Swampscott Lands Two Delegates in National Democratic Convention

A huge turnout across the state marked last Saturday's events held by Massachusetts Democrats to elect delegates to this year’s Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, NC.  

Two of the Massachusetts delegates are from Swampscott, Ralph Edwards and Margaret A. Somer.
 
Convention delegates will cast their votes to officially nominate President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden for a second term and approve the Democratic Party platform.
 
Massachusetts delegates to the Democratic Nation Convention are selected in three ways: At this weekend’s caucuses, registered Democrats in each congressional district elected four men, four women and one alternate delegate. On May 5th, the Democratic State Committee will elect a slate of delegates to represent party leaders and elected officials. Finally, some Democrats are automatic delegates by virtue of holding leadership positions in party organizations or high elected office.
 
This year’s caucuses saw a huge turnout of grassroots Democrats enthusiastic to begin the process of electing Barack Obama to another term as President this November.
 
In Congressman John Tierney’s 6th congressional district, over 300 people came out to make their voices heard.
 
“The fact that so many Democrats here in Massachusetts are fired up about Barack Obama’s reelection is not surprising,” said Tierney, “The massive turnout in my district and throughout the state only confirms the fact that Massachusetts Democrats know that this country cannot afford to spend four years under the failed leadership of our former Governor, Mitt Romney, or even another two years under this extreme right-wing Republican Congress.”
 
In the 4th congressional district, about 200 Democrats came out to a caucus hosted by Newton Mayor Setti Warren. Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray, Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin, Treasurer Steve Grossman and congressional candidate Joe Kennedy III addressed the fired up Democrats.
 
“The enthusiasm in the air at this event was palpable,” said Mayor Warren, “We not only elected a set of committed delegates to represent Massachusetts in Charlotte this September, but we also began a process of getting our supporters excited and energized for the fall campaign and the hard work that must be undertaken to prepare for it in the months ahead.”
 
Massachusetts Democratic Party Chair John Walsh commended both the elected delegates and the elected officials who organized and lead the caucuses.
 
“We have elected an impressive and diverse group of delegates who I know will represent Massachusetts with great honor at the Convention this fall,” Walsh said.  “Thousands of fired-up  grassroots Democrats came out to participate in the delegate selection process because we know how important it is to reelect President Obama and we understand the hard work that lies ahead to keep the Commonwealth and our nation moving forward.”

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First District Delegates                                              Second District Delegates
Cindy Glazer, Longmeadow                                    Candy Mero Carlson, Worcester
Dori  L. Dean, Holyoke                                             Ellen Story, Amherst
Denise R. Jordan, Springfield                                Judy H. Brooks, Amherst
Sharon Ann Jewell, Chicopee                                 Kathleen Polanowicz, Northborough
E. Henry Twiggs, Springfield                                   Benjamin Ira Schwartz
Burt Freedman, Springfield                                     Joseph P. Carlson, Worcester
Edwand W. Collins, JR, Springfield                       David J. Narkewicz, Northampton
Anthony Soto, Holyoke                                              John P. Brissette, Worcester
Nancy Stenberg*, Southwick                                   John Mahoney*, N. Worcester
 
Third District Delegates                                            Fourth District Delegates
Faye L. Morrison, Ayer                                               Susan Heyman, Newton
Lisa A. Wong, Fitchburg                                            Jesse Mermell, Brookline
Gail E. Poulten, Chelmsford                                    Carmen Fields, Needham
Patricia Commane, Andover                                    Sharon Stout, Newton
Pavel M. Payano, Lawrence                                     Joseph Kaplan, Mansfield
Thomas J. McGrath, Pepperell                                Martin H. Heyman*, Newton
Samuel Poulten, Chelmsford                                  Randall J. Tatum, Mansfield
Curtis J. LeMay, Lowell                                             Sam Liao, Sharon
Suzzane LeMay*, Lowell                                           Paul Yorkis, Medway
 
Fifth District Delegates                                             Sixth District Delegates
Cathaleen L. Ashton, Wayland                                 Stella M. Pierce, Beverly       
Rhonda J. Bourne, Waltham                                     Marianne C. P. Rutter, Boxford
Nazda Alam, Weston                                                  Catherine Bayliss, Gloucester
Brigid Kennedy-Pfister, Arlington                              Margaret A. Somer
Joseph P. Caiazza, Stoneham                                   Louis D. Masiello, Salisbury
Russell A. Ashton, Wayland                                      Stanley J. Stepoy, Rowley
Dylan Hayre, Natick                                                     Tom Larkin, Bedford
Robert D. Peters, Lexington                                       Ralph Edwards, Swampscott
Melody L. Adams*, Malden                                         Donald M. Green*, Reading

Seventh District Delegates                                        Eighth District Delegates
Sandi E. Bagley, Boston                                             Susanne M. O’Neil, Quincy
Marie Nicole “Nikko” Mendoza, Mission Hill           Kathleen Manson, Walpole
Samantha Shusterman, Somerville                         Shaynah Barnes, Brockton
Mario Teran, Roslindale                                             Susan M. Kay, Weymouth
Charles C. Yancey, Boston                                         Michael W. Morrissey, Quincy
Felix Arroyo, Boston                                                     Ossie L. Jordan*, JR, Brockton
Tito Jackson, Dorchester                                           Joseph C. Sullivan, Braintree
Karen L. Payne, Roslindale                                      Ross Levanto, Boston
Amanda Jusino*, Boston                                         Jeffrey Sanchez, Jamaica Plain

Ninth District Delegates
Brenda J. Brathwaite, Oak Bluffs
Keri Thompson, Mashpee
Adrienne Wilkins, New Bedford
Mardee Xifaris, Marion
Leon A. Brathwaite II, Oak Bluffs
Ervin L. “Tootsie” Russell, E. Wareham
Steven M. Leibowitz, Brewster
David Holway, Edgartown
Jane Donahue*, Wareham

* Alternate Delegate