In Memory of Stephanie Mercandetti

REMEMBERING STEPHANIE MERCANDETTI

It is with deep sorrow that I share with you that our beloved member, Stephanie Mercandetti, has passed away today (Jan 14, 2018), having courageously battled cancer for several months. She is remembered by all as a warm, joyful and compassionate woman whose giving and positive nature touched our lives and our community. Stephanie was soon to become a life member of the Framingham Democratic Town Committee, having served for almost twenty years, formerly as our Vice-Chair and as a Democratic State Committee member. She will be sorely missed by all. Our Committee sends its most sincere condolences to her family, friends and to all who shared in her life.

Beverly Hugo, Chair

Remembering Debby Blumer

I first met Debby Blumer in 2002 around the time of the mid-term elections. However I did not really get to know her until almost a year later when I discovered that she lived around the corner from my home. I wanted to send her a letter on a particular subject and decided to deliver it in person. She replied a few days later and agreed to discuss the matter with me and offered suggestions. Through the 2004 elections I saw the hard working individual we all came to know and respect deeply.

The last time I saw Debby was at the Framingham Victory 06 Field Office. It was around 8:30PM on the night of October 12th. I was leaving the phone bank having made my calls for the night, but Debby was still making calls as I left. A fitting way to remember her: always working hard for us.

-Parwez Wahid

Dear Debby:

I am writing to say thanks because, candidly, I confess that I didn’t thank you enough when I had the chance. In the rush of daily living we sometimes forget to say thank you to those who are close to us.

On the civic front, thank you for serving our community for over thirty years at PTO, at Town Meeting, on the Finance Committee and at the State House. It is so admirable that you accomplished all of this while you nurtured your flourishing family of husband, children and grandchildren. Admirable also is the fact that you created and sustained a devoted following of friends and neighbors who felt treated as best friends whether you had known them for weeks or for decades.

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JACKIE ROBINSON, Political life after baseball

Below is an excerpt from baseball great Jackie Robinson’s autobiography.

Jack Roosevelt “Jackie” Robinson turned a page in history when he became the first African American player to cross baseball’s “color barrier” and play in the Major Leagues in 1947. Robinson played 10 stellar seasons for the Brooklyn Dodgers before retiring from a Hall of Fame career.

After baseball Robinson went to work for Chock Full O’ Nuts as a spokesman then continued his efforts to advance civil rights. He became actively involved in the campaign for Republican candidate Richard Nixon in the 1960 Presidential elections. Robinson opted to support Nixon over John F. Kennedy because he liked the work that Nixon had done in the area of civil rights during Nixon’s years as Vice President. However Robinson later described his regret on having supported Nixon.

Two incidents during the 1960 campaign were quite disillusioning to Robinson. In one incident Nixon was asked to comment on a statement by running mate Henry Cabot Lodge who stated that in a Nixon Administration a black would be named to the Cabinet; Nixon commented that Lodge was speaking on his own behalf. Later during the campaign Nixon refused to speak out when civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was locked in a full-security prison for a minor motor vehicle infraction.

Further Nixon refused to campaign in Harlem (while Kennedy did). These incidents drew Robinson a great deal of criticism from the African American community for his support of the Nixon campaign. By the end of the campaign the Kennedy ticket was looking more attractive to Robinson, but he had already committed to Nixon.

Jackie Robinson did establish good ties with New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller (who later became Gerald Ford’s Vice President). Robinson supported Rockefeller’s bid during the 1964 Republican Primiaries. However after the GOP ticket went to Barry Goldwater, Robinson was disgusted at what he saw during the 1964 Republican National Convention. (Read more…)

Salute to David P Magnani

The Framingham Democratic Town Committee salutes

David P. Magnani

for his service to our community as a Framingham legislator from

1985 to 2004

David Magnani was born in Framingham in 1944 to Louis and Angie Magnani of Ashland and attended Framingham’s Marian High School. He earned his Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University in 1968, Master’s of Education and Doctor of Education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. David Magnani earned a Master of Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University in 1989.

After college Dave served in the Peace Corps as a teacher and trainer of science teachers in Sierra Leone and Kenya. He spent three years in Africa. Dave was first elected to public office in 1984 as a State Representative from Ashland and South Framingham. He was elected to the Massachusetts State Senate in 1992.

As a legislator David Magnani focused his attention on improving early childhood, K-12, and higher education, improving science, technology, engineering and math education, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and serving the people of his district and the Commonwealth. He worked successfully to reduce property taxes for elderly citizens with the “Circuit Breaker” tax credit, helped municipalities, businesses, and the state address the need for infrastructure funding with the adoption of the District Improvement Financing program; helped to streamline the legal process for businesses with a Massachusetts business court, and consistently fought the most punitive aspects of welfare “reform”.

Senator Magnani was Chair of the Senate Committees on Education, Arts and Humanities and on Science & Technology. He was Vice Chair on the Joint Committee on Taxation and the Joint Committee on Commerce and Labor. He served on the Senate Ways and Means Committee, the Joint Committee on Human Services and Elderly Affairs, Co-Chair of the Special Statewide Commission on Early Childhood Education, Senate Chair of Metrowest Legislators Caucus, Chair for the Task Force on Economic Stabilization Committee on Commerce and Labor, and a member of the Task Force on Employment and Training. Dave was Chair of the Massachusetts Special Commission on Information Technology, founder of the Legislature’s Science and Technology Caucus and founder of the State’s Centers for Global and Multicultural Education.

In 1997, with then Representative Barbara Gardner he founded of the I-495 Technology Corridor Initiative, and is a founding board member of its successor organization, the 495-Metrowest Corridor Partnership. These organizations created a forum for constructive discussion of public and private perspectives on the development of the Corridor. A vibrant collaboration between state government, municipalities, large and small business, and environmental leaders along the Corridor is now implementing an action plan to realize those ideas. The mission of Partnership is to realize the full potential of the 495/Metrowest Corridor as an engine of sustainable economic development for the region and the Commonwealth, while enhancing the quality of life in the Corridor and sustaining environmental resources. This describes well Senator Magnani’s approach to economic development and environmental stewardship in his district and for the Commonwealth.

David Magnani is married to Nanette Brey Magnani. They have two children, Michael and Matthew. The family resides in Framingham.

In February 2004 David Magnani announced that he would not seek re-election to the State Senate. On November 19, 2004 a celebration was held in honor of Senator Magnani and his 20+ years of public and community service. This celebration was packed with over 400 friends, family and well-wishers who paid an affectionate tribute to Dave in recognition of his commitment to the community.

Thank you Dave!!!

Framingham DTC

Pictures from Nov. 19th celebration for Senator Magnani