(Just posting this here for future reference.)

On Wednesday April 18th, Grace Ross, 2006 gubernatorial candidate, gathered with supporters in front of Worcester’s City Hall to formally announce that she will be running for Worcester City Council.

“I am honored to have so many Worcester citizens ask me to run for Worcester City Council. After careful consideration, I have decided to run and am committed to be a new voice on the Worcester City Council. It is my intention that my voice be a voice for all of us,” said Ross.

Ross has been a political activist for over 20 years. She has worked to give Massachusetts residents access to housing, education, health care, decent wages, health and safety protection on the job, youth development projects, and a clean, safe and healthy environment. She has also fought to correct public health concerns such as substance abuse.

Ross said, “I have known Worcester through many different initiatives I have been involved in over the years, but I only recently moved here. In looking for a new home, I found myself gravitating to Worcester, truly the heart of Massachusetts, this state I love. I am a city kid. I love the rich diversity of Worcester and I love that Worcester is the headwaters of the Blackstone River.” Ross moved to Worcester over a year ago because she sees Worcester as a wonderful, affordable place to live with a powerful history to draw on.

Ross has studied the needs and assets of our community and has the strong sense of public policy that is necessary to build a healthy and thriving city. She has spent time identifying problems and strengths in the community and has set goals to help the community build on its assets and become healthier.

“What we know is that the City thrives when the people thrive. Our greatest assets are right here—our people, our children, our local businesses. I know we can come to believe in ourselves again. Many of the familiar businesses, the larger businesses that have driven the City’s economy, are homegrown. They started here with humble roots; we must match the potential of our people, of our newer businesses with a commitment from the City at the policy level. There are resources here we must learn to nurture and tap into again,” said Ross.