DALTON, Mass. — Paul Mark, Democratic candidate for state representative in the Second Berkshire district, has received the endorsement of the Massachusetts Teachers Association.

The MTA represents more than 100,000 educators, administrators and education support professionals in public education. Their members work in the field from pre-kindergarten through graduate schools.

"Paul Mark will be an energetic and enthusiastic supporter of students and public education in the Legislature," said MTA President Paul Toner. "As a graduate of our public schools and UMass, he knows the value of a great education. He has seen firsthand how investing in students pays big dividends when they enter the work force, and he understands the impact that our schools and colleges have on our economy and our state’s chances for success in the future."

"The decisions to be made next year regarding the budget and education priorities are going to be very tough," said Mark upon receiving the MTA endorsement. "I'm proud that Mass teachers are confident in my ability to take on such serious responsibilities in the State House."

The endorsement follows two other July endorsements for Mark: Service Employees International Union 509 and the Berkshire Central Labor Council, a coalition of Berkshire County unions with 45 representatives from more than 25 trade groups.

Mark previously received endorsements from 20 other diverse unions including nurses, police officers, ambulance workers, truck drivers, and a variety of building trades. He also got a boost from MassAlliance, a coalition of progressive groups that includes the state chapters of Sierra Club, Young Democrats, and the Massachusetts Gay & Lesbian Political Caucus, among others.

A full list of Mark's endorsements is at www.votepaulmark.com.

Mark earned several college degrees, including a doctorate and a law degree, while working full time for the phone company. He commuted from the Berkshires to the University of Massachsuetts at Amherst and to Northeastern and Suffolk universities. He is running for the seat being vacated by current Rep. Denis E. Guyer, D-Dalton.

The Second Berkshire district includes part of Pittsfield and 21 towns in Berkshire, Franklin and Hampshire counties.

DALTON, Mass. — Paul Mark, Democratic candidate for state representative in the 2nd Berkshire District, has received the endorsement of Service Employees International Union 509.

SEIU 509 represents 11,000 human-service workers in Massachusetts who provide social services to elders, at-risk children, and people with mental illness and developmental disabilities. It is the largest and fastest-growing union in nation, with tremendous organizing capacity.

"SEIU Local 509 is proud to endorse a candidate with the labor credentials of Paul Mark," said union member Brian Morrison. "With Paul in the Legislature, we are confident that the issues affecting working families and the middle class will get the attention and support they deserve."

"SEIU 509 organizes in line with my campaign message, that our state government has a serious responsibility to truly accountable and responsive to people's needs," said Mark, upon receiving the endorsement. "That means caring for the elderly and people who are most at-risk in our society. I have sincerely vowed to take on this crucial task."

"Given SEIU’s enthusiasm for organizing its members and standing up for the people they assist, we're excited to have this campaign boost," added Mark's campaign manager Steve Hoeschele.

The endorsement comes on the heels of Mark receiving the support of the Berkshire Central Labor Council, a coalition of Berkshire County unions with 45 representatives from more than 25 trade groups.

Mark has also received endorsements from diverse trade groups including nurses, police officers, ambulance workers, truck drivers, and a variety of building trades. He also got a boost from MassAlliance, a coalition composed of 22 progressive groups including state chapters of Sierra Club, MassEquality, and Progressive Democrats, among others.

A full list of Mark's endorsements is at www.votepaulmark.com.

Mark has earned several college degrees, including a doctorate and a law degree, while working full time for the phone company. He commuted from the Berkshires to the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and Northeastern and Suffolk universities. Now he is running for the seat being vacated by current Democratic Rep. Denis E. Guyer.

The 2nd Berkshire District includes part of Pittsfield and 21 towns in Berkshire, Franklin and Hampshire counties.

Paul Mark,  candidate for state representative in the Second Berkshire district, has received the endorsement of the Berkshire Central Labor Council.

The Council is a coalition of Berkshire County unions with 45 representatives from more than 25 trade groups. The organization recently hosted a forum, and voted to endorse Mark after brief speeches and a question period from each of the candidates who were present.

“We need somebody in the legislature who will be tough and honest, and Paul has those qualities,” said Herb Scholtz, a council delegate from Ironworkers Local 12.

“It is a great honor to receive the endorsement of the Berkshire Central Labor Council,” stated Mark. “The delegates recognized that nobody in this race will fight harder to improve the quality of life for working families in our district and throughout Massachusetts.”

“The unanimous endorsement of Paul, based on his experience and personal convictions, means that he’s the candidate of choice for organized labor,” Jerome F. Moran, a delegate from the UFCW Local 1459.

The endorsement comes on the heels of Mark receiving the support of Mass Nurses Association, Teamsters, and UAW, which represent diverse trades including ambulance workers, truck drivers, and graduate students.

Mark has also received an endorsement from MassAlliance, a coalition composed of 22 progressive groups. The organization’s member groups include state chapters of Sierra Club, the National Association of Social Workers, the National Organization for Women, and the Massachusetts Teachers Association, among others.

Paul Mark has received the endorsement of three more local unions: Mass Nurses Association, Teamsters, and UAW. The various unions represent diverse trades including human services providers, truck drivers, and graduate students.

Teamsters Local 404 is the western Massachusetts truckers’ union, and includes many other fields, such as police officers, ambulance workers, and nurses. Workers come from both the private and public sectors at worksites including United Parcel Service, IBC bakery, Berkshire Regional Transportation Authority, and various Departments of Public Works.

“It’s time for a young energetic representative who’s come from a working class family, and who can articulate what needs to be done to help the working people of the Commonwealth,” said Local 404 President Frank A. Rossi. “Paul is up for the challenge, and we look forward to working with him.”

The Mass Nurses Association, which is the largest health care union in the state, represents 17,000 members in 80 health care facilities.

“I’m proud to stand alongside nurses and support legislation that will help stem violence in their workplace, ensure safe staffing levels, and attain universal health coverage through a single payer system,” said Paul upon receiving the MNA’s endorsement.

The state chapter of UAW, which represents a wide range of health care workers, human service providers and college staff, has also endorsed Paul in recent weeks.

Endorsements from these three organizations, which represent ambulance drivers, nurses, mental health counselors and certified nursing assistants, demonstrate that Paul Mark is the consensus candidate of health care workers.

“Paul Mark has the support of these groups because of his record of working hard for working people, and his commitment to issues that are important to people’s everyday lives,” said campaign spokesman Steve Hoeschele.

Last month, Paul received the coveted endorsement of MassAlliance, a coalition composed of 22 progressive groups. The organization’s member groups include state chapters of Sierra Club, the National Association of Social Workers, the National Organization for Women and the Massachusetts Teachers Association, among others.

Paul has also received the endorsement of over a dozen other labor unions including United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1459, the Pioneer Valley Building Trades, Carpenters Local 108, Sheetmetal Workers Local 63, the Heat & Frost Insulators Local 6, Ironworkers Local 7, and Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 4.

As an active member in the electrical workers union, he has the full support of the I.B.E.W. telephone and electrician locals.

Tom Szczepaniak is calling for the state House of Representatives to follow the state Senate and eliminate the Bunker Hill Day and Evacuation Day state holidays. “At a time when our communities are about to be hit with deep reductions in state aid, cuts to local libraries and the closing of state parks, lets end these holidays for a select few in one county and save the taxpayers $5 million per year,” Szczepaniak said.

Szczepaniak listed a number of other programs and line items that could be pruned from state spending in advance of the fiscal year 2012 appropriations process. “With the loss of the federal stimulus funds and the already depleted rainy day account, we need to get serious about making common sense cuts now because the budget for next year looks to be even bleaker,” he said.

“The Legislature can set an example by tightening its belt first. Why do we need a House Committee on Personnel & Administration to dole out office space and assign staffing levels when we have a House personnel office which does the very same thing?” Szczepaniak asked. “With the federal stimulus program sun-setting, let’s get rid of the Joint Committee on Federal Stimulus Oversight. We can also get by with fewer court officers at the State House. These reforms would allow us to whittle down the more than $39 million for legislative operations.”

Additional budget cuts suggested by Szcepaniak:

Eliminate the Governor’s Council for an annual savings of $500,000

Cut $506,704 for the Suffolk County Social Law Library, the only free public law library which is closed to the public.

Cut $145 million for outside counsel services at state agencies.

End public subsidies for the Hynes Convention Center ($7.8 million) and Boston Convention & Exhibition Center ($10 million).

“The Governor’s Council is a colonial anachronism and I would task our state Senate with voting to confirm judicial appointments as is done at the federal level,” Szczepaniak said. “Paying for outside lawyers when each agency has their own legal counsel makes no sense either. As for the convention centers, they need to operate without taxpayer bailouts.”