NEWS RELEASE August 23, 2006 ENDORSEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT Fred Mason, III endorsed for City Council in the 11th district of Baltimore

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Baltimore, MD – Twenty-First Century Democrats today announced that it has endorsed Fred Mason, III for City Council in the 11th District of Baltimore. Twenty-First Century Democrats Board Member, Maryland State Senator Jim Rosapepe, and National Political Director Dan Lucas will be publicly announcing the endorsement tomorrow at 8:45 A.M. at the corner of Laurens Street and Druid Hill Ave, Baltimore, Maryland. Fred Mason, III is only one of 6 candidates endorsed by Twenty-First Century Democrats for the 2007 election cycle.

“Twenty-First Century Democrats is proud to include Fred Mason, III in the select group of extraordinary candidates we have chosen to endorse for the 2007 election cycle. His legacy of service is only surpassed by his own proven dedication to the people of Baltimore,” said Mark Lotwis, Executive Director of Twenty-First Century Democrats.

As a native of Baltimore and 7 year resident of Reservoir Hill, Fred has deep roots and a profound sense of dedication to the city of Baltimore. He believes that through inclusion and cooperation between government and the residents of Baltimore that his vision is not just a dream, but an achievable and sustainable reality. The call to service runs deep in the veins of Fred Mason as the grandson of a public educator and the son of a city attorney and president of the Maryland and DC AFL-CIO. While at the State of Maryland’s Office of Capital Budgeting, he worked on major projects such as the Hippodrome, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, and other housing and economic development programs vital to the city. Currently, he is a project architect with Gaudreau, Inc. and works primarily on education projects. However, his service extends beyond the professional arena. Fred has proven a deep commitment to the well-being of Baltimore through his volunteer work with Sandtown Habitat for Humanity and Reservoir Hill Citizens on Patrol.

Fred has a broad base of support including endorsements from American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), American Federation of State County and Municiple Employees (AFSCME), Equality Maryland Political Action Committee, Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, National Black Justice Coalition Action Committee, Maryland/DC Service Employees International Union State Council (SEIU), 1199 SEIU, UNITE-HERE, United Workers Association, and Louis Hughes, Co-founder of GLCCB.

“I am honored to have the support of Twenty-First Century Democrats. We have the common goal of creating real change in Baltimore and that change starts with good leadership. We need public servants with commitment and faith in the people,” said Mason.

“Fred wants to make Baltimore a center of health, learning and employment because he believes healthy cities are the key to a strong nation. I am excited to endorse Fred on behalf of Twenty-First Century Democrats because I know he will do great things for the city of Baltimore and the State of Maryland,” said Senator Rosapepe.

Twenty-First Century Democrats is a Washington, D.C.-based grassroots-oriented political action committee that endorses and helps elect progressive Democrats who will be leaders in the Democratic Party by placing field organizers in campaigns. In the last nine years the organization has helped over 165 candidates in 31 states win election; has employed and trained 475 field organizers and 500 canvassers; and has trained 4,400 activists in the fundamentals of grassroots organizing. By focusing its attention on building aggressive and quantifiable field campaigns in marginal districts, 21st Century Democrats has won the majority of its races for 9 straight years.

For more information or to attend the event, please contact Shannon Scanlan at 202.626.6163 or shannon@21stdems.org.