Maria's List: 2022 Deep Democracy Massachusetts Slate

Deep Democracy is a political giving strategy that identifies counties across the United States in search of the American Rising Electorate, college educated voters, and movement organizations. For Maria’s List, this approach has centered on the powerbuilding of Black and women-of-color-led organizations and political candidates based on the understanding that we are in a generational moment of societal and cultural transition.

With the Massachusetts primary fast approaching on September 6th, 2022, we are highlighting five movement leaders running for the Massachusetts legislature this fall. Your support now will make the difference in the critical month ahead for these campaigns. Visit our website at www.MariasList.net for more information on these incredible candidates!

Our recommended candidates:

Vivian Birchall (House of Representatives, 14th Middlesex District):

Vivian Birchall’s experience of community-building across the globe—from Uganda to Hawaii and now in Acton—has inspired her to run for public office. Born and raised in Western Uganda, Vivian has worked for different planning and development government agencies both in the United States and her country of birth. She has served as Executive Director to Africans in Boston and is currently a producer at Acton Community Television as well as a board member at Acton-Boxborough United Way.

Raul Fernandez (House of Representatives, 15th Norfolk District):

Raul Fernandez has a deep understanding of how public policy can support and impede thriving. Fernandez grew up in Spanish Harlem and the Bronx in a family of union transit workers. Fernandez has extensive and varied experience in the education ecosystem; he holds a doctorate in education from Boston university where he is a lecturer in this subject area, he is also a member of SEIu Local 509. Raul’s commitment to quality education transcends academia as he serves on the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Racial Imbalance Advisory Council and served on the Brookline Select Board, where he was also elected Vice Chair by his peers.

Sam Montaño (House of Representatives, 15th Suffolk District):

Sam Montaño is a long-time organizer in and around Jamaica Plain. Montaño is Latina and identifies as gender queer and non-binary. Sam’s robust history of community organizing work precedes her. Montaño’s lived and professional experience inform her campaign priorities. She has served on the board of Hyde Square Task Force, chairing the JP neighborhood council, and sitting on the Advisory Board of the Southern JP Health Center. Sam currently serves as Director of Organizing for Greenroots.

Roberto Jiménez Rivera (House of Representatives, 11th Suffolk District):

Roberto Jiménez-Rivera’s multicultural upbringing and his extensive involvement in community organizing propelled him to run for public office leading successful, inclusive campaigns. As a current at-large member of the Chelsea School Committee, he has been the highest vote-getter in that city for the last two elections. Roberto is an organizer with the Boston Teacher’s Union and his political project is motivated by his role as a parent and his commitment to building a better future for his 2-year-old son and every other member of the community.  

Eunice Zeigler (State Senate, First Essex District):

Eunice Zeigler is a first-generation Haitian American woman, a Methuen City Councilor, a municipal finance professional, and an artist running for State Senate in the Merrimack Valley’s newly redrawn First Essex District. Councilor Zeigler has a long record of public service in the Merrimack Valley, and has served in all three cities in the district.