December 8, 2009, Special Primary Election for the U. S. Senatorial seat vacated by Ted Kennedy. Here are the Shirley results for the Democrats:
Michael E. Capuano 135
Martha Coakley 328
Alan A. Khazei 66
Stephen G. Pagliuca 82
The Democratic winner Martha Coakley faces the Republican winner Scott Brown in the general election for the seat on January 19, 2010. A Coakley win means that Massachusetts will have its first woman U. S. Senator.
August 25, 2009. Senator Edward M. (Ted) Kennedy dies, leaving an enormous legacy of good work and legislation that helped the people of Massachusetts.
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Senator Edward M. Kennedy |
June 24, 2009—The Shirley Democratic Town Committee met and elected new officers. The officers are:
Tom Corbett, Chairperson
Bonnie Jo Collins, Secretary
Elizabeth Keddy, Treasurer
John Oefke and Marian Stronach-Cardillo were thanked by the committee for their service as Chairperson and Secretary respectively. Sue Kennedy, State Committeewoman, presented John with flowers in recognition of his many years of hard work as chair. Members who had attended the recent state convention shared their experiences. The Shirley Goes Green initiative was also discussed.
June 5 and 6, 2009—the Massachusetts Democratic State Convention was held at Springfield Arena in Springfield, MA. Delegates from Shirley, Bonnie Jo Collins, Tom Corbett, Mary Ellen Owen, and John Oelfke attended.
April 26, 2009—The M & W Democratic Coalition held its Annual Breakfast at the Portuguese Club in Hudson, MA, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. John Oelfke from Shirley was given the Democratic Activitist of the Year award at the breakfast. The keynote speaker at the breakfast was U. S. Congressman, Jim McGovern. Former Governor Michael Dukakis also spoke. State Committee woman, Kate Donaghue was the special honored Democrat of the year at that event. Past Democratic Activists of the Year from Shirley are Bonnie Jo and Leo Collins (2008) and Betty Keddy (2007).
January 31, 2009 , the Shirley Democratic Town Committee held a caucus at the Shirley Town Library to elect delegates to the 2009 MA Democratic Convention. Elected delegates from Shirley are Bonnie Jo Collins, Tom Corbett, and Mary Ellen Owen. Chairperson, John Oelfke, is an ex-officio delegate. At the convention, Democrats will endorse the state committee platform and discuss key issues for the upcoming year. The convention will be held on June 5, and 6, 2009, at the Springfield Arena in Springfield, MA.
After the caucus, the new State Senator for Shirley, Jamie Eldridge, and the new State Representative for Shirley, Jen Benson, spoke to the committee about work they are doing at the State House and important constituent issues they are addressing.