Shirley Democratic Town Committee
Upcoming 2010 Events
August 25, 2010. The Shirley Democratic Town Committee will meet at 6:30 p.m., at the Town Office Building.
Past 2010 Events
June 30, 2010. The Shirley Democratic Town Committee met at the Town Offices. Chairman Chip Guercio shared his experiences as a delegate at the recent state convention. Guests included Amy Burke, Campaign Manager for Jen Benson's campaign, Patrick Burgwinkle, Campaign Manager, for Jamie Eldridge's campaign and State Committee woman, Kate Donaghue. Both Amy and Patrick mentioned upcoming parades on July 3rd and invited people to join with their candidates, and they shared ways that volunteers can help with door-to-door canvassing and phone calling. Kate encouraged everyone to sign a pledge card for Governor Deval Patrick. The committee discussed the survey of members. Betty Keddy has received surveys from approximately half of the members. She will call those who haven't sent back their completed surveys.
June 12, 2010. A fundraiser for Jen Benson was held in Harvard, MA, sponsored by the Harvard Democratic Town Committee.
June 6, 2010. Representative Jen Benson held a family lawn party and cookout in Lunenburg, MA.
June 4 and 5, 2010. Massachusetts Democratic Nominating Convention at the Worcester Centrum. Delegates from Shirley who were elected at the February caucus attended this convention. First time delegate from Shirley, Kendra Kratkiewicz, provided this account of her experiences at the convention:
"Delegates received a convention guide and credentials (a badge to wear around one's neck) in the mail beforehand, and gained entry to the hall by presenting the credentials along with a photo ID. Imprinted convention canvas bags were handed out upon entry. Security was low; bags did not seem to be limited or inspected, which allowed me to bring my own food. Food was available for purchase in the halls outside the main arena. A printed map hand-out helped delegates find their designated seating areas based on the district printed on their badges (Middlesex and Worcester in my case). Our district occupied a prime location up near the front and to the left side of the stage. Large screens positioned behind the speakers and hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the arena provided excellent viewing. Within minutes of locating our section, I found myself signing up to become a volunteer organizer for the Patrick/Murray re-election campaign and acquiring the popular green t-shirt advertising the fact.
On Friday evening some of the candidates for uncontested offices were presented, such as William Galvin (Secretary of the Commonwealth), and Martha Coakley (Attorney General). This was followed by a tribute to outgoing State Auditor Joe DeNucci, during which many of candidates spoke, along with Congressman Barney Frank. The remainder of the uncontested offices were presented on Saturday morning (Tim Murray and Deval Patrick for Lieutenant Governor and Governor, respectively), along with all the candidates for contested offices. Campaign representatives were busy running about passing out stickers, flashing buttons, and campaign signs to wave in a show of support for the various candidates. We heard from Steve Grossman and Steve Murphy running for Treasurer, along with Suzanne Bump, Guy Glodis, and Mike Lake running for Auditor. It was quite exciting and sometimes moving to see and hear the candidates speak in person, especially Deval Patrick, who is such a dynamic and inspirational speaker. It was also fun to gauge the reaction of the audience and try to predict the voting outcomes. An unusual incident occurred during Steve Grossman's speech, wherein a female delegate on the floor had to be removed by security officers after refusing to get down off her chair and stop blowing her whistle and shouting at him.
After all the candidates had spoken, the official teller in each seating section visited the delegates town-by-town to record their votes. While the votes were being counted, the delegates were treated to a tribute and giving of thanks to the late Senator Ted Kennedy. Speakers included Deval Patrick, Senator John Kerry, and Ted's wife Vicki, among others.
Despite the earlier protest of the whistle-blowing delegate, Steve Grossman handily won the majority of votes for Treasurer, along with official party endorsement. However, Steve Murphy obtained the required 15% of the votes in order to appear on the primary ballot in September as well. The votes for Auditor were more evenly split, with Suzanne Bump edging out Guy Glodis by less than twenty votes, and Mike Lake in last, but respectable, position. Although none of the candidates for Auditor won the majority needed for party endorsement, all three earned enough to appear on the primary ballot in September, and declined to call for a second round of voting."May 29, 2010. Senator Jamie Eldridge and Representative Jen Benson came to Shirley for the official opening of the Obadiah Ice Cream Parlor at the Bull Run Restaurant. Later that afternoon, Jamie and his staffers went door-to-door to meet his constituents and listen to their concerns. Here are some photos.
Shirley Dem TC Chair, Chip Guercio, his sister, and others at the Bull Run join Jamie and Jen for the ribbon cutting at the Obadiah Ice Cream Parlor.
Newly elected Shirley Selectman, Dave Swain, celebrates the opening with his wife Dory and their son.
State Representative Jen Benson and her family enjoy some delicious Obadiah ice cream.
State Senator Jamie Eldridge, his staffer Anthony, and Dem TC members Betty Keddy and Leo and Bonnie Jo Collins at Whitley Park just before the door-to-door canvassing.
May 26, 2010. The Shirley Democratic Town Committee met at the Town Office building and discussed the upcoming Democratic Convention and the campaigns for the various Democratic candidates who are hoping to win enough delegates at the convention (at least 15 percent) so that their names will appear on the ballot for the Democratic primary election in September. Representatives from Niki Tsongas's campaign and Senator Jamie Eldridge's campaign spoke about the challenges their candidates face and how people on the committee can help. Members completed a survey form on how they will help candidates in this busy election year. The survey will be sent by e-mail to members who did not attend and by regular mail to members who do not have e-mail.
May 23, 2010. Several members of the Shirley Democratic Town Committee attended the Community Meeting with Governor Deval Patrick and Lt. Governor Tim Murray at the Holiday Inn in Boxborough, MA. Our town committee co-sponsored this event with the other Democratic committees in the towns represented by State Senator Jamie Eldridge and State Representative Jen Benson.
May 15, 2010. A House Party for Niki Tsongas for U. S. Congress was held at the amazing home of Marcia and Jim Croyle in Harvard, MA. Their unique home features an unusual art collection and a spectacular garden. Here are some photos taken at the very successful gathering:
Niki discusses prison sentencing, health care reform, Afghanistan, and other issues with her friends.
View from dining room window to deck and gardens.
Two of the event organizers, Francie Nolde of Boxborough and State Representative Jen Benson of Lunenburg.
Jim O'Brien of Lowell, U. S. Representative Tsongas, and Betty Keddy of Shirley listen intently to one of Niki's constituents.May 11, 2010. Shirley Town Election. Congratulations to committee members Dave Swain and Joyce Reischutz on their victories!
April 30, 2010. Meet the Candidates event in Littleton, MA. sponsored by the Littleton Democratic Town Committee. This event featured candidate for State Treasurer, Steve Grossman, and candidate for State Auditor, Mike Lake.
April 27, 2010. A debate was held for candidates who are running for local offices in the Town of Shirley at the Shirley Middle School Auditorium. The debate was sponsored by The Shirley Volunteer.
April 11, 2010. Several members of the Shirley Democratic Town Committee attended the annual M & W Democratic Coalition breakfast that was held at the Portuguese Club in Hudson, MA. The keynote speaker was Lt. Gov. Tim Murray who gave an inspiring address about this year's upcoming campaign for Governor and Lieutenant Governor. Grace Ross, who is challenging Deval Patrick for the Governor's seat, also spoke to the crowd. Other speakers included Attorney General Martha Coakley and Suzanne Bump, who is running for State Auditor. At the event Joyce Reischutz was given the Democratic Activist of the Year Award for Shirley, MA. Joyce has been an active supporter of Democratic candidates for many years, most recently serving as town campaign manager for Senator Eldridge in 2008. She has also been an active community volunteer in many other ways. Here are some photos taken at the event:
Shirley Dem TC Chair, Chip Guercio, gives Joyce Reischutz the award. State Senator Jamie Eldridge and State Rep. Jen Benson look on.
Joyce Reischutz displays her award--a citation from the Massachusetts State Senate--proclaiming her "Activist of the Year" for Shirley, MA.
Our beautiful and intelligent State Representative Jen Benson stops by the Shirley table to say hello.
Shirley Democratic Town Committee Chairman, Chip Guercio, chats with Attorney General Martha Coakley.The Democratic Activist of the Year Award is given each year to an outstanding Democrat in each of the communities in Senator Eldridge's district, which encompasses towns in both the Middlesex and Worcester Counties. Past Democratic Activitists of the Year are John Oelfke (2009), Bonnie Jo and Leo Collins (2008), and Betty Keddy (2007).
March 25, 2010, the Shirley Democratic Town Committee met at the Town Office Building in Shirley, MA. The committee voted to name member Joyce Reischutz as Shirley Democratic Activist of the Year. The award will be presented to Joyce at the M & W Democratic Coalition breakfast which will be held on April 11. Guests at the meeting included Representative Jen Benson and State Committeewoman, Sue Kennedy. Jen spoke about her upcoming campaign and the issues that she has worked on during her tenure as our State Rep. See Jen's web site for ways you can become involved in her campaign. Sue is the Chair of the M & W Democratic Coalition and spoke about the upcoming breakfast on April 11. The committee members decided to hold regular meetings once a month on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Chairman, Chip Guercio is planning to contact other Democratic Town Committee Chairs to plan a regional meeting for Democratic candidates. He is targeting the beginning of May for that event.
February 20, 2010. The Shirley Democratic Town Committee met at 11:30 a.m. to take care of some committee business. At this meeting the members elected the following officers:
- Leonardo "Chip" Guercio, Chairman
- Bonnie Jo Collins, Secretary
- Elizabeth Keddy, Treasurer
They will each serve a two-year term. Guests at the meeting included State Committee Representative, Kate Donaghue; State Representative, Jen Benson; and State Senator Jamie Eldridge. They each addressed the group and spoke of the work ahead for everyone in electing Democrats in 2010. They also collected signatures on nomination papers for various candidates.
After adjourning the business meeting, Chairman Chip Guercio opened the Shirley Democratic caucus at 12:25 p.m. At the caucus, Shirley Democrats present at the caucus elected delegates who will attend the Masschusetts Democratic Nominating Convention, which will be held at the DCU Center in Worcester on June 4 and 5, 2010. The following people are the elected delegates:
- Leonard "Chip" Guercio, Ex-officio Delegate
- John Oelfke, Delegate
- Bonnie Jo Collins, Delegate
- Charline Oelfke, Delegate
- Robert Huxley, Alternate Delegate
- Kendra Kratkiewicz, Alternate Delegate
State Committee Representative, Jim McGowan and M & W Democrats Chairperson, Sue Kennedy, arrived near the end of the caucus. They also had nomination papers and collected signatures. The board members will meet in early March to plan the next Town Committee meeting.
January 19, 2010. Although Democrat Martha Coakley had a comfortable lead for many weeks, Republican Scott Brown campaigned well and narrowed that lead, eventually winning the election (52% to 47%). Here are results for Shirley, MA:
Scott Brown 1525
Martha Coakley 868Scott Brown will complete the two years left in Ted Kennedy's term and will face a Democratic challenger again at that time.
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