Sonia Chang-Díaz
Encyclopedia
Sonia Rosa Chang-Díaz is an American
Democrat politician who represents the 2nd Suffolk District in the Massachusetts Senate
. She is the first Hispanic or Latino
woman to hold such office.
and Spanish
heritage through her father Franklin Chang-Díaz, a Costa Rica
n-American
physicist
and former NASA
astronaut
. When her opponents suggested that she is not a person of color
, Chang-Diaz calls it "disingenuous" and asserted "let me say very clearly, I'm proud of my Latina
heritage, my father emigrated to this country from Costa Rica." She has also said that race and ethnic identity
are unimportant to voters and that "In my experience...of talking to voters one on one, everyday, that's not something that voters are really interested in."
Sonia Chang-Díaz was born shortly after her father earned his Doctor of Science
degree from MIT
. Chang-Díaz grew up in Newton, Massachusetts
, where her mother was a social worker, and both her parents were active volunteers
in the community.
Before seeking election Chang-Díaz was a teacher in the Lynn
school system, a teacher in the Boston Public Schools
system, and an outreach director for the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center. She lives in Jamaica Plain
.
In 2006, the Massachusetts state senator
for the Second Suffolk
district, Dianne Wilkerson
, failed to submit nomination papers with enough signatures for certification on the Democratic
primary election ballot, requiring her to run a sticker campaign for the party's nomination. Chang-Díaz then entered the race as a sticker candidate, challenging Wilkerson in a "minority-majority" district covering a number of inner-city
neighborhoods of Boston, including the South End
, Roxbury
, Dorchester
, and Jamaica Plain
. Wilkerson won the nomination and was re-elected
as a state senator
.
In 2008, Chang-Díaz challenged Wilkerson again for the party's nomination, with both candidates appearing on the ballot. In the September 2008 primary election
, Chang-Díaz won the Democratic nomination. On October 28, 2008, Wilkerson was arrested by the FBI on public corruption charges and a federal criminal complaint was filed against her that alleged she was caught on tape stuffing a cash bribe into her brassiere and accepted those cash payments in exchange for her official duties and responsibilities. The bribes were allegedly accepted in return for her help in obtaining a liquor license for a proposed nightclub and transferring public land
to a federal agent posing as a private developer. In the wake of the scandal, Chang-Díaz won the general election
on November 4, 2008 and was sworn into office in January 2009.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democrat politician who represents the 2nd Suffolk District in the Massachusetts Senate
Massachusetts Senate
The Massachusetts Senate is the upper house of the Massachusetts General Court, the bicameral state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Senate comprises 40 elected members from 40 single-member senatorial districts in the state...
. She is the first Hispanic or Latino
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
woman to hold such office.
Background
Chang-Díaz has both ChineseChinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
and Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
heritage through her father Franklin Chang-Díaz, a Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
n-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physicist
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
and former NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
astronaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
. When her opponents suggested that she is not a person of color
Person of color
Person of color is a term used, primarily in the United States, to describe all people who are not white. The term is meant to be inclusive among non-white groups, emphasizing common experiences of racism...
, Chang-Diaz calls it "disingenuous" and asserted "let me say very clearly, I'm proud of my Latina
Latina
Latina is the feminine form of the term Latino.Latina may also refer to:*Province of Latina, a province in Latium , Italy**Latina, Lazio, the capital of the province of Latina**Latina Nuclear Power Plant*Latina , a district of Madrid...
heritage, my father emigrated to this country from Costa Rica." She has also said that race and ethnic identity
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
are unimportant to voters and that "In my experience...of talking to voters one on one, everyday, that's not something that voters are really interested in."
Sonia Chang-Díaz was born shortly after her father earned his Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
degree from MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
. Chang-Díaz grew up in Newton, Massachusetts
Newton, Massachusetts
Newton is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States bordered to the east by Boston. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Newton was 85,146, making it the eleventh largest city in the state.-Villages:...
, where her mother was a social worker, and both her parents were active volunteers
Volunteering
Volunteering is generally considered an altruistic activity, intended to promote good or improve human quality of life, but people also volunteer for their own skill development, to meet others, to make contacts for possible employment, to have fun, and a variety of other reasons that could be...
in the community.
Before seeking election Chang-Díaz was a teacher in the Lynn
Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...
school system, a teacher in the Boston Public Schools
Boston Public Schools
Boston Public Schools is a school district serving the city of Boston, Massachusetts, United States.-Leadership:The district is led by a Superintendent, hired by the Boston School Committee, a seven-member school board appointed by the Mayor after approval by a nominating committee of specified...
system, and an outreach director for the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center. She lives in Jamaica Plain
Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts
Jamaica Plain is a historic neighborhood of in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded by Boston Puritans seeking farm land to the south, it was originally part of the city of Roxbury...
.
Massachusetts Senate campaigns
Massachusetts Senate
The Massachusetts Senate is the upper house of the Massachusetts General Court, the bicameral state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Senate comprises 40 elected members from 40 single-member senatorial districts in the state...
for the Second Suffolk
Suffolk County, Massachusetts
Suffolk County has no land border with Plymouth County to its southeast, but the two counties share a water boundary in the middle of Massachusetts Bay.-National protected areas:*Boston African American National Historic Site...
district, Dianne Wilkerson
Dianne Wilkerson
Dianne Wilkerson is a former Democratic member of the Massachusetts Senate, representing the 2nd Suffolk District from 1993 to 2008....
, failed to submit nomination papers with enough signatures for certification on the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
primary election ballot, requiring her to run a sticker campaign for the party's nomination. Chang-Díaz then entered the race as a sticker candidate, challenging Wilkerson in a "minority-majority" district covering a number of inner-city
Inner city
The inner city is the central area of a major city or metropolis. In the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Ireland, the term is often applied to the lower-income residential districts in the city centre and nearby areas...
neighborhoods of Boston, including the South End
South End, Boston, Massachusetts
The South End is a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts.-Geography:The South End lies south of the Back Bay, northwest of South Boston, northeast of Roxbury, north of Dorchester, and southwest of Bay Village...
, Roxbury
Roxbury, Massachusetts
Roxbury is a dissolved municipality and current neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It was one of the first towns founded in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630, and became a city in 1846 until annexed to Boston on January 5, 1868...
, Dorchester
Dorchester, Massachusetts
Dorchester is a dissolved municipality and current neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is named after the town of Dorchester in the English county of Dorset, from which Puritans emigrated and is today endearingly nicknamed "Dot" by its residents. Dorchester, including a large...
, and Jamaica Plain
Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts
Jamaica Plain is a historic neighborhood of in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded by Boston Puritans seeking farm land to the south, it was originally part of the city of Roxbury...
. Wilkerson won the nomination and was re-elected
Massachusetts Senate elections, 2006
As a result of the Massachusetts general election, 2006, the Democrats picked up one open seat in the Massachusetts State Senate, the only change from the previous session...
as a state senator
State Senator
A state senator is a member of a state's Senate, the upper house in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a legislator in Nebraska's one house State Legislature.There are typically fewer state senators than there are members of a state's lower house...
.
In 2008, Chang-Díaz challenged Wilkerson again for the party's nomination, with both candidates appearing on the ballot. In the September 2008 primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
, Chang-Díaz won the Democratic nomination. On October 28, 2008, Wilkerson was arrested by the FBI on public corruption charges and a federal criminal complaint was filed against her that alleged she was caught on tape stuffing a cash bribe into her brassiere and accepted those cash payments in exchange for her official duties and responsibilities. The bribes were allegedly accepted in return for her help in obtaining a liquor license for a proposed nightclub and transferring public land
Public land
In all modern states, some land is held by central or local governments. This is called public land. The system of tenure of public land, and the terminology used, varies between countries...
to a federal agent posing as a private developer. In the wake of the scandal, Chang-Díaz won the general election
Massachusetts Senate elections, 2008
Elections to the 187th Massachusetts State Senate was held on November 4, 2008, the same date as the 2008 Massachusetts House election as well as Federal and Congressional elections...
on November 4, 2008 and was sworn into office in January 2009.
External links
- Sonia Chang-Diaz Web site