Jonathan Hernandez has announced his intention to seek the Democratic nomination for the State Senate seat in District 6, Providence, which includes the neighborhoods of Mount Hope, Downtown, South Providence, and Washington Park. Hernandez, a progressive Democrat, says he will push for measures that will rebuild the middle class, provide support for working families, and invest in policies that combat climate change.

Hernandez was spurred to run after seeing the State’s continued insistence in having an economic policy that favors the few, the rich and the well-connected instead of supporting working families and the middle class. “The state government is more concerned with funding stadiums for billionaire owners than protecting women’s rights, supporting working families, or creating affordable housing,” said Hernandez.

While talking to residents, Hernandez has heard that health, safety and security are key issues on people’s minds. Addressing our biggest issue, the environment, is how the district, city, and state can resolve many of these problems.

“By cleaning up Prov Port and investing in a green economy, we can address many of the big issues affecting these neighborhoods,” said Hernandez. “We must get serious about protecting our environment, and when we do that we will improve the health and well-being of residents while also creating jobs and an economy that will make Providence and Rhode Island stronger and more resilient.”

Health in particular is an issue on a lot of minds in the area; this section of Providence has the highest levels of asthma in the entire state, and it’s getting worse every year. “Our current leaders have abdicated their responsibility to the people of these neighborhoods by allowing dirty and dangerous industry, such as National Grid‘s LNG project, in a dense residential area. That has to change; we need leaders that will stand up for the needs of people before the needs of corporations.”

Hernandez knows he can provide the leadership needed in this area because of his experience in sustainability and the built environment.

Hernandez is a lifelong Rhode Island resident and currently lives in the Mt Hope section of Providence. He has a BS in Architecture from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a Masters of Architecture from the University of Washington, Seattle.

For more information, please visit JonAHernandez.com

[From a press release]