This story appeared on Page A4 of The Standard-Times on June 7, 2005.

NEW BEDFORD -- Promising to run a grass-roots campaign based on new ideas and a new vision for the city, Matthew A. Morrissey announced his candidacy for mayor yesterday.

Backed by signs that proclaimed "Matt for Mayor" and "We CAN do better," Mr. Morrissey addressed a packed room in former storefront on Acushnet Avenue that has been converted into his campaign headquarters.

"We can do better if we get all hands on deck, and that is exactly what we are going to do when we bring a strong dose of fresh air to City Hall this fall," he said at his kickoff rally. "We know that nobody, especially City Hall, has a monopoly on good ideas. I know that we can do better, that we must do better, and that we will do better."

Mr. Morrissey said he has "lost patience" with the leadership of Mayor Frederick M. Kalisz Jr. "After witnessing opportunities lost and potential unrealized, I know that we can do better," he said. "We must refocus the mayor's office on creating jobs, providing a quality education, and making our neighborhoods safe again."

Mr. Morrissey, 32, has taken a leave from his job as assistant to the chancellor at UMass Dartmouth to focus his full attention on running for mayor. A native of New Bedford, Mr. Morrissey grew up in the neighborhood around Brooklawn Park. His father is Gerald Morrissey, his mother is Celeste (Roy) Viall, and his extended family includes a number of businesspeople and property owners in the city.

After attending St. Joseph's School through eighth grade, he attended Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech, and then UMass Dartmouth.
He became a student activist during his four years at UMass Dartmouth, and later a student representative from UMass Dartmouth on the UMass board of trustees. After college, he spent two years working as an aide in the office of UMass president William Bulger, then left to develop a high-tech startup called Mogall.com. Mogall.com was bought by the Public Consulting Group in Boston, for which Mr. Morrissey worked as a senior consultant for 18 months. He moved back to New Bedford three years ago with his wife, Kristin, and their three young children. In 2003, he went to work for UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Jean McCormack, a job that paid approximately $85,000 per year.

Mr. Morrissey was introduced by John Vasconcellos, his neighbor on County Street and one of the people behind the New Bedford ACTS! anti-violence campaign. Also speaking on behalf of Mr. Morrissey was Dr. Bruce Rose, an administrator at UMass Dartmouth and vice president of the New Bedford chapter of the NAACP, and Sarah Arruda, a student at Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech.

"Matt has brought true value to whatever venture he has participated in," Dr. Rose said. "He is a natural leader of uncommon talent, but more importantly a good person who walks the walk of inclusion, collaboration and respect for all people."

Ms. Arruda said she might like to follow in Mr. Morrissey's footsteps by attending UMass Dartmouth and maybe running for mayor herself someday. "My voice and that of my friends and peers needs to be heard today and in the days ahead because it is time for the city of New Bedford to respond to our needs, our hopes and our dreams," she said.

Also attending Mr. Morrissey's campaign kickoff were former mayor John Bullard; Margaret "Mardee" Xifaras, local attorney and member of the Democratic National Committee; local attorney Peter Bullard; former UMass Dartmouth Dean of Students Don Howard; businessman Craig Lindell; artist George Saulnier; and UMass Dartmouth professor Robert Waxler.

This story appeared on Page A4 of The Standard-Times on June 7, 2005.