Middlesex District Attorney Martha Coakley formally announced her candidacy for Massachusetts Attorney General yesterday – a decision finalized after what she called a “nail-biting primary.”
“I’m running to be the next attorney general of this state,” Coakley, a Boston University Law School graduate, said, acknowledging Massachusetts’s “terrific potential.”
Coakley was supported by pro-choice activists, union leaders, Massachusetts State Auditor Joe DeNucci and Congresswoman Barbara Lee, who leads a foundation that supports women participating in the democratic process.
Coakley reinforced the importance of “protecting our future,” highlighting plans to protect the elderly and children, healthcare and education throughout the entire state, from “Williamstown to Provincetown.”
“As attorney general, I will work to protect . . . the most vulnerable among us,” Coakley said.
In addition to her social goals, Coakley also stressed the importance of environmental conservation.
“We have to start yesterday,” she said, adding that there are serious changes needed in the state’s energy use and policy.
“Clean air and open space for the legacy of future generations,” were among the many areas Coakley said she intends to overhaul to create a cleaner and more environmentally friendly Massachusetts.
In addition to protecting the residents and environment of Massachusetts, Coakley also addressed the importance of protecting the marriage rights of gay and lesbian couples.
“I believe in same-sex marriage,” Coakley said, admitting she does not want to see the state “take a step backwards” in the fight for equality. Coakley added that banning same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, calling it a form of discrimination against same-sex couples.
“Illegal discrimination is just that — intolerable,” she said.
Coakley asked her supporters to join her in rising to the challenge of protecting the rights of all Massachusetts people.
“If we meet this challenge, we can change the direction of this Commonwealth at the crossroads we are at,” she said.
The Massachusetts native grew up in Berkshire County and attended Boston University Law School in 1979 after receiving a bachelor’s degree in history from Williams College 1975.
She now lives in Medford and has served as Middlesex County District Attorney since 1999.
While with the DA’s office, she prosecuted cases as an assistant district attorney, including the well-known Louise Woodward case of the British nanny and shaken baby.
She has also recently began teaching again, including seminars at local law schools and working with state organizations, including Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Women’s Bar Association of Massachusetts.