By Cary Shuman
The Boston Ward 5 Democratic Committee has endorsed Beacon Hill’s State Rep. Jay Livingstone in the First Suffolk and Middlesex State Senate race.
The endorsement followed the Ward 5 Committee’s Democratic Candidates Forum held Feb. 16 at the Community Church of Boston, 565 Boylston St.
The seven candidates, Jay Livingstone, Lydia Edwards, Diana Hwang, Paul Rogers, Dan Rizzo, Steve Morabito, and Joseph Boncore each delivered five-minute speeches about their qualifications and the issues in the district to the Ward 5 Committee members in the audience.
Prior to the vote, Ward 5 Committee Chair Ross Levanto opened the floor for comments about the candidates.
Among the members praising Livingstone for his service as state representative was MacKenzie Bok, a 2011 graduate of Harvard College.
“I think that Jay has the experience to do a great job in the State Senate,” said Bok. “I would urge everybody to cast a vote for Jay and get out there and knock doors.”
Livingstone was pleased to receive the endorsement of the Ward 5 Committee.
“It’s great to receive the endorsement, especially after hearing the nice things that were said by the committee members leading up the endorsement,” said Livingstone. “I was proud that the committee has a long history of getting involved in campaigns and supporting a candidate and I’m proud to get that endorsement.”
Levanto said that the Ward 5 Committee had previously endorsed Livingstone in his two successful runs for the state representative seat.
State Sen. Will Brownsberger, State Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, and former state representatives Marty Walz and Paul Demakis attended the forum.