Saritin Rizzuto is a proven public servant with a background in nonprofit management and bank administration.
Rizzuto, who lived in Lynn for seven years before moving to Wakefield, has announced her candidacy for the Ninth Essex District state representative seat that includes parts of Lynn, Saugus, and Wakefield.
Rizzuto will run in the Democratic primary for the seat that is currently held by Donald Wong, a Republican.
A former resident of Lynn, Rizzuto said she is very familiar with the issues facing the city. She spoke at the last public hearing on the saving off the Union Hospital in Lynn. She will continue to advocate for maintaining the hospital’s presence in the city.
“I don’t want Lynn to be the largest community in the country without a full-service hospital,” said Rizzuto.
Rizzuto is known locally for her excellent leadership of the Celebrate Literacy “Excellence in Literacy Awards Reception” events that have benefited local organizations. She has also spearheaded other business and charitable endeavors with the goal of creating awareness about issues affecting the community through collective partnerships.
Rizzuto began a distinguished career in the non-profit sector more than 25 years ago when as a teenager she worked as a peer leader for the Department of Public Health. Her goal was to go in to communities with at-risk youth and educate them about violence prevention, substance abuse, and teen pregnancy. She found her path then and has spent what seems like every waking moment “doing for others.”
Rizzuto has worked in a variety of settings that reflect her passion and commitment to improving the lives of others – as a teen health educator, an advocate for the disabled, in support of AIDS advocacy and combating domestic violence. Her work has been as tireless as it has been compassionate, working both out in the community and in-house program administration.
Even now, working at Metro Credit Union as assistant vice president of community relations, Rizzuto takes on the traditional role of her job as only she can, finding the time to incorporate community organizing and building partnerships to benefit low-income and emerging populations.
Rizzuto is board member of the Immigrant Learning Center, Casa Myrna, North Suffolk Mental Health, the East Boston Social Center, the Chelsea Chamber of Commerce, the Governor’s Public Education Nominating Council, and the Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce. She is the chairman of the North Suffolk Mental Health Board and past president of the Chelsea Rotary Club. Her most recent effort to organize Latino businesses to join the Chelsea Chamber of Commerce is proving highly successful.
Rizzuto and her husband, David, and their children reside in Wakefield.
Rizzuto is looking forward to meeting residents of the district as she officially launches her campaign.
“I look to work with the community to co-create answers to drive forth legislation that will advocate for the needs of Lynn residents,” said Rizzuto. “As a proven public servant, I am eager to serve in this capacity.”
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