey had been seeking his support since his primary battle.

Sarno added he likes Markey's positions. "He gets it about job," Sarno said.

He said that Markey's leadership on the issue of gun violence as well as his efforts to close corporate tax loopholes has impressed him.

"I know he's going to be good for Springfield and the nation," Sarno said.

Sarno praised how Markey handled his Democratic opponents in the primary debates and described him as "level-headed."

"We're missing a lot of statesman-like individuals in the Congress," Sarno said.

He bemoaned the gridlock in Washington D.C. and believes that Markey would be willing to work with others to solve problems.

Sarno said that while he and Markey have spoken, he never had a conversation with Gomez about his candidacy.

While Markey appears to be the frontrunner at this time, Sarno said his political rule is to "never take anything for granted."

He praised the grassroots style of the Markey campaign with volunteers knocking on doors and making phone calls.

"The voters who are engaged are always going to be there [at an election]," Sarno said. "The key is the borderline people."

With the city facing a series of elections in the next few months, the mayor did express some concern about voter apathy and urged people to turn out for each election.

"Get out there and vote. There are people fighting overseas for our ability to vote," Sarno noted.