Cronin Highlights Mediation, Activism Skills In Run For 11th Plymouth

Lisa E. Crowley

BrocktonPost

BROCKTON--Days after State Rep. Geraldine Creedon announced she would not seek reelection to the 11^th Plymouth seat, an Easton resident and Brockton native is ready to launch a campaign for the district.

Claire Cronin, 52, in an email announcing her candidacy, said she believes her skills as a lawyer and active member of the Easton and Brockton communities would bring effective leadership in the political arena.

“My mediation experience requires an ability to bring parties with different agendas together and I hope to apply this skill to make government the best it can be,” Cronin said. (Pictured, top)

Creedon, (Pictured, middle) who has had medical problems over the last few years, announced over the weekend she would not seek reelection to the seat she has filled since 1995.

The 11^th Plymouth district

represents Precincts 1 through 5 in Easton and Wards 1, 3D, 7C and 7D in Brockton.

Cronin is believed to be the first candidate to announce she will seek election to Creedon’s seat.

Brockton Councilor-at-large Jass Stewart (Pictured, below) said Cronin’s announcement will not effect his decision to run for Creedon’s seat-- a run that has been speculated about in political circles for at least a year.

Stewart said in a phone call tonight he would not decide until after two meet-and-greets with residents Feb. 25 and 26 if he will make a run for Creedon’s seat.

“Whether (Creedon) was in the race or not was irrelevant to me,” Stewart said. 
Stewart said Cronin seeking the position has not prompted him to run or not run for the 11th Plymouth and repeated his Super Bowl Sunday statement that he will decide to run after taking into account the feedback he has received from constituents while out in the city and during the public meet-and-greets at the end of the month.

Cronin and any other candidate for Creedon’s seat must collect the necessary 150 signatures to be placed on the ballot for the Sept. 6 primary and, if successful in the party primary, the Nov. 6 election. 
Nomination papers are due at the city elections office May 1.

For those who may not know Cronin, here is a brief bio she provided with her email:

Cronin was born and raised in Brockton, the daughter of James and Phyllis (Lucey) McLaughlin. She is the niece of former Brockton Mayor C. Gerald Lucey.

 A 1978 graduate of Brockton High School, she earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Stonehill College in 1982 and a law degree from Suffolk University Law School in 1985. She is a former member of the Brockton Democratic City Committee.

Cronin lives in Easton with her husband, Ray Cronin, and their two daughters.  She has her own law practice in Brockton.  She is also a mediator at Commonwealth Mediation and Conciliation, Inc., in Brockton, where she mediates civil disputes including business, contractual, and personal injury matters.

Cronin serves on the board of Old Colony YMCA and has also been chair of the Frothingham Family YMCA’s Annual Strong Kids Campaign.

She also serves on the Foundation for Excellence in Education in Easton (FEEE), a non-profit organization that supports the students of the Easton Public Schools by raising funds for state-of-the art technology and innovative grants.  

Cronin is a member of the Easton Democratic Town Committee.