2007 Events

October 16, 2007—was election day for the 5th U.S. Congressional District seat. Democrat Niki Tsongas was the winner of this race. We were pleased to see that she won in the Town of Shirley as well as the district.

There was a 29% voter turnout in Shirley. Following are the Shirley totals for the five candidates: Niki Tsongas, 556 Jim Ogonowski, 479 Kurt Hayes, 15 Patrick Murphy, 14 Kevin Thompson, 2 District-wide, Niki earned 54,363 votes to Ogonowski's 47,770 votes. The Democrats retain this seat and finally have a woman in the Massachusetts delegation! Niki heads to Washington immediately and hopes to be sworn in on time to vote to override the President's veto of the S-CHIP bill that will extend health coverage for children. That vote will take place on October 18.

Victory!!

John Oelfke, Patricia MacDonald, Michael Vine, and Betty Keddy hold signs at the polls for Niki on election day.

October 1, 2007—A Women for Niki fundraising event was held in Boston at the Commonwealth Hotel. Governor Deval Patrick and Attorney General Martha Coakley were the keynote speakers.

Senator Susan Tucker, Governor Deval Patrick, and Atty. General Martha Coakley spoke in support of Niki at the Women for Niki Tsongas event.	Niki Tsongas speaks to a crowded room of mostly women supporters at the Commonwealth Hotel in Boston, MA.

September 30, 2007—Former President Bill Clinton came to Lowell, MA, to support Niki Tsongas for U.S. Congress. This Democratic unity rally also featured Governor Deval Patrick and all of Niki's former opponents in the Democratic primary. The hall was packed with cheering Tsongas supporters. Here are some photos taken at the event:

Former President Bill Clinton listens intently as Niki Tsongas speaks. Notice that in the background is our own John Oelfke from Shirley, MA.	President Clinton greets Niki's supporters at the rally in the Lowell Memorial Auditorium.
President Bill Clinton explains the importance of this election to our country and urges everyone to work hard to see that Niki is victorious.	Leo Collins from Shirley attended the rally. Here he points to the name of his favorite candidate—Niki Tsongas!

September 13, 2007—The Shirley Democratic Town Committee met to discuss the most helpful ways to support Niki Tsongas in the upcoming race for Congress. Gus Bickford from Niki's campaign staff attended. He provided the members with lawn signs and strategy information. See Niki's web site for her positions on the issues and for ways you can help.

September 4, 2007—A special primary election was held to determine the Democratic and Republican candidates for U. S. Congress in the Fifth Congressional District. Although our State Representative, Jamie Eldridge, won in Shirley, the Democratic winner for the district was Niki Tsongas. Here are the results for the Democrats:

• Nicola Tsongas, 36%
• Eileen Donoghue, 31%
• James Eldridge, 14%
• Barry Feingold, 13%
• James Miceli, 6%

Niki Tsongas will face her main challenger, Republican Jim Ogonowki, in the general election on Tuesday, October 16, 2007. Three other candidates are running as well.

July 12 2007, 7 p.m., the Shirley Democratic Town Committee met in the Municipal Building at 7 Keady Way, to plan activities and discuss events for the special election for the U. S. House seat. State Committee person, Kate Donaghue spoke about the upcoming race and also the Democratic Convention that was held on May 19, 2007.

June 19, 2007—a lively Democratic candidates' debate was held at Devens Center. All five Democratic candidates running for the seat being vacated by Marty Meehan in the 5th U. S. Congressional District participated—Eileen Donaghue, James Eldridge, Barry Finegold, James Miceli, and Niki Tsongas. The Democratic primary for this race will be held on September 4, 2007.

June 2, 2007—Several candidates for U. S. Congress in the Fifth Middlesex District stopped by the Shirley Hoe Down on June 2, 2007. Shown in the following photos are Jamie Eldridge and Niki Tsongas. Candidates Eileen Donoghue, Barry Finegold, and James Miceli also stopped by to say hello.

Candidate Jamie Eldridge at the Shirley Democratic Town Committee booth (Betty Keddy and Charline Oelfke at table).	Candidate Niki Tsongas also stopped at the booth. John Oelfke, Chairperson of the Town Committee is at right.

March 25, 2007—The Middlesex & Worcester Democratic Coalition held a Democracy in Action breakfast at the Portuguese Social club in Hudson, MA. The headline speakers were John Walsh, the new Chairperson of the Massachusetts State Democratic Party, and U. S. Rep. James McGovern. Democratic Activist of the Year Awards were given to members of the coalition town committees who have shown dedication and commitment to the Democratic Party and to helping elect Democrats.

Several Democrats who are hoping to replace U.S. Rep. Marty Meehan in the 5th Congressional District spoke to the very large crow. They were State Rep. James Eldridge, State Rep. David O'Brien, Niki Tsongas, Barry Finegold, and Middlesex County Sheriff James DiPaola. This special election to replace Meehan, who is moving to academis (UMass Lowell), should be an exciting one.

From Shirley, Betty Keddy, Treasurer of the Shirley Democratic Town Committee, was the recipient of the Democratic Activist of the Year Award. Betty was also given citations from the Massachusetts Senate from Senator Pam Resor, and from the Massachusetts House of Representaives, from Rep. James Eldridge.

February 10, 2007—Registered Democrats in Shirley caucused on Saturday Feb. 10, 2007, at 1 p.m., in the Shirley Town Hall (Keady Way) to elect delegates and alternates to the 2007 Massachusetts Democratic Convention. At this convention, Democrats will discuss key issues for the upcoming year. The convention will be held on Saturday, May 19, 2007, at the Mullins Center at U Mass, Amherst, MA.

Shirley elected three delegates to go to the convention. Elected were John Oelfke, Charline Oelfke, and Frances Gray.