Khazei Announces Run for Brown's Senate Seat

Print Story | Email Story
Alan Khazei
BOSTON — Alan Khazei will try again for a Senate seat by challenging U.S. Sen. Scott Brown in the 2012 election.

The Brookline resident sought the seat of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy in 2009 but lost in the Democratic primary to Attorney General Martha Coakley, who was later trounced by the Republican from Wrentham in a special election.

The founder of youth organization City Year announced his decision to run simultaneously on Facebook, Twitter and by email to supporters that he will be a candidate for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts in 2012. His video can be viewed at www.alankhazei.com.

"I'm the proud son and grandson of immigrants who came to America because they believed in this country and all it stands for: when we work hard and work together, no dream is impossible," says Khazei in the video. "It's the American Dream. And Vanessa and I want the same thing for our children, and for yours."


Khazei will kick off his campaign this week with stops around the state; his closest approach to the Berkshires will be Springfield on Thursday when he will meet with students at Western New England College and meet with voters at Mykonos European Restaurant.

Khazei is the first Democrat to announce his candidacy; also believed to weighing runs are U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano of Somerville, who also lost to Coakley in the primary, and Newton Mayor Setti Warren.

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Taconic High Speaker Booted for Passing Out 'Political Material'

Staff Reports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A guest speaker at Taconic High School was escorted out of the building after school officials said they passed around unapproved political material.
 
Principal Matthew Bishop sent out an email and voice message to the school community explaining some of what happened. 
 
The event was an approved community outreach activity to write letters to veterans. The principal said the guest speaker had provided officials with the materials to be used for the activity, which were reviewed and approved. 
 
"However, the guest speaker began distributing politically motivated materials that were not previously approved," Bishop said. "As soon as staff became aware of this, we immediately asked that guest speaker to leave. ...
 
"The unauthorized materials distributed today were not part of what was shared with us beforehand.  This was a breach of trust and we wanted to be clear. The distribution of these materials is not endorsed by our school in any way."
 
Bishop did not identify who the speaker or what the unauthorized materials were. Some parents have pointed to a Turning Point USA representative and that the political material was a red wristband that says "We are Charlie Kirk."
 
An image posted to Facebook shows a group of male students showing off the bracelets with a woman wearing a shirt with a "Club America" logo on it. Club America is high school chapter of Turning Point, a conservative nonprofit founded Kirk. 
 
View Full Story

More State Stories