Cindy at the NAMI walk

Cindy Friedman, Candidate for the 4th Middlesex State Senate seat , submitted her nomination papers this Tuesday to the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s office. The nomination signatures were accepted and registered, officially placing Friedman’s name on the ballot.

Friedman praised the strong volunteer efforts that placed her well over the threshold number of signatures needed to get on the ballot. “Thank you to my volunteers and the more than 500 people who signed my nomination papers,” said Friedman. “I’m excited to be officially running for the 4th Middlesex state Senate seat.”

Former Arlington Selectman and campaign co-chair Clarissa Rowe added, “We are thrilled that Cindy is officially on the ballot. Her experience and understanding of the issues facing the 4th Middlesex and her commitment to serving the public will make her a wonderful and effective senator.”

A strong advocate for reforming the mental healthcare system in Massachusetts, Friedman also attended the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) Walk on Mother’s Day alongside NAMI Massachusetts President Tom Scurfield and Boston Chair Steve Rosenfeld. The NAMI walk, occurring during Mental Health Month, seeks to raise awareness of mental illness, fight stigma, and provide support for families throughout the nation.

“It was heartening to see so many people stepping up to address the stigma of mental illness at the NAMI walk,” said Friedman.” As state Senator, I will fight to improve mental healthcare accessibility to ensure that all those who suffer from mental illness are able to get the help and care they need.”

Working alongside the late Senator Ken Donnelly for the past nine years, Friedman has helped those with severe mental illness and substance use disorder get access to critical services. She has put pressure on insurance companies to ensure parity of treatment, and fought to divert those individuals away from the criminal justice system and into appropriate care.

The special election primary for State Senate for the 4th Middlesex District is scheduled for Tuesday, June 27th. The 4th Middlesex includes Arlington, Billerica, Burlington, Woburn and precincts 1, 2 and 4-7 in Lexington.