Doris Rodriguez Officially On Ballot for State Senate

Doris RodriguezDoris Rodriguez, is a democratic candidate for the State Senate seat of the 2nd Essex and Middlesex District. The district includes Andover, Dracut, Lawrence, and Tewksbury. “We need a leader who has the capability to be the vocal bridge between communities. A leader who will work hard to advocate equally for all and represent the district as a whole, regardless of age, disability, pay, national origin, race/color, religion or sex.” In this district, Rodriguez is the first Hispanic-American female to be placed on the ballot. The Democratic Primary Elections will be held on September 9, 2014.

Doris Rodriguez, was born in Methuen and raised in Lawrence, Massachusetts, by immigrant parents that came to the United States from the Dominican Republic for a better living, the American Dream. Her parents worked hard to support the family. Doris always admired their determination and pledged to be the best she could be as a daughter, sister, student, neighbor, and citizen of Lawrence. She always found herself wanting to better herself and others. Her passion and leadership skills date back to middle school where she always volunteered or was chosen to represent her peers. Even in high school, she served as president of her class for three years, captain of her sport, and student honoree at the South Lawrence East School Ground Breaking. Doris has always been well liked and known as a leader in the community. Soon after high school, she went on to attend Merrimack College. She graduated with her class and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a double major in International Business and Business Management. She was also honored with the William Cornell Award and the Virginia G. O’Neil Scholarship. Right after college, Doris went on to law school in Boston where she earned her Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University Law School. She was honored with the Allen Ash Award and the John E. Fenton, Jr. Scholarship.

Doris has worked in both the private and public sector. In the public sector, she worked for the federal, state, and local government where she has gained invaluable experience. Her last job was with the Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service in Andover. Prior to working for the federal government, she worked as an adjudicator for several years at the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Division of Workforce Development, Department of Unemployment Assistance. There she decided benefit eligibility determinations based on Massachusetts Unemployment Law. As an Adjudicator, she always strived to provide accurate decisions based on fact and law, since she understood the potential impact on the claimant and how essential these benefits were for the survival of struggling families. She was able to learn the law and understand what areas need legislative improvement. She has also worked as a part-time Law Librarian for six years at one of the Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries. There she provided reference and information services to judges, lawyers, and the general public by researching and retrieving legal materials which entailed utilizing a comprehensive knowledge of legal bibliography and general reference sources, such as codes, statutes, and regulations.

Doris had also previously worked for the City of Lawrence as a Compliance Officer. There she developed networks, built alliances and acted as the liaison with other departments, organizations, and federal, state, and local agencies to ensure compliance within the City and achieve common goals. She implemented program compliance requirements as required under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Code of Federal Regulations and ensured program activities utilized funds appropriately. During her time with the City of Lawrence, she also coordinated and managed to bring the city $3 million to make the city’s housing stock a healthier living environment for families and their children. Her application has been used as the blueprint for additional funding throughout the years.

A product of the Lawrence Public School system, Doris has found herself giving back to her community by becoming involved at the school level. She has been serving as the President of the Lawrence High School, Humanities and Leadership Development, Parent Teacher Organization for the last two years and has also served as an interim board member for one of the local charter schools, Lawrence Family Development Charter School.

Personally, Doris is a proud Mother of three beautiful girls, ages 5, 8, and 18. She states that she is blessed with having a big supportive family, including her younger children’s paternal family, who are of Puerto Rican descent. She is also a dance mom, pageant mom, and now a military mom as her 18 year old recently enlisted in the National Guard in honor of her deceased father, who served in the Armed Forces.

Doris will be holding four Meet & Greets, one in each community. The first will be on Sunday, June 8, 2014. If you are interested in finding out more about Doris Rodriguez and her agenda, you can visit her page at www.VoteRodriguez.com or on facebook.com/VoteDorisRodriguez. Inquiries and contributions can be mailed to Committee to Elect Doris Rodriguez, P.O. Box 471, Lawrence, MA 01842.