News & Events

Massachusetts Nurses Association Endorses Gerry Cassidy for Brockton State Representative

CANTON, Mass – The Massachusetts Nurses Association/National Nurses United (MNA/NNU), the state’s largest union and professional association for registered nurses and health care professionals, announces its endorsement and strong support for Gerry Cassidy, Democratic candidate for the 9th Plymouth House District.

“Gerry has a full understanding of the issues that are important to nurses and the work we do to protect our patients and our profession,” MNA President Donna Kelly-Williams said. “He clearly understands the vital role nurses play in delivering safe, high-quality patient care and he strongly supports efforts to improve that care through legislation.”

Cassidy has spent his career working for nurses, patients and the City of Brockton. He is a legislative aide of State Sen. Mike Brady, D-Brockton, whose former House seat Cassidy is seeking, and a former longtime legislative aide of the late Sen. Thomas Kennedy, who was an MNA champion for 25 years before he passed away last summer.

A special election is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016. Brady was elected last November to the Senate seat left vacant by Kennedy’s death. Cassidy, a former Brockton city councilor, is facing two current city councilors in the Democratic primary election to fill Brady’s former seat. There are no Republican candidates, according to the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office.

Clare Holmgren, a retired registered nurse from Brockton, has known Cassidy for more than a quarter century. She watched him work tirelessly for her late husband, Tom Kennedy, and saw him support nurses during the 30 years she spent working in the Brockton Hospital emergency department.

“Gerry works hard, knows the issues and will get down to business. He has the know-how and dedication to accomplish a lot on Beacon Hill,” Holmgren said. “Nurses have a passionate supporter in Gerry Cassidy. He is well-versed in health care and has promised to support safe patient limits for nurses in all hospitals.”