Henry Santana, a extremely touted challenger for metropolis councilor-at-large who snagged an endorsement from Boston’s mayor, addressed his clean voting document, saying that his immigration standing prevented him from casting a poll in prior elections.
Santana, 27, emigrated from the Dominican Republic as a toddler, and have become a U.S. citizen on the age of 17, however lacked the documentation to show his citizenship till this previous yr, he instructed the Herald on Monday.
He registered to vote this yr in Massachusetts, and stated he plans to forged his first poll within the Sept. 12 preliminary election for City Council.
“Like so many immigrants, I had challenges getting the right to vote,” Santana stated. “My paperwork was misplaced within the Dominican Republic, and I had to make use of an lawyer to get the scenario resolved.
“It was a complicated and expensive process, but it will be worth it to finally have the opportunity to vote in this year’s important city elections.”
Santana is one in every of eight candidates vying for 4 at-large seats on the City Council. Three incumbents are working for re-election, however a seat opened up this month when longtime Councilor Michael Flaherty selected to withdraw from the race.
Flaherty’s choice additionally eradicated the necessity for a preliminary election within the at-large race. All eight candidates will seem on the November poll.
Questions about Santana’s voting document come amid the robust displaying of assist he’s acquired from native and state politicians.
His checklist of endorsements consists of three state senators, two state representatives, and three metropolis councilors, together with Ruthzee Louijeune, an incumbent and one in every of his opponents on this yr’s at-large race for City Council.
Last week, Mayor Michelle Wu formally endorsed Santana, who labored as her director of civic organizing for greater than a yr.
In a Monday assertion to the Herald, Wu stated she was conscious of Santana’s voting document when she selected to endorse him. The mayor added that she was “proud to be supporting” Santana in his bid for City Council.
“Henry’s story is one that is familiar to so many Bostonians,” Wu stated. “He grew up in an immigrant family living in public housing in Mission Hill, and worked hard to navigate complex systems to support his family, all while getting involved with politics and public service even before he was personally eligible to vote.”
Wu stated Santana stored her up to date “about the many complex steps for him to get his citizenship documentation, and I know that gave him even more dedication and determination in his role as civic engagement director for the whole city.”
“I’m so excited that he’ll finally get to be able to vote in this fall’s elections,” Wu stated. “Growing up, I watched my own immigrant parents become naturalized citizens through that intensive, multi-year process, and still see the reverence and pride they have for the right to vote in this country.”
Santana stated he routinely turned a U.S. citizen at 17, attributable to a federal regulation that states kids can purchase citizenship if at the very least one in every of their mother and father turns into naturalized earlier than they attain the age of 18.
He stated he was unable to realize the right documentation till this previous yr, and was not registered to vote for a majority of the time he was working because the civic organizing director for the City of Boston — a job that usually focuses on getting individuals engaged locally by voting.
His voter registration standing is now lively, per state data. He is listed as a Democrat who lives in Dorchester.
“It was always a barrier, knowing that I wasn’t able to vote,” Santana stated. “I was able to really find different ways for me to get involved and civically engaged without actually being able to cast a vote.”
He added, “That’s something that I really want to make sure that people, regardless of immigration status here in the city of Boston — you can still get involved. You can still have an impact on your community.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”