Massachusetts Nurses Association Endorses Jesse Lederman for Mayor of Springfield
The Massachusetts Nurses Association has endorsed Springfield City Council President Jesse Lederman for Mayor of the City of Springfield.
Lederman announced the endorsement at a Tuesday press conference with MNA members and campaign supporters.
“I have been proud to stand with nurses and healthcare professionals throughout my service on the City Council. As Mayor, we will continue to stand together to expand access to healthcare, address public health inequities, and ensure the best possible care for patients in our community,” said Springfield City Council President Jesse Lederman, Candidate for Mayor of Springfield.
The Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) represents more than 25,000 members working in 85 health care facilities, including 51 acute care hospitals, as well as a growing number of nurses and health professionals working in schools, visiting nurse associations, public health departments and state agencies. In Springfield, the MNA represents nurses and health care professionals at Baystate Medical Center and Mercy Medical Center.
Members of the Massachusetts Nurses Association Board of Directors joined the Press Conference to announce the endorsement.
“As a longtime mental health nurse and community advocate, I have seen Jesse stand with nurses and patients again and again,” said Donna Stern, a mental health registered nurse and member of the MNA Board of Directors, “Jesse clearly cares about people. He has shown a lifelong commitment to community, public service, and helping others. We are proud to support Jesse Lederman’s candidacy for Mayor of Springfield.”
“As a bedside nurse, I assess and care for my patients, overcoming many challenges to provide the best care possible. As a future nurse practitioner, I shift my approach to conducting advanced exams and anticipating treatment. In his civic roles, Jesse has performed similar work. He examines the needs of Springfield’s residents, of neighborhoods and the entire community. He takes care of people daily, confronting difficulties and resolving conflicts. He looks ahead, envisioning what will make Springfield better in the future, and collaborates with others to get it done. Nurses see in Jesse a friend, someone who understands what we are going through, and what we aspire to. ” said Katelyn Roberson, a Registered Nurse at Mercy Medical Center and member of the MNA Board of Directors.
On the City Council, Lederman previously served as Chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee as well as Chairman of the Special Committee on COVID-19 Response & Recovery. In both capacities, Lederman worked closely with healthcare professionals, including nurses, to address public health challenges. His efforts in this regard included advocacy to expand the availability of treatment options to address the opioid epidemic, and holding the state accountable for providing COVID-19 vaccines directly to Springfield residents, including those most at-risk during the pandemic.
The Massachusetts Nurses Association is the second major union to back Jesse Lederman for Mayor, following the endorsement of the United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1459 in February.
