We have a vacancy in the conference-elected male seat representing the First Essex and Middlesex Senate District, which runs from Wilmington to Rockport, and from Manchester to West Newbury, covering 17 communities on the North Shore. This seat was represented with distinction by Charles McCarthy of Gloucester before his recent death.
I’ve established a web site, http://home.earthlink.net/~abe… , which is pretty basic at the moment, but does explain why I’m running and some of the mechanics of the election.
If you live in the district, I’d love to have the chance to get your support. If you are on one of the 21 town or ward committees that will elect delegates, I’d like to ask for your vote. If you don’t live in this district but know Democrats who do, I’d like your help in reaching out to them.
I welcome all comments from BMGers.
We need a strong Democratic Party!
<
p>
Announcing here is a good way to start reaching out. I don’t know what regional Dem Groups there are out your way [by “regional Dem Groups” I mean groups like Greater Lowell Democrats, or 3rd MAD….
Serving our senate district, the only one not to elect a Democrat in the past twenty-five years.
<
p>I’m the past Vice-Chair of the 1EM, which means that I know Democratic leaders from every corner of the district as well as beyond. I’ve been involved with a number of the Coalition projects and believe that running for this seat is a natural extension of my service with the 1EM.
<
p>Both of the other announced candidates have ties to the Coalition, as one is the current secretary and the other was a town chair and coalition member back when the 1EM was formed in 2002.
I would suggest trying to recruit Ed O’Reilly to run for State Senate in your district. He lives in Gloucester, acquired some name recognition in challenging Kerry, and did better than his statewide average in many communities in that district. We’ll call this the “Jamie Eldridge method” since he was able to transfer visibility in a federal race (5th CD special) to a successful run for State Senate.
We know how hard you work.
What are the names of each candidate?
Patrick Abegg (me), Matt Patton, and Stan Slepoy have all indicated that they are running. The State Committee will announce the race officially soon and we’ll each have to file a letter of intent with the DSC.
<
p>By the way, since you’re apparently from North Andover, I thought that I’d mention the special rules for the only town that is split between this senate district and another one.
<
p>Only precincts 2, 3, 5, and 7 of North Andover are in the senate district. Those are the four western precincts in North Andover, all of which border Andover.
<
p>The entire town committee gets to vote for conference delegates, regardless of whether or not the member lives in 1EM. However, the delegates elected must live in the senate district.
<
p>There will likely be 7 delegates elected from North Andover, as the town has 13 and the half in 1EM is slightly more Democratic than the town as a whole; I think the math indicates that the split would be 6.8/13 in the 1EM, rounding to 7.
<
p>
Patrick has regularly attended DSC meetings over the past several years.
<
p>People occasionally ask me how to get elected to the DSC. One of the pieces of advice that I normally give to people thinking of running is to suggest attending meetings.
<
p>DSC meetings are open to any Democrat who is interested in attending and observing. The meeting notices are listed on the Mass Dems site. Some of you may find them of interest. Others may prefer to spend their volunteer time in direct voter contact.
<
p>Patrick, I wish you good luck in your run.
I would like to second the comment about attending DSC meetings as a great way to learn about the people and the process of the party. Non-members really are welcome (although you probably want to avoid an election meeting because the focus is on the members who have a vote).
<
p>In addition to repeated meetings in Boston, I’ve been to Plymouth, Ayer, Palmer, Pittsfield, Franklin, Attleboro, Marlborough, Newton, and others that I’ve forgotten. It’s been very interesting, especially in the years when the candidates come calling. I believe that the DSC meeting in Ayer was one of Deval Patrick’s first public appearances as a candidate, and it was clear from seeing his support in that hall that he was the choice of the party leaders and that Tom Reilly was in for a very hard time in the primary.
<
p>By the way, next meeting is 2/10, 7PM (come earlier) at the Boston Teachers Union which is on the back side of the Bayside Expo Hall in Dorchester, a couple of blocks from the Red Line and commuter rail stop at JFK. I expect to be there unless there’s a town committee meeting in the district.
<
p>
Best of luck, Patrick. As one of my college football coaches once said, “sometimes, showing up is half the battle.”
<
p>Anyone who plans to be a regular attendee at the meetings has my support. As a fairly new member of the DSC (elected ballot last year – Second Suffolk District), it’s disappointing to see so many people missing from the DSC meetings.
<
p>On a brighter note, I’ve found being a member of the DSC to be a rewarding experience and look forward to meeting you.
<
p>Best,
Josh Dawson
Good luck on your run for DSC. I won a senate district seat last may in a caucus. The best advice I can give is go out to each and every town committee meeting and talk to people. Many of the members there will be the delegates at the caucus. And they will all want to hear what your ideas are going to be on the issues and how you are going to represent them on the DSC as well as how you will get them the information from the DSC they will need. Happy campaigning!
-Alex
It’s not easy for me today, knowing that I would have made a real difference on the state committee.
Rep
a County seat. Identify something in 2 years and start working now.
Patrick,
The Town Committees of the 1EM deserve an opportunity to make their own decision. If you want it, go for it. Win, lose or draw you will have done your best (as you always do).
MJ