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Althea Garrison

Independent Progressive Party

Councilor (Boston, MA) - At-Large (2019 - Present)

Quick Facts
Personal Details

Education

  • AS, Newbury Junior College
  • BSBA, Suffolk University
  • CSS, Harvard University
  • MS, Lesley Graduate University

Professional Experience

  • AS, Newbury Junior College
  • BSBA, Suffolk University
  • CSS, Harvard University
  • MS, Lesley Graduate University
  • State Comptroller, State of Massachusetts

Political Experience

  • AS, Newbury Junior College
  • BSBA, Suffolk University
  • CSS, Harvard University
  • MS, Lesley Graduate University
  • State Comptroller, State of Massachusetts
  • Former State Representative
  • Councilor, City of Boston, Massachusetts, District At-Large, 2019
  • Candidate, Commonwealth of Massachusetts State House of Representatives, District Fifth Suffolk, 2014
  • Candidate, Massachusetts House of Representatives, 2012
  • Candidate, Massachusetts House of Representatives, 2010
  • Candidate, Massachusetts Senate, 2008
  • Candidate, Massachusetts Senate, 2002
  • Candidate, Mayor, Boston, 2001., 2001
  • Candidate, Massachusetts House of Representatives, District Suffolk 5, 2000
  • Lost Primary, MA House, Suffolk 5, 1998

Current Legislative Committees

No committee memberships found.

Policy Positions

Massachusetts State Legislative Election 2000 National Political Awareness Test

Abortion

Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning abortion.

1. Abortions should always be illegal.
- No Answer

2. Abortions should always be legally available.
- No Answer

3. Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
- No Answer

4. Abortions should be legal when pregnancy results from incest, rape or the life of the woman is endangered.
- No Answer

5. Abortions should be limited by waiting periods and notification requirements as decided by each state government.
- No Answer

6. Prohibit the dilation and extraction procedure, also known as "partial-birth" abortion.
- No Answer

7. Support "buffer zones" at abortion clinics by requiring demonstrators to remain at least 25 feet from doorways and driveways.
- No Answer

8. Prohibit public funding for abortions and organizations that advocate or perform abortions.
- No Answer

9. Other
- No Answer

Budget and Tax Issues - Part 1

State Budget: Indicate the funding levels you will support for the following general categories.

1. Education (Higher)
- No Answer

2. Education (K-12)
- No Answer

3. Environment
- No Answer

4. Health care
- No Answer

5. Law enforcement
- No Answer

6. Transportation and Highway infrastructure
- No Answer

7. Welfare
- No Answer

8. Other
- No Answer

Budget and Tax Issues - Part 2

State Taxes: Indicate the tax levels you will support.

1. Alcohol taxes
- No Answer

2. Capital gains taxes
- No Answer

3. Cigarette taxes
- No Answer

4. Corporate taxes
- No Answer

5. Gasoline taxes
- No Answer

6. Income taxes (incomes below $75,000)
- No Answer

7. Income taxes (incomes above $75,000)
- No Answer

8. Inheritance taxes
- No Answer

9. Property taxes
- No Answer

10. Sales taxes
- No Answer

11. Vehicle taxes
- No Answer

12. Other
- No Answer

13. Should Internet sales be taxed?
- No Answer

14. Do you support a flat tax structure for state income taxes?
- No Answer

15. Would you support returning any operating surplus to Massachusetts taxpayers?
- No Answer

16. Would you support placing any operating surplus into a "rainy day" fund?
- No Answer

17. Do you support establishing a state income tax deduction for charitable donations?
- No Answer

18. Do you support providing state funds to pay for site cleanup costs associated with the Boston Red Sox stadium construction?
- No Answer

19. Do you support lowering the state income tax to 5%?
- No Answer

The Big Dig Financing

1. Do you support using taxpayer revenue to pay for any future cost overruns resulting from the Central Artery/Third Harbor Tunnel Project (the Big Dig)?
- No Answer

Indicate which principles you support (if any) to address any future cost overruns from the Big Dig.

1. Increase drivers license fees.
- No Answer

2. Increase car registration fees.
- No Answer

3. Increase tolls on the Massachusetts Turnpike.
- No Answer

4. Implement tolls on the Central Artery.
- No Answer

5. Other
- No Answer

Crime

Indicate which principles you support (if any) to address crime.

1. Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
- No Answer

2. Support contracting with private sector firms to build and/or manage state prisons.
- No Answer

3. End parole for repeat violent offenders.
- No Answer

4. Implement the death penalty in Massachusetts.
- No Answer

5. Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
- No Answer

6. Inform communities when a convicted sex offender moves into the community.
- No Answer

7. Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
- No Answer

8. Decriminalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
- No Answer

9. Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
- No Answer

10. Lower the blood alcohol content limit defining drunk driving.
- No Answer

11. Prosecute as adults, youths accused of a felony.
- No Answer

12. Increase penalties for crimes committed on school grounds.
- No Answer

13. Require that crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, or disability be prosecuted as hate crimes.
- No Answer

14. Support programs that provide job training and placement services for at-risk youth.
- No Answer

15. Ban the use of racial profiling by law enforcement officers.
- No Answer

16. Allocate all profits from property seized in drug-related crimes to a drug treatment fund.
- No Answer

17. Require the state to prove that property was used to commit a crime before it can be seized.
- No Answer

18. Other
- No Answer

Education

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding education.

1. Increase state funds for professional development of public school teachers and administrators.
- No Answer

2. Encourage private or corporate investment in public school programs.
- No Answer

3. Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any participating school (public, private, religious).
- No Answer

4. Support charter schools where teachers and professionals receive authorization and funding to establish new schools.
- No Answer

5. Increase state funds for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings and infrastructure).
- No Answer

6. Increase state funds for hiring additional teachers.
- No Answer

7. Endorse teacher-led voluntary prayer in public schools.
- No Answer

8. Support posting the Ten Commandments in public schools.
- No Answer

9. Support national standards and testing of public school students.
- No Answer

10. Support teacher testing and reward teachers with merit pay.
- No Answer

11. Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.
- No Answer

12. Implement stricter eligibility requirements for admission into special education programs.
- No Answer

13. Other
- No Answer

14. Should the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exam (MCAS) be required for high school graduation?
- No Answer

Employment and Affirmative Action

Employment: Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning employment.

1. Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding, or relocating businesses.
- No Answer

2. Reduce state government regulations on the private sector to encourage investment and economic expansion.
- No Answer

3. Support limits on cash damages in lawsuits against businesses and professionals for product liability or malpractice.
- No Answer

4. Increase funding for state job-training programs that re-train displaced workers or teach skills needed in today's job market.
- No Answer

5. Other
- No Answer

Affirmative Action: Which of the following state agencies should take race and sex into account when making employment decisions?

1. College and university admissions
- No Answer

2. Public employment
- No Answer

3. State contracting
- No Answer

4. Other
- No Answer

Environment & Energy

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the environment and energy.

1. Encourage further development and use of alternative fuels to reduce pollution.
- No Answer

2. Support "self-audit" legislation which creates incentives for industries to audit themselves and clean up pollution.
- No Answer

3. Require a cost/benefit analysis to determine the economic impact of proposed environmental regulations before they are implemented.
- No Answer

4. Require states to fully compensate citizens when environmental regulations limit uses on privately owned land.
- No Answer

5. Support funding for recycling programs in Massachusetts.
- No Answer

6. Request added flexibility from the federal government in enforcing and funding federal environmental regulations.
- No Answer

7. Suspend participation in un-funded, federally-mandated, environmental protection legislation.
- No Answer

8. Other
- No Answer

9. Should state environmental regulations be stricter than federal law?
- No Answer

Government Reform

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding government reform.

1. Do you support limiting the number of terms for Massachusetts Governors?
- No Answer

2. Do you support limiting the number of terms for Massachusetts State Senators and Representatives?
- No Answer

3. Individual
- No Answer

4. PAC
- No Answer

5. Corporate
- No Answer

6. Political Parties
- No Answer

7. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
- No Answer

8. Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
- No Answer

9. Do you support partial funding from state taxes for state level political campaigns?
- No Answer

10. Do you support voting on-line?
- No Answer

11. Do you support on-line voter registration?
- No Answer

12. Do you support prohibiting jailed felons from voting?
- No Answer

13. Do you support the 1998 Clean Elections Law?
- No Answer

14. Other
- No Answer

Gun

Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning gun issues.

1. Ban the sale or transfer of semi-automatic guns, except those used for hunting.
- No Answer

2. Maintain and strengthen the enforcement of existing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- No Answer

3. Ease state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- No Answer

4. Repeal state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- No Answer

5. Allow citizens to carry concealed guns.
- No Answer

6. Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks on guns.
- No Answer

7. Require background checks of gun buyers at gun shows.
- No Answer

8. Require a license for gun possession.
- No Answer

9. Prohibit the attorney general from using the Consumer Protection Act to regulate gun sales.
- No Answer

10. Other
- No Answer

Health

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding health issues.

1. Provide tax incentives to small businesses that provide health care to their employees.
- No Answer

2. Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care through managed care, insurance reforms, or state funded care where necessary.
- No Answer

3. Transfer more existing Medicaid recipients into managed care programs.
- No Answer

4. Use state funds to continue some Medicaid coverage for legal immigrants.
- No Answer

5. Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
- No Answer

6. Support a patient's right to sue his or her HMO.
- No Answer

7. Support a patient's right to appeal to an administrative board of specialists when services are denied.
- No Answer

8. Guaranteed medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
- No Answer

9. Require health insurance companies to provide contraceptive coverage for women.
- No Answer

10. Provide state funds to ensure that all Massachusetts state residents have health insurance.
- No Answer

11. Prohibit the conversion of non-profit hospitals, HMOs, and health insurance firms to for-profit status.
- No Answer

12. Prohibit health insurance companies from using genetic information to determine health care policies and coverage.
- No Answer

13. Allow the state public health commissioner to establish needle exchange programs.
- No Answer

14. Other
- No Answer

Social

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding social issues.

1. Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for their employees.
- No Answer

2. Increase state funds to provide child care for children in low-income working families.
- No Answer

3. Deny or suspend state-issued permits and licenses to parents who are delinquent in paying court-ordered child support.
- No Answer

4. Increase state funding for Head Start in order to serve additional children and/or increase services from a half to a full day.
- No Answer

5. Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
- No Answer

6. Support state funding of programs for at-risk youth such as guaranteed college loans, and job training and placement.
- No Answer

7. Allow cities and towns to prevent landlords from converting subsidized housing into market-rate housing.
- No Answer

8. Prohibit dog racing as a form of gambling.
- No Answer

9. Extend health benefits to same-sex partners of state employees.
- No Answer

10. Use the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund to finance paid leave for new parents.
- No Answer

11. Prohibit employers from requiring genetic test results from being used as a criterion for employment.
- No Answer

12. Other
- No Answer

13. Should physician-assisted suicide be legally available in Massachusetts?
- No Answer

14. Should Massachusetts include sexual orientation in its anti-discrimination laws?
- No Answer

15. Should Massachusetts recognize civil unions between same-sex couples?
- No Answer

16. Should Massachusetts restrict marriage to a relationship only between a man and a woman?
- No Answer

Welfare and Poverty

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding welfare.

1. Maintain the 2-year limit on receiving welfare benefits.
- No Answer

2. Maintain the requirement that able-bodied recipients work in order to receive benefits.
- No Answer

3. Increase employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
- No Answer

4. Provide tax incentives to businesses that hire welfare recipients.
- No Answer

5. Provide child care for welfare recipients who work.
- No Answer

6. Increase access to public transportation for welfare recipients who work.
- No Answer

7. Allow welfare recipients to remain eligible for benefits while saving money for education, starting a business, or buying a home.
- No Answer

8. Limit benefits given to recipients if they have additional children while on welfare.
- No Answer

9. Eliminate government-funded welfare programs.
- No Answer

10. Redirect welfare funding to faith-based and community-based private organizations.
- No Answer

11. Use federal TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) funds to expand state services to include the working poor.
- No Answer

12. Allow education and training to be counted toward work requirements needed to receive TANF benefits.
- No Answer

13. Other
- No Answer

Legislative Priorities

Please explain what your two main legislative priorities will be if elected. Please explain how you would obtain any additional government funding needed to implement these priorities.
- No Answer