Democratic Caucus on Saturday, February 8, at La Campagna.

Doors close at 2:00.

CAUCUS NOTE: Please note that the method in place this year allows for candidates for delegate who are unable to be present at the caucus. This is similar to 1999, 2000, and 2001. If you are interested in being an elected delegate or alternate and cannot attend your local caucus, contact your chair for information.

The next Democratic Town Committee meeting is

Sunday, March 9, at 7:00 PM at La Campagna.
ANNOUNCEMENT: If you are interested in working on the Kerry NH campaign, call Letticia Reeves, 617-367-1551. For information on the 3/10/03 Kerry $1000/ticket Boston fundraiser, contact Shahid A. Kahn, 508-620-9660, [email protected]. (http://www.johnkerry.com/)

Minutes – Democratic Town Committee – January 12, 2003

Called to order 7:07 PM.
MEMBERS ATTENDING: Steve Blesofsky, Debby Blumer, Linda Fields, Bill Haberman, Esther Hopkins, Donna Howland, Barbara Magovsky, Rene Mandel, Stephanie Mercandetti, Cesar Monzon, Betty Muto, Lyn Safian, Norma Shulman.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS ATTENDING: Scott Burke, Barbara Gray, Mathew Helman, Ahmed Kahn, Norbert Riegelhaupt, Nancy Coville Wallace. OTHERS ATTENDING: Warren Chamberlain, Allan Smith, Parwez Wahid, Bill Sammons.
MINUTES (Norma Shulman): Motion to accept Oct and Nov meeting minutes approved.
TREASURER’S REPORT (Bill Haberman): Reports given in Nov and Jan approved.
Cash on hand 11/17/02  $568.71
Deposits (dues)               $95.00
Interest                            $4.16
Subtotal                        $667.87
Expenses                          $0.00
Cash on hand 1/12/03    $667.87
As of 1/12, 3 still owe dues for last year. 11 owe dues for this year. Reminders will be sent.

Old Business:

Continued discussion from November meeting: We are looking for additional suggestions for how to energize the Committee. The web site has been bringing people in. One guest suggested reaching the unenrolled voters; the parties need to respond to the needs of the people. The Democrats have an opportunity to reach out now, especially with the convention coming in 2004. Perhaps we should notify the paper about our meetings and have speakers covered. Did we learn anything about the possibility of having a Democrats group at Framingham State? What would be our marketing strategy? A subcommittee will look into it: Betty, Barbara, Mat, Alan Smith. There was a question about what is involved as an associate member: a beginning way to get involved. The requirements are to be a Democrat and pay $10 dues.
Reminder: The Caucus is 2/8. To participate in selecting delegates for the issues convention in Lowell 6/7, be there by 2. The convention is a good preview for the next governor’s election.

New Business:

Report from the MW Alliance and State Committee (Lyn Safian)
The Alliance will be hosting/providing food for the State Committee meeting. Our Chair has arranged for dinner at Ken’s before the meeting and funds are being raised to cover it. The meeting is at Ken’s Monday, January 27, at 7 PM. Come from 6-7 to eat and visit. The meeting is open; all Democrats are encouraged to attend.
Report from the Hill (Debby Blumer)
The legislature is still organizing for the session, making assignments and leadership positions. They will be in session tomorrow about giving the Governor authority to cut local aid. The state budget has to be balanced by August. There is a philosophical discussion going on about whether the legislature should let the difficult choices fall on him or whether they have to keep their authority and make the hard decisions. There was a discussion about concern for funding of special education for children in residential and private schools. Taxes? There isn’t the will to do much with this. Charter schools? Financing of charters will be one of the issues under discussion.
This Thursday the selectmen will be discussing funding.

Speaker: Martha Coakley (Middlesex District Attorney)

In July 2002, Martha Coakley was honored by A&E Television Network as one of their 2002 Biography Community Heroes for her contribution to public service, the community, and inspirational leadership. Coakley, along with 10 other honorees from Boston, were part of A&E’s traveling exhibition over the summer.

A sampling of her comments and the subsequent discussion is provided:

The four years has gone by so fast. She has family in the Metrowest, but came from western MA. She has 54 cities and towns in her district. It is important to be focused on what is happening from the ground up. Even without the corner office, most offices are held by Democrats. We need to work together to solve the current problems. The DA office responds whenever someone is arrested or there is a crime committed. There are 800-900 felonies and many more cases in the district courts; these depend on the DA staff to ensure a prompt and fair process. They are working on creating incentives for the DA staff to stay longer in order to develop a staff of more experienced people. In Middlesex County they have teams to meet with the schools, provide services to children, a program to prevent problems. They are looking at a program to respond to middle school truancy – voluntary services, help for the families and parents. It’s a way to intervene before they are in worse trouble. They will avoid cutting these prevention services in this economic climate. Safe schools are about understanding our kids.
They have passed a statute against stalking. They may respond legislatively like this to prevent crimes if this is a way to deal with a particular issue.
They are looking at ways to work on public safety on a community level, especially for situations in a particular community. Community-based safety issues are not just dealt with by the police, but also by the schools and the community and other community organizations.

Questions and discussion:

Is the MA justice system better than IL in terms of the conviction of the innocent? Without the death penalty here, do people in MA not get the same level of close review. We do use DNA to convict and exonerate. The review of the higher courts and how the police are restricted in MA makes our system strong.
Is moving some of the court staff (probation officers, etc.) into the administrative division to help improve management? Further discussion followed on this question. Who should pick this staff? Is there patronage motivating this area?
Are we making progress with persons with mental illness or substance abuse getting any better response from the judicial system? There are barriers and prejudices against people with these issues. There are stigmas. We should recognize these as illness and how better to respond to them. We need to do more. How we go about the issue of treatment is complicated – the criminal justice system is the last catchall. Especially in bad economic times, when people hit bottom – and the criminal justice system becomes the last safety net for some people (the only way to get services for some people). It is an expensive problem to deal with.
What about the problem with profiling in certain communities? What can we do to help? It is helpful to have members of minority communities involved, working together at the grassroots level and up.
How does intervention earlier help? We don’t have good data on this, but we should be investing early to prevent the costly efforts later. The truancy program may provide data on how this early intervention is working.
Question about the public reaction to public violence? What can be done on a public level to help people not directly involved in an incident? Our public safety personnel need to get help with response to stressful events. Communities have come together to support people with tragedies.
Are you seeing an increase in domestic violence? Fewer domestic homicides. More serious assaults. Number of restraining orders is up. When the economy is bad, you do see an increase in restraining orders, etc. We are getting better at agencies working together.
Is terrorism an issue in your dept.? They looked at all the agencies and groups that should be involved and have done a lot of teams and planning. Have police, fire, and EMTs on the same page. And this planning will be important for any other kinds of crime and issues.
Talked about the checks and balances and concern about whether we are profiling and treating people as we did with internment camps – detainees.

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE: The location of the Alliance/MNW gathering has changed. It will be held at the Nobscot Café at 847 Edgell Road in Framingham.  From Rt. 9, take Edgell Road heading north and the Café is in a shopping plaza just before the intersection with Water Street.   (Please share this information with anyone else who worked on the campaign and who may not be getting our email notice.)

COORDINATED CAMPAIGN PARTY
Sunday, November 24 from 2 to 4 PM

Nobscot Café – 847 Edgell Road – Framingham, MA

The Coordinated/Alliance/O’Brien Campaign will celebrate the hard work of the volunteers who devoted their time and effort to the cause, with a party on November 24th from 2:00PM – 4:00PM at the Nobscot Café at 847 Edgell Road in Framingham.
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The next Democratic Town Committee meeting is Sunday, January 12, at 7:00 PM at the Union House.

Minutes – Democratic Town Committee – November 17, 2002

MEMBERS ATTENDING: Debby Blumer, Pat Dunne, Bill Haberman, Barbara Magovsky, Rene Mandel, Rob Meltzer, Stephanie Mercandetti, Chris Ross, Norma Shulman.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS (and Others) ATTENDING: Bob Edwards, Mathew Helman, Steve Joyce, Tom Mahoney, Karen Spilka, Nancy Coville Wallace.

MINUTES (Norma Shulman): Will vote on minutes and treasurer’s report next meeting (need quorum).

TREASURER’S REPORT (Bill Haberman):
In the past we have sent a nice letter asking if people are still interested in being
Cash on hand 10/20                $1,539.46
Deposits (dues)                     $190.00
Subtotal                            $1729.46
Expenses-
O’Brien mailing                     $960.75
Coordinated Committee              $200.00
Cash on hand 11/17              $568.71
5 still owe dues for last year.

Old Business:

Election de-briefing
Thanks to Barbara Magovsky for her work in the coordinated campaign office.
We had a discussion about the process and the results of the campaign. (The following is a sampling of the comments.)
Barbara thinks the Democrats are not defining themselves well; letting the Republicans define us. Also, there is a double standard for a woman candidate (including by the media). Also, the high number of phone calls to individuals may be an issue to review. A lot of time was spent to raise visibility and to get out the vote. Debby Blumer pointed out that the Democrats were outspent 3 to 1 on ads, and saw an unprecedented amount of negative advertising. The thinking has been that you stop negative ads two weeks before the election. Did not happen this time.
Karen Spilka suggested that we should build on the efforts and involvement of all the volunteers and keep them involved toward future elections. Rene Mandel mentioned that there was not much substance included in the campaigning. For example, the O’Brien campaign had a lengthy position on children with special needs, but the public did not know about it.  Steve Joyce mentioned that the ads were almost all negative messages, not the messages of what we stand for. People are sick of the nastiness. Maureen Dunne agrees with the lack of an articulate message. We needed to hear what the Democrats would do on the main issues. She suggests we need to do focus groups with independents. And we need to start now for the next election.
We had an animated discussion about the issue of Speaker Finneran as a perceived head of the party, and how perhaps he may or may not be perceived this way with a more assertive Republican Governor. There does not seem to be another representative to run against Speaker Finneran.

Speaker: Rick Holmes (Editorial Page Editor, MetroWest Daily News)

(A sampling of his comments follows.)
He first commented that he didn’t know that he’d be speaking at a wake (after hearing our de-briefing discussion). Debby replied that wakes are happier.
Nationally the Democratic Party may be sicker than the last two election results would appear. Maybe they were beaten down in the 80’s and haven’t come back with a new identity. Back then, the Republicans were in their cars, listening to cassettes from Newt Gingrich, and getting the party message. Then Clinton was a strong leader with Dole as contrast. After Clinton are we using small proposals, not big ideas? There isn’t a strong leader, and George W. Bush is very different from Dole.
People didn’t know what Shannon stood for. The unenrolled don’t want people to “fight for working families” – they don’t want fighting, and who are working families? (Is it unions?) There’s no party loyalty anymore. Candidates need to take bolder steps. (One example – Al Gore coming out for universal health care.)
A back and forth discussion then followed about what went wrong for the Democrats in MA. One concern is how candidates seem over-rehearsed. Rick mentioned that John McCain was the most interesting candidate in 2000 – because people found him genuine and sincere, as opposed to over-rehearsed. Reich did his own ads, didn’t go negative, and caught on with the college students, and didn’t spend as much. Would he have done better with more time and money? Mario Cuomo said there wasn’t a message or messenger in this election. On a national level Democrats could push for tax reform, tax simplification, payroll tax cut, and get back into the game. On a state level, Democrats could reclaim the issue of cleaning up state government. And who do you have campaign with you (McCain vs. Hillary Clinton)? Is it the message or is it the individual candidates? He thinks the ideology has to be there. Why are Democrats afraid to use the word liberal? Get over the labels and stop letting your opponents define you. The ballot questions added some weight to the election for Governor. What is the role of the “outsider”? And what about the negative attitude toward an “insider”? Are the candidates like movie star personalities – told what to wear, they are managed and lose the genuineness? Who do your trust when you are feeling in a situation where you are insecure? The question was raised whether we need someone as a candidate to inspire voters.

New Business

Report from the Hill
Karen – deadline for bill filing is 12/4. New reps don’t have much staff to do all the research on all the issues, but can work with other reps, etc., to get something filed. Also bills are filed throughout the year. Alliance for Educational Equity (AEE) is holding a statewide organizing meeting at the Statehouse next week. There is recognition that things are unfair, but not clear how it can be changed. Many groups are paying attention to this issue now.
Debby – In 2001 there was acknowledgement of the inequity in the formulas, especially with the role of the LWV in showing the inequities. There are going to be cuts in local aid, so the fairness issue is important in resolving before cuts are made. There are bills being talked about now.

Discussion: How to keep the DTC energized?
Come to the volunteers’ get-together (see notice at the top of the minutes). Do people have ideas for speakers we should invite? How about bringing in college students to join the DTC? How about a survey, fun events, policy discussions? The next generation is not feeling any affinity to a party. Should we try focus groups? This discussion will continue.

The next Democratic Town Committee meeting is
Sunday, November 17, at 7:00 PM at the Union House.

NOTE: If you are willing to send a letter to the MetroWest Daily News (supporting a candidate) for one of their Political Views pages, but are not sure what to write, we can help. Please contact Norma ([email protected] or 508-877-5377) right away. We can give you some “talking points” to help you put together a short letter (under 150 words).

Minutes – Democratic Town Committee – October 20, 2002

MEMBERS ATTENDING: Steve Blesovsky, Bill Haberman, Jerry Desilets, Esther Hopkins, Donna Howland, Barbara Magovsky, Rob Meltzer, Stephanie Mercandetti, Chris Ross, Marilyn Safian, Norma Shulman, Alan Silver, John Stefanini.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS ATTENDING: Mathew Helman, Caroline Ray, Karen Spilka, Nancy Coville Wallace, Shahid Khan

MINUTES (Norma Shulman): Accepted minutes of 9/22/02.
TREASURER’S REPORT (Bill Haberman): fill in new info
Cash on hand 9/22      $1,542.47
Deposits (dues)    $290.00
Interest     $6.99
Subtotal     $1839.46
Expenses-CoordComm    $300.00
Cash on hand 10/20    $1539.46
7 still owe dues for last year.
Report accepted.

Old Business:
Framingham Town Committee website report – Mat Helman – We have actually gotten inquiries from people who saw the website and may want to join. Mat suggested we consider offering a page to other Town Committees for a small fee. Will bring this information to the Alliance meeting. https://framinghamdems.org.

Coordinated campaign
Discussion about giving more money to the Coordinated Campaign for the election. A mailing perhaps? Suggested a locally targeted mailing – for example, endorsements, or issues important to Framingham such as education funding. Maybe have the mailing be a unity piece, emphasizing the other candidates now support O’Brien. Discussed whether it should be persuasion piece or get out the vote.
Bill Haberman moved that we appropriate $1000 toward a mailing to get Democrats to vote for O’Brien. To expend this money, a committee consisting of Stefanini, Spilka, Blumer, Desilets, to decide on the mailing. The motion passed.

For this mailing, we are looking for names to be listed as endorsers! Please reply to Norma ([email protected] or 508-877-5377) ASAP if you are willing to be listed on the mailing as a supporter of the Democratic ticket.

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3 weekly visibilities for the campaign – Saturday at Edgell/Rt 9 at 10-noon; Thursday at 5-6:30 pm at 126/Rt 30; and Thursday at 7-8:30 am at 135/126. Call Coordinated Campaign 508-872-4376 to sign up. Also visibility at the polls on election day. Phone bank help is especially needed, including all day for 3 days before the election.
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Karen Spilka is hosting a fundraiser for O’Brien/Gabrieli on 10/26. Directions to Karen’s home are available. Bring people along who are undecided so they can hear the candidates speak. The invitation is posted on our website.
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Jerry Desilets announced a fundraiser at the Sheraton noon-2 on Monday, 10/28 – all the Democratic members of the House of Representatives are participating. O’Brien and other candidates will be in attendance. Suggested donation is $100.
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Dues are due. ($15 for members; $10 for associate members.)
(2002 meetings – Nov. 17, Dec., no meeting 1/12, Feb – caucus, 3/9, 4/6, 5/18, no meeting in June.
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New Business:
Report from the MW Alliance – Lyn Safian – the emphasis from the Alliance was on raising funds for the Coordinated Campaign. Lyn was at the headquarters by herself today. Where were the rest of us? Please call to sign up for a shift on the phones.

Laurel Tanenholtz spoke on behalf of the Working Group to Reduce Military Spending.
They want to sponsor Congressman Markey coming to speak in Framingham. Have been in contact with his scheduling aide. Proposed Dec 6 or Jan 10 or 17. Framingham Town Hall public hearing room may be booked for one of these dates. Wants him to talk on military policy and war in Iraq. Would like DTC to co-sponsor. The LWV is interested in co-sponsoring. He is only available on Friday evenings – we raised a question of concern for those who cannot attend due to religious observance. It was suggested that they ask him for other dates. We will consider this at our next meeting.

Stephanie introduced the speaker:
Eugene Brune, Middlesex Register of Deeds
Eugene Brune has been register of deeds since 1989. Was Mayor of Somerville for 10 years before this position. Middlesex County is the largest in state and 8th largest in country. In 1989, he was shown the process of imaging, and he looked into leasing the imaging equipment. He then got calls for interviews and speaking because this was the first use of imaging in a registry of deeds. That year, they gave 130 tours, including numerous other countries wanted to see the system back then. They track registered and unregistered land documents. They sold land information online (All Aboard LandTrack) to fund the equipment, and now return money to the state from this service. In 1995 they had a $3 million plus budget; now their budget is $19,000 less. But they process 200,000 more documents with fewer employees. His current computer system is a 17-year-old Wang system. A bond has been passed for technology in MA to update the 5 oldest registry systems. Middlesex is 4th in line for an update. They hope to get started at the end of this year. The registers of deeds hope that someday the legislature will allow them to rely on the imaging instead of books, and that they can have small fees for documents to offset some costs. A comment was made from the audience that we need a southwest recording office for Middlesex county. He responded that he will continue to work toward opening a satellite office.

MEMBERS ATTENDING: Susan Abrams, Steve Blesovsky, Debby Blumer, Pat Dunne, Linda Fields, Bill Haberman, Jerry Desilets, Esther Hopkins, Barbara Magovsky, Rene Mandel, Laura Medrano, Stephanie Mercandetti, Betty Muto, Chris Ross, Marilyn Safian, Joan Seariac, Norma Shulman, Alan Silver.

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS (and Others) ATTENDING: Randy Black, Maureen Dunne, Barbara Gray, Mathew Helman, Caroline Ray, Nancy Coville Wallace, Karen Spilka.

MINUTES: Accepted minutes of 5/19/02.

TREASURER’S REPORT:
Cash on hand 3/10      $2,043.48
Deposits (dues)                $75.00
Interest                            $15.39
Subtotal                        $2133.87
Caucus expenses            $591.40
Cash on hand 9/22        $1542.47
Eight or nine still owe dues for last year. The secretary will send notes reminding people of dues owed. Dues are $15 for members and $10 for associate members. Report accepted.

OLD BUSINESS:
Establishing a Framingham Town Committee website – Matt Helman
Matt passed out a sample page and cost information. Would be a one-source place for anyone to find us. Would have minutes, agendas, meeting information, links to other relevant sites. We have to choose between free, low cost, and moderate costs options. Do we want to have a free site with ads? And then just see how many hits we get. Matt received applause for his efforts. Jerry moved we buy our own domain name. Approved.
Take a look at  https://framinghamdems.org

NEW BUSINESS:
Coordinated campaign headquarters is at 860 Worcester Road, access via Granite Street. Open House next Sunday, 2 PM, 9/29.
Monday night 9/23 at 5:15, Coordinated Committee meeting at Richard’s café. Looking for help at the headquarters every night. Bring your calendars. In general, will be trying to keep office open from 10 AM to 9 PM. As of Wednesday, 9/25, office phone is 508-872-4376 (backup number is Debby’s cell phone 508-878-3060).
Planning an O’Brien fundraiser for October in Framingham.
Bill Clinton is coming to Boston on 10/10. Hillary is also going to be in the area sometime soon.
Metrowest Alliance meeting at Union House, 7:30, 9/30.
Susan Abrams moved to give the Coordinated Campaign $500. Approved.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Dues are due. ($15 for members; $10 for associate members.)
2002 meetings – Oct. 20, Nov. 17, Dec. holiday season, no meeting
1/12, Feb – caucus, 3/9, 4/6, 5/18, no meeting in June.
Links to the campaign websites are on Massdems and on our own website.
Decided to send letters congratulating all the candidates and inviting all to join in the coordinated campaign.

Stephanie introduced the speaker:
John Buonomo, Middlesex Register of Probate and Family Court
He was elected in a special election 2 years ago. The family court has an important responsibility to help with matters that effect families (wills, divorce, adoption, change of name, guardianship, protection in abuse situations). Many of the people coming to the court are in difficult situations, so the court needs to be responsive. The Register administers the court and the 128 staff. There have been 8 Registers in 11 years, leaving a situation of “benign neglect.” This administration started with having staff rotate as a greeter for the building. They held an orientation for all staff, and added signs for the courtrooms, bathrooms, etc., to make the court more user-friendly. He reported to us the many changes that have taken place since he took over the operations. You can also go to their new website to learn all you need to know about the probate and family court and get forms online: www.mcpfc.com.
Middlesex County has money that was approved for a building. Because of the changing demographics in the county, Waltham is a central location, and is looking for a site.
Courts in Concord, Marlboro, Lowell, have sessions; the main office is currently in East Cambridge.
He encouraged all to take an active role in supporting the Democratic ticket.

Norma Shulman, [email protected]

MEMBERS ATTENDING- Joan Seriac, Linda Fields, Stephanie Mercandetti, Barbara
Magovsky, Debby Blumer, Alan Silver, Donna Howland, Rob Meltzer, Lyn Safian,
Steve Blesofsky, Norma Shulman, Ruth Litter
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS ATTENDING- Rosalie Cotton, Mathew Helman, Barbara Gray,
John Howland

MINUTES AND TREASURER’S REPORT- Both reports were waived because the
secretary and the treasurer were not in attendance.

REPORT FROM THE HILL-Debbie Blumer reported that the House has passed the
budget and that it is now being sent to the Senate.

CONVENTION-Questions were asked about whether guests will be allowed, who
gives the official vote of each delegation to the convention, where the
alternates sit, who holds the list of alternates and the number of votes they received to ensure that they are chosen as replacements in the proper order. The answers to these questions will be researched and sent to the committee via e-mail.

WEBSITE-Matt Helman presented a sample page of a possible web site for the
Framingham Democratic Town Committee. He mentioned that there would be no
cost if we chose to let advertisements appear on the site. He also reviewed
the rates that it would cost if we chose to have no advertisements. Also
mentioned was the possibility of having a Metrowest Alliance web site with
links to the Framingham site and to other towns in the Sen. Magnani’s
district. A committee was formed to look into the issue. The committee will
consist of Mathew Helman, Linda Fields, Barbara Magovsky, Norma Shulman and
Steve Blesofsky.

VOTING LOCATIONS- Rob Meltzer again discussed his dismay at the location for
voting in his precinct. Esther Hopkins, selectman and town committee member,
was supposed to bring news of a meeting arrangement between the Board of
Selectmen and Rob’s group, but Esther was unable to attend. Stephanie
Mercandetti suggested that Rob bring up the issue during the 30 minute free
discussion that precedes Selectman’s meetings and that he request that the
issue become an agenda item.