Minutes – Democratic Town Committee – September 14, 2003

Minutes – Democratic Town Committee – September 14, 2003

Called to order 7:11 PM.
MEMBERS ATTENDING: Susan Abrams, Steve Blesofsky, Linda Fields, Bill Haberman, Esther Hopkins, Donna Howland, Ruth Litter, Barbara Magovsky, Stephanie Mercandetti, Lyn Safian, Norma Shulman, Alan Silver.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS ATTENDING: Robert Edwards, Barbara Gray, Mathew Helman, Terrene Micciche, Caroline Ray, Parwez Wahid, Nancy Coville Wallace.
OTHERS SIGNED IN: Randy Black, Joan Rastani

MINUTES (Norma Shulman): May 4 minutes approved. Norma suggested a “buddy-system” to notify non-email members of news and information between mailings. Steve offered to help by calling the 5-6 members without email when that is needed.

TREASURER’S REPORT (Bill Haberman):
Approved treasurer’s report.
Cash on hand 5/4/03    $673.12
Deposits (dues)    $35.00
Subtotal     $708.12
Expenses (meeting room)    $30.00
Expenses (postage)    $37.00
Cash on hand 9/14/03    $641.12
There are still a few who have not paid dues for last year. The year runs from September through August, so dues are now payable for 2003-200.

ANNOUNCEMENTS (Steve Blesofsky):

  • Steve had the roster for the Democratic Town Committee ballot for the 2004 primary election. We had a discussion of how to fill the slots. People present may sign the papers to show interest. A question was raised of whether there may be more interested than the 35 slots (17 men/17 women/1 either) was raised. Alan suggested we have members who want to be re-elected sign the forms and associate members who are interested indicate that on a separate list. Ruth Litter and Mary Murphy are now lifetime members and do not each need one of the 35 slots. To arrange to sign, please contact Steve Blesofsky ([email protected]) or be sure to attend the 10/19 meeting.
  • Lyn Safian had her papers for State Committee and requested signatures.
  • Bob Edwards brought information about brain injury and the association, and had pamphlets to hand out. [Facts About Concussion and Brain Injury from the Brain Injury Association, www.biausa.org; information on injury prevention from the CDC, www.cdc.gov/ncipc/tbi; and flyer from the MA Brain Injury Association, 800-242-0030]
  • Alan Silver had information about activity on reversing the MA budget cuts. This may mean reversing tax cuts. There is a coalition of organization called Stop the Cuts. Karen Spilka is holding a district meeting on this topic – Wed., Sept 24 – to show there is support, 5 PM, MetroWest Center for Independent Living, 280 Irving Street. Barbara Gray mentioned that the Governor is threatening many more social service cuts. Alan would like the DTC to go on record supporting a reversal of budget cuts to social services, education, and aid to cities and towns – moved as a resolution to encourage our two representatives and senator to support legislation that would reverse these budget cuts for social services, education, aid to cities and towns, and the funds to pay for this be derived from whatever sources are available, including but not limited to an increase in taxes. 12 members in favor, none opposed. 7 associate members in favor, 1 opposed. In addition we discussed whether we could specify that this is supported even if there are reversal of cuts. The question was raised about whether a reversal of tax cuts could be dedicated to these services. Donna mentioned that in addition to tax cut reversal there is also gaming before the legislature, so perhaps we could support budget cut reversal without specifying where the money would come from. We need to be careful about the process of such a vote from this committee. Concern was expressed about our taking such a vote without prior notice to the members.
  • Mark Gallagher from Congressman Markey’s office is visiting committees to offer their services, 781-391-5004 (campaign office) and 508-875-2900 (district office). He was encouraged by the interest in having the Congressman hold more district meetings like the one in Natick (next 10/19, 2-4, Framingham Public Library). Markey and Meehan will be at Senator Magnani’s breakfast meeting. Congressman Markey is looking for email addresses for his contact list – please let them know yours at [email protected].
  • Center for Women in Politics is holding a conference at UMass Boston. The New England Women’s Political Summit is on 10/26-27; $50 now, $60 in October. Get the details from Stephanie Mercandetti or on www.mccormack.umb.edu/cwppp.
  • A Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee meeting is planned for 9/26 at the Sheraton.
  • Esther Hopkins has information about Emily’s list. Contact her directly for more details.
  • Mat announced the first meeting of MetroWest Young Democrats this week at Morse Library in Natick. Information about this is on our website, www.framinghamdems.org.
  • Article 11 for the 10/7 Town Meeting is a Baby Safe Haven home rule petition for Framingham. For more information, contact Norma Shulman ([email protected]).
  • In the future, let’s bring resolutions forward in one meeting for voting in the next.

PROGRAM:
DISCLAIMER: These notes of the program are snippets of what was said. The numbers and other facts are as accurate as I could get while trying to capture as many of the points as possible. This is not intended as a transcript – only as an attempt to share the general discussion for those who missed it.

Speaker: Jim Henderson from the Mass Fair Vote Organization: Instant Run-Off Voting.
Democracy to him is the rule of the majority. Yet our voting system is a plurality system, where the candidate with the most votes wins. Instant run-off voting provides a run off at the same time as the general election. You rank the candidates in order of your preference. He will show us with a mock IRV election.
What are the benefits of IRV?
1. One thing in the action agenda of the Convention in Lowell was this is a way to get more people interested in the election process (they have more choices available to them).
2. It promotes positive campaigning. Candidates are not only looking for the #1 votes, but also the 2nd and 3rd choices.
3. It addresses the concept of spoiled or splitting votes (for example, the Nader votes in FL). The democratic nominee for MA Governor got less than 1/3 of the votes in the primary. And CA might elect a Governor with 25% of the votes.
4. Issue of wasted votes – your vote shouldn’t be considered wasted if you don’t vote for the major candidates.
There are 3 bills being heard by the elections laws committee this Thursday. You could call your reps and senator and express your opinion and ask them to testify. You could also check out the members of the election laws committee online, and contact them.
2784 – IRV for the 6 MA constitutional offices general election
2785 – IRV in place for the primary
2952 – IRV for Congressional elections

Discussion:
Bill – this might work well for Framingham, too.
How would the optical reader work? Ballot design can handle it.
Alan – parts of Europe does this. Two out of the last three presidential elections have been decided by 3rd party candidates.
Linda – is it misnamed? Other places called it preferential voting.
Jim demonstrated how this would work with a mock ballot that we used for voting for the best Red Sox Player. Each round of counting the ballots you eliminate the lowest vote-getter and distribute his next place votes. You don’t have to vote for anyone you don’t want to support.
San Francisco has IRV in place for city elections starting in 2004. Cambridge uses a form of this for City Council. No state uses it yet.
Proportional representation is another form of voting but does not apply to a single-seat office.
This system allows the third party voices to be heard.
How does the leadership feel about this?
Is there a cost associated with it? We are going to more computer-driven systems, so then it is a matter of changing the software.
He had pamphlets and website: www.massirv.org – [email protected]

Adjourned at 8:56 PM.