Tufts alumnus Carl Sciortino (LA '00) is running for the Massachusetts State House of Representatives, and may be representing Tufts in the process.
Sciortino's campaign will pit him against incumbent Vincent Ciampa in the Democratic primary, to be held Sept. 14.
The November election will determine the next State Representative for the 34th Middlesex District, which encompasses most of Medford and Somerville -- including the Tufts campus.
Sciortino kicked off his campaign this past weekend with a party at Orleans Bar and Restaurant in Davis Square. According to Sciortino, the event set a positive tone for the upcoming campaign. "We had a great turnout and we exceeded expectations for attendance and donations," he said.
Ciampa is a former member of the Somerville Board of Aldermen. He has held the State Representative position for 14 years and has been unopposed for the last six. No one else has announced a candidacy for the position as of yet.
This campaign marks Sciortino's first run for public office. "It is a little daunting," he said, "but I am going to use my determination to win this election."
"I am running because I think the community deserves a better choice than a representative who has been unresponsive and has run unopposed for six years," Sciortino said. "Everyone I have spoken with has told me that [Ciampa] has been unwilling to listen."
Ciampa could not be reached for comment.
Sciortino said that his time at Tufts had a large impact on his political ambitions. "Tufts taught me that political participation is essential to a strong and healthy community. It taught me to challenge the status quo," he said.
Sciortino welcomes participation by Tufts students on his campaign. "I want to encourage students to be active in the community but especially in local campaigns and local politics," he said. "I would appreciate the help of any Tufts student."
As an undergraduate, Sciortino served for one year on the Tufts Community Union Senate and two years as co-chair of Tufts Transgender Lesbian Gay and Bisexual Collective. His sophomore year, he also founded the Rainbow House, Tufts' on-campus housing for LGBT students.
"I also worked on a co-ed housing initiative," he said. "It was interesting to work on as it received some national press."
Biology Professor Margaret Lynch worked on a summer research project with Sciortino, who was a biology major. She said Sciortino was selected by a competitive process to receive a stipend and research funds for a project from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. "He was very enthusiastic and passionate about his research project," Lynch said.
Sciortino is originally from Connecticut and now resides in Somerville. He is presently the manager of research operations at Fenway Community Health.
Sciortino's biggest campaign focus is going to be the state budget. "My first issue is bread and butter budget issues -- education, health care, social services, and housing," he said. "It should be based on the needs of the most vulnerable and the most at risk in our community."
Sciortino also plans to campaign for equal marriage rights for Massachusetts' same-sex couples. "I agree with the [State Supreme Court's] ruling one hundred percent," he said.
A third major campaign platform issue for Sciortino is a sound environmental policy for the state, including an increase in the availability and range of environmentally-friendly public transportation.
"Extending public transportation was a requirement of the Big Dig ten years ago, but only recently have any efforts been made to expand the system," he said. Sciortino hopes to see the extension of the Green Line from Lechmere into Medford and Somerville, including a stop near Tufts.
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