The elections are now a month past and while Democrats continue to revel in the victories of 2012, we are now confronted with the so-called “fiscal cliff” negotiations. The recent tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut is sparking renewed debates on gun control that will resonate in future elections. We are anticipating appointments to the President’s cabinet that would create vacancies resulting in special elections. So indeed, there is no rest for the weary.

NEXT MEETING

As one election cycle ends another begins and work goes on. The mid-terms are a good two years away, but activities in the Democratic Party continue. The Framingham Democratic Town Committee (FDTC) has canceled its January 2013 meeting as it is holding a pre-inaugural celebration that same weekend on Saturday January 12th. This is expected to be a sold-out event and promises to be a wonderful night-out; see next paragraph for more.

The FDTC’s next meeting will be a short business meeting immediately following the Democratic Caucus on Sunday February 10, 2013.

VICTORY CELEBRATION

The Framingham DTC had been planning its annual holiday party for December but instead is now planning a victory party to celebrate the President’s re-election. This party will be on Saturday January 12, 2013; click here for details and how to purchase tickets.

SoU WATCH PARTY

For the past several years a group of Democrats and supporters have been holding watch parties when the President delivers the State of the Union address. One such gathering will likely be taking place in Natick; details on this will be made available later.

PLATFORM HEARINGS

In the year following a Presidential Elections, the Massachusetts Democratic Party (MDP) sets its party platform for the next cycle. The platform will be accepted at the June 2013 Democratic State Convention (taking place in Lowell on June 1st). The platform (or manifesto) is a list of the actions which the Party, its candidates, shall support to appeal to the general public for the purpose of having said peoples’ candidates voted into political office or the professed opinion(s) proposed as part of law(s) or otherwise made into social policies.

The MDP will conduct platform hearings across the state where citizens can share and submit their thoughts on what issues the party should take up into the next election cycle. Several such hearings will be scheduled in Framingham as well.

DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS

Delegates to the Democratic State Convention will be elected at town and ward caucuses across the state. The caucuses will be scheduled by town or ward Democratic committees to take place within the caucus window set by the MDP. The Framingham DTC has scheduled its caucus for Sunday February 10th. More details are forthcoming.

NOTE: To participate in the caucus (to vote or to run for delegate or alternate), one must be a registered Democrat in their district by December 31.

BREAKFAST MEETING

In March the Framingham DTC holds its annual breakfast meeting with a focus on the Town Elections that take place in April. These elections give voters the opportunity to elect their candidates for offices such as Board of Selectmen, School Committee, Town Meeting etc. The 2013 breakfast meeting will be on Sunday March 17th at the Framingham Green Community Room.

CHARTER COMMISSION

An effort is underway in Framingham to establish a Charter Commission that will review Framingham’s Charter and make a recommendation on whether Framingham should change its form of municipal government. This effort is in its early stages, but should be one that is closely followed.

MISC.

The mid-term elections in 2014 will include what is expected to be a hotly contested race for Governor. Candidates or possible candidates for Governor will make themselves known into the coming year and many of them will likely be attending the June state convention and reaching out to delegates for support.

Over the Spring the Framingham DTC will have regular business meetings in April and May including a convention briefing for delegates to the State Convention. Into the Summer the Committee holds a cookout event.