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FRAMINGHAM – Local leaders agree: Priscila Sousa is the proven leader Framingham needs representing it at the State House.

The elected officials are: 

  • City Council Chair Philip Ottavani, Jr., of District 6 
  • Councilor George P. King, Jr., At Large
  • Councilor Michael Cannon of District 4
  • Councilor Noval Alexander of District 5 
  • Councilor John Stefanini of District 8
  • School Committee Vice Chair Jessica Barnhill 
  • School Committee Member Valerie Ottavani, District 6 

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“We may not agree on everything, but we agree Priscila Sousa is the proven champion Framingham needs in the State House. We know Priscila will partner with us on the important issues facing Framingham helping make our city a great place for everyone to live, learn, work and play,” said the Councilors and School Committee members.

All of these leaders are elected to represent different parts of the 6th Middlesex District.

“I am honored to be endorsed by my colleagues on the Council and School Committee who actually represent the neighborhoods of the district,” said Sousa. “I have a proven track record of getting things done, collaborating with others and taking a stand on the issues facing Framingham. I look forward to continuing our work together to make Framingham a better place for everyone.”

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“Throughout our time on the School Committee, I have witnessed Priscila demonstrate phenomenal constituent outreach and services.  As School Committee chair, she fiercely advocates for our children and issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is a tireless advocate for mental health supports, high-quality early education,  and a southside school. On top of all of this, she does it all with her signature compassion.” said Barnhill.

“As a first term School Committee member, Priscila made me feel welcome, values my opinion and provided the space for me to address concerns important to me and the students of the district,” said Ottavani. “Her advocacy for mental health resources is critical. She will partner with our Senate President Karen Spilka on ensuring Massachusetts’ is the leader in providing mental health care for our children and families.” 

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“Priscila’s entrepreneurial spirit and work ethic is what we need in the State House. She will bring together our small businesses, especially our Downtown, with elected leaders to find solutions and help put Framingham on the map as the place to start and grow a business,” said Cannon.  

“As a District 5 counterpart on the School Committee Priscila has demonstrated effective leadership and cooperation during her terms. One example of this is when she rallied her colleagues, the school community and other stakeholders in an effort to change the name of the former Woodrow Wilson Elementary School to its present Harmony Grove Elementary School. As an educator and former District 5 School Committee member I continue to be impressed by Priscila’s tireless advocacy for a quality education for all students in our public schools. She continues to collaborate with the administration, teachers and parents in that endeavor and will continue to do so as our State Representative. These are the leadership attributes residents of District 5 and the rest of South Framingham need to advance our interests on Beacon Hill,” said Alexander. 

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“Priscila has shown time and time again she is in the solutions business. She is always the first to step up and get the job done,” said Chair Ottavani. 

“As a former five-term State Representative, I know what it takes to serve our community at the State House. Our district needs a strong leader, who will use her voice to tirelessly work on South Framingham’s behalf on the issues important to us, not Beacon Hill insiders. We need a collaborator who works with everyone and understands the people she serves,” said Stefanini. “She has the energy, passion and purpose to be our voice.”

“As a former Town Manager, school administrator and now a Councilor, I have valued the relationships I had with state representatives. Priscila has the experience, knowledge and record of collaboration needed to represent us. She will be a tireless advocate for us,” said King. 

Since announcing her campaign in the spring, Sousa has earned the support of many of Framingham’s community leaders and statewide organizations, including the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, SEIU 1199, the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts, Framingham Fire Fighters Local 1652, the Carpenters Local 336 and the National Association of Social Workers, Massachusetts Chapter. 

Sousa is a member of the Framingham School Committee, local small business owner and community activist. She is a proven champion for Framingham, with a track record of bringing people and organizations to build playgrounds, help neighbors fighting food insecurity during the pandemic, and promote local businesses. Priscila was elected to the Framingham School Committee in 2019, and re-elected in 2021. She recently became the first woman of color elected as Chair. On the School Committee she led the renaming of Harmony Grove School, is a proponent of the first school climate change policy in the state, supporter of the FPS joining a lawsuit to sue the makers of JUUL, and fought for a 5% increase in school funding, the highest percentage in years. She is a strong advocate for a new southside school, as well as high quality early education for all students. 

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She currently serves on the boards of Framingham FORCE, Friends of Resiliency for Life, Hoops & Homework, the Voices Against Violence Purple Passion Committee and is a member of the Framingham Business Association and the Framingham Elks Lodge #1264. Priscila finished the Boston Marathon as a three time charity runner. 

To learn more about Priscila, please visit her website: priscilaforframingham.com 

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By editor

Susan Petroni is the former editor for SOURCE. She is the founder of the former news site, which as of May 1, 2023, is now a self-publishing community bulletin board. The website no longer has a journalist but a webmaster.