News 
Donoghue: Use Lowell approach as state model
SEPTEMBER 04, 2010
The Lowell Sun 09/04/2010 LOWELL -- Former two-term Lowell Mayor Eileen Donoghue attributes the city's transition from a bleak former mill town to "the best midsized city in the region," to the partnerships formed and nurtured among government, businesses, and nonprofits during her 12 years on the City Council. Now she is ready to take what she learned in Lowell to a bigger stage -- Beacon Hill. Donoghue, a 56-year-old Lowell Democrat, is hoping to replace Sen. Steve Panagiotakos in the state Senate. "I saw firsthand in my time serving the people of Lowell how the state and local governments work together," she said. "It is critical in times like this that we work diligently to maximize that relationship." The voters do not feel that the state government has shared in the pain of the recession. That is what Donoghue said she has heard from voters throughout the First Middlesex District during this campaign. "Right now it is all about the money; there is nobody who has been spared by this economy and people are scared," she said. "The state cannot continue to cut local aid and Chapter 70 funding and not make any meaningful reforms and cuts in state government." Donoghue said she would push for a full review of all state agencies in an effort to find efficiencies and ways to consolidate departments. "Not every state agency needs a PR department, for instance," she said. "It is not enough for the state to look at new revenue from things like casinos, this is also the time to look at spending the way the private sector has been forced to." One of eight children growing up in a working class family in Holyoke, Donoghue learned at an early age how to build consensus. She had to in order to survive. She became known as a consensus-builder on the City Council as they worked to build LeLacheur Park, the Tsongas Arena and lay the plans for the $800 million revitalization of the Hamilton Canal District. Donoghue also has served on the boards of directors of the Whistler House Museum of Art, Girls Incorporated of Greater Lowell, Lowell Association for the Blind, and the Merrimack River Valley House; and helped create the Women Working Wonders Fund, a foundation that raises money for women looking to further their education, help improve the environment, or assist in the community. She said she is ready to take the skills she fine-tuned in city government and in the nonprofit sector to the state level in dealing with issues like health care and job creation. "We have discussed accessibility to health care, but not cost containment," said Donoghue. "People have insurance now, but many still do not have a primary- care physician and are using the emergency room as their doctor's office." She said that, as a senator, she would support legislation to reduce health care cost, such as standardizing health-care administration processes and reducing paperwork and administrative costs. On the issue of creating jobs, Donoghue points out that the state's infrastructure, including bridges and roads, are aging and in desperate need of repairs. "Investing in our infrastructure means we are creating local jobs and increasing the economic value and growth potential for our region and we must keep our commitments to these projects," she said. Eileen Donoghue Age: 56 Education: UMass Amherst, Suffolk University Law School Occupation: Lawyer Family: Husband, John O'Connor Person most admired: My parents Top three goals: Getting people back to work, strengthening education, fair funding for local aid. To see original article, click HERE
