1 Percent in Polls—But Spirit Aplenty

In a gubernatorial election pitting two Harvard graduates—Democratic nominee Deval L. Patrick ’78 and Republican nominee Kerry M. Healey ’82—against each other, a third has emerged from the fray: Grace C. Ross ’83.

Ross, the nominee from the Green-Rainbow Party, is the fourth candidate on this fall’s ballot.

She currently trails Patrick, Healey, and Independent candidate Christy Mihos with the support of just one percent of perspective voters, according to the latest Boston Globe/CBS4 poll.

Ross said she hopes that by running, she will be providing a voice to citizens disillusioned with the status quo and raise awareness of her platform—which aims to abolish poverty, stop global warming, and bring Massachusetts troops home from Iraq.

“I think that the empowerment issue is as profound as the hope issue,” Ross said. “Folks need to be reminded that when regular people come together, we can make the changes that need to be made.”

Ross said she believes that the other two primary candidates are not spending enough time on issues that matter to voters.

“None of them were talking about small businesses,” she said. “I [also] want to get environmental issues more into the debate.”

Ross’s experiences at Harvard played a large role in influencing her political life, she said.

While she enjoyed her courses and the resources the University afforded to her, Ross said the personal relationships she developed with her peers helped her obtain the people-oriented skills necessary for the campaign trail.

“She was a very smart, super nice woman, very warm,” Amy M. Gluckman ’83, Ross’s sophomore roommate, said. “Our third roommate had a very difficult year that year and she had a lot of family problems, and Grace was very good at being empathetic towards her and giving her a listening ear.”

Ross began campaigning across the state last December.

“I want to talk to folks who usually don’t get talked to,” Ross said.

She submitted a petition of 14,500 certified signatures on Aug. 29 so that she could appear on the ballot as a third-party candidate.

She has been invited to participate in all gubernatorial debates, including the one broadcast last Monday on Fox 25.

Before hitting the road for the campaign, Ross worked as a community activist. She was a coordinator for the Women’s Alliance and Sisters Together Ending Poverty, two nonprofit organizations in the MetroWest area.

“She’s been an activist for many years, particularly working on issues related to low-income women,” Gluckman said. “She has worked hard to maintain organizations.”

To Ross’s campaign, the election is about much more than simply sending a message. It’s about winning, said Melissa Harrell, Ross’s campaign manager.

Ross’s supporters believe that her third-party status will appeal to voters.

“Institutionally, she represents an alternative to the two-party duopoly,” Gluckman said.

However, Brian McGrory, a columnist for the Boston Globe, said in an interview that Ross only has a marginal chance of winning the election.

“Very slim at best,” he said. “[The Green Party is] not even registering on any polls.”