Douglas Belanger, Chair of the Leicester Board of Selectmen and Organizing Director for United Food & Commercial Workers Local #1445, has pulled papers and is confirmed as a Democratic candidate for the State Senate seat currently held by Ed Augustus.
http://www.telegram.com/articl…
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when I worked for the local weekly and found him to be a forthright, open person with a passion for local issues and a genuine interest in people. His work in the community has ranged from fundraising for local nonprofits to matters of regional import (like serving on the WRTA Advisory Board as a local rep and working hard to prevent cuts in public transportation on the Worcester-Leicester route) to the kind of scut work every selectman since the dawn of time has had to concern himself with.
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p>He plays nicely with colleagues and adversaries alike, has an inquiring mind and a sense of humor.
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p>I think he’d make a great State Senator, and I’m pleased he’s decided to run.
when my political club was on its field trip on the last gubernatorial election day. He was very helpful with the kids at the phone bank location, kept them fed (key right there) and busy. I’m pleased to see him put his hat in the ring.
I have been a huge fan of Ed Augustus. He has been proactive as a progressive on a broad range of issues, with the stature and political acumen to bring his colleagues along for a positive result many times. I am grateful for the way he has always been a reliable ally. His leadership will be sorely missed.
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p>In watching and participating in the struggle to find a successor for Ed, it is important that progressives remember that this seat has been held in the recent past by a Republican, Matt Amorello (later head of Mass Highway and then the Turnpike Authority), and by a very conservative Democrat, Guy Glodis, now Worcester County Sheriff. In order for a progressive candidate to win this seat, we must proceed in a strategic and effective manner.
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p>There is a well-financed and locally well-liked Republican waiting in the wings, State Representative Karyn Polito of Shrewsbury. State Representative John Fresolo, a quite conservative Democrat, has also expressed interest in running for the Senate seat.
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p>I am familiar with Doug Belanger, have a lot of respect for him, and know him to be a progressive. There is another local official seriously exploring the race, Selectman Mike Moore of Millbury, who also has largely progressive politics and has already lined up significant support. If these two progressive candidates, both from the smaller towns in the district, run against each other, the door opens wide for a bad result. A conservative Democrat from Worcester could win the nomination with 35% of the vote, and Polito’s hand is significantly strengthened.
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p>I thank Stryker57 and David for bringing this race to the attention of the BMG community. But I think that progressives, instead of jumping on one or another of these worthy candidates’ bandwagons, should instead endeavor to get the two of them to work something out so that the above doesn’t happen. I think that the right move is to withhold our support from both of them until they commit to a process by which we can all agree to unite behind one progressive candidate. I find it really hard to take this tough stance, because I like both of them. But we can’t afford to lose this seat, and we very possibly could if we are not smart about it.
I was just commenting on Doug. That’s all. For me to support someone this early would be foolish. (Hell, I didn’t even decide who I was supporting for the Democratic Presidential nomination until three months ago.)
I was writing my comment before you posted yours. I meant it as a general statement of how we should proceed.
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p>Btw, I didn’t decide who I was supporting for President until very late either, and then I had to decide twice — because my first choice was Edwards.
Me, too! Haw.
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p>Re: Augustus–Yeah, this is going to be one interesting contest.