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Harvard student known as "Period Girl" files to run for Cambridge city council

Nadya Okamoto, a Harvard freshman who started a group to help supply women with menstrual supplies, has filed papers with state elections officials to run for a seat on the Cambridge city council.

Like the 24 other candidates (so far) for the 9 seats open this November, Okamoto must also obtain the signatures of at least 50 registered voters on petitions that become available in July.

Okamoto, originally from Portland, OR, founded what is now called Period in 2014.

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Comments

Could someone be a dear and post the names of all the candidates in the comment section here? And repeatedly make subtle changes so their comment is always "new"?

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Check the Cambridge Civic Journal at rwinters.com

He knows more than about Cambridge elections than the candidates.

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There has to be somebody in the UHub Community who wouldn't mind putting a list of candidates as a comment on this story.

Heck, it's not like I'm asking for a description of the boundaries of the voting precincts in the city.

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Well, OK, it's a link to the list, but Robert Winters has really done all the work so I can just link, rather than type or copy and paste. Plus, he'll keep that puppy updated.

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Here's the thing. I have what some might call an unhealthy obsession with the inner workings of the Cambridge City Council. From my perch across the Charles, I wonder many things about it. What I really want is the stenographic record of the proceedings of the Council, but all in due course. For now, I am going to find out how their elections go (and by that I don't mean how STV proportional representation is done. That's simple.)

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A little obsession is not a tragic character flaw, nor is it a hanging offense. Especially when, by pressing for more transparency in government, you're on the side of the angels.

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Thank goodness you haven't brought up stenography yet.

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And note I haven't edited anything.

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Let's get tested together!

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You're right. How'd I miss that? OK, now I'm worried.

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This is the thing now. Take fencing lessons and start some bs non-profit.

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@EM Painter - This is an important issue. Menstrual supplies are expensive and women in shelters or at risk shouldn't have to choose between buying food vs. not getting blood all over everything.

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I'm sure every freshman had an equally virtuous operation flying vital supplies to Guatemala or wherever. And I'm not exaggerating, they ALL do it. It's part of the application process.

This way Harvard gets people who can raise money when all these kids go work at law firms.

I'd elect a kid who started a business plowing snow first.

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If Harvard's really putting an emphasis on recruiting kids who have done something to help others, then good for them!

As somebody indirectly connected to a surprising number of Harvard freshmen (thanks to a kidlet who went to the high school that sends more kids to Harvard than any other school in the world), I can tell you, though, that, no, most Harvard freshmen have not gotten national media attention for their after-school projects.

What Okamoto has done is really impressive, not just in her idea but in her success in organizing what's becoming a national organization. Most adults couldn't say that, let alone a high-school (now college) student.

Were I a Cambridge resident, though, I'd have to wonder why I should vote for somebody who had no real connection to the community, who came here from 3,000 miles away just a few months ago to go to school. I'm not somebody who requires my candidates to be third-generation residents of a place, but, I don't know, five months in a place where you're spending much of your time on schoolwork doesn't seem like adequate qualifications for the job.

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Some of whom are happy to be elected by the same 2000 people and ignore the other 113,000. Considering the number of students who are residents of the city, some representation on the council (which has minimal real power anyway) would be welcome.

Plus she can get a lot of her studying done at council meetings anyway.

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New Haven has a city council district which is typically represented by a Yale student.

It would be nice to have something similar in Cambridge, but no Harvard student has ever won (in recent memory).

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Tell us, it's safe here, how did Harvard hurt you?

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Or clue.

People can live without plowing.

Shall we have homeless women bleeding on rags and dropping them on your doorstep?

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http://always.com/en-us/tips-and-advice/your-first-period/10-common-peri...

Some basics, since you are new at this.

Period. Menstruation. The Curse. Aunt Flo ... need your safe space yet?

How about SOME GIRLS ACCOMPLISH THINGS THAT YOU CAN'T.

Oh, sorry, should have put a trigger warning on that, since it terrifies you so ...

BTW, she didn't start a non-profit so that she could get in to Harvard. She started it as a result of HAVING BEEN HOMELESS and noticing that there was a serious problem with access to safe and hygienic menstrual supplies.

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on Portlandia.

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For her work, she deserves a standing ovaries!

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Bloody brilliant I say.

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minds.

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We needed that.

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Please add other possible Candidates for Boston City Council to list of possible Boston City Council Candidates at
https://www.reddit.com/r/boston/comments/626io1/looking_for_list_of_poss...

Compare list of Possible Cambridge City Council Candidates, scroll down about 2+ posts at http://rwinters.com

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Please do.

I mean, after posting the list of Cambridge City Council candidates.

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as a City Councillor other than superb organizational skills?

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