A Democratic wave at the Arlington caucus in Town Hall Feb. 10. / Stephanie Swanson photo UPDATED, Feb. 11: A crowd of nearly 160 in Town Hall Auditorium on Saturday, Feb. 10 elected 36 delegates to the 2018 state Democratic Convention.
Almost one-third were newcomers to local Democratic politics, and 20 voters changed their registration to Democratic to participate in the caucus.
Elected as delegates were Carole Allen, Thomas Allen, Robert Ames, Robin Bergman, Lynn Bishop, Shane Blundell, Colin Bunnell, Eric Chung, Stuart Cleinman, Maureen Crewe, Mary Cummings, Joseph Curro, Christopher Dimeo, Susan Doctrow, Anne Ehlert, Catherine Farrell, William Gardiner, Jeffrey Goldberg-Zieger, Mel Goldsipe, Amy Goldstein, Irwin Grossman, Sharon Grossman, Camilla Haase, Adele Kraus, June Lipton, Jeffrey Maxtutis, Thomas Michelman, John Page, Judson Pierce, Jennifer Roderick, Paul Schlichtman, David Swanson, Stephanie Swanson, Rieko Tanaka, Robert Tosi and Sandra Vorce.
Alternates are Arthur Goldsipe, Laura Kiesel, Lisa Pedulla, Arthur Prokosch, Susan Stamps and Jordan Weinstein.
Aimee Coolidge, chair of the Arlington Democrats, will serve as an ex-officio delegate. Other Arlingtonians serving as ex-officio delegates are Patricia Deal, Heather Fowles and James DiTullio, all of whom serve on the Democratic State Committee, as well as state Rep. Sean Garballey and state Sen. Cindy Friedman. All attended the caucus except Heather Fowles, who was down with the flu.
Coolidge cordially welcomed the newcomers and new registrants and encouraged them to stay involved.
Several candidates for office came to meet caucus attendees, as did current officeholders Congresswoman Katherine Clark and state Treasurer Deb Goldberg.
Well-organized, committed supporters of both Jay Gonzalez and Bob Massie for governor ran slates of candidates for delegate. The Gonzalez supporters had a slight majority and elected most of the delegates.
The convention is set for Saturday, June 2, t the DCU Center, Worcester. Democrats from across the state will gather to endorse candidates for the September primary election.
The caucus was open to all Democrats who are registered in Arlington as of the day of the caucus, or who are preregistered and will be 18 on or before Sept. 18, 2018. The Arlington Democratic Town Committee welcomes participants. At the caucus, you can register (with proof of address) or change your party registration to Democrat.
Delegates were be divided equally between men and women, and all ballots will be written and secret. The caucus elected 18 male delegates, 18 female delegates, three male alternates and three female alternates. You must be present at the caucus to be elected.
Youth, minorities and people with disabilities who are not elected as delegates or alternates could apply to be "add-on" delegates.
For more information about the caucus or the Arlington Democratic Town Committee, contact Aimee Coolidge at 781-646-5339 or visit www.arlingtondems.org and facebook.com/adtcma.
For general information about the Convention or the Democratic Party, call 617-939-0800 or email contact[@]massdems.org. Details on the caucus rules can be found at www.massdems.org.
Globe, Feb. 2: Caucuses launch political testing ground for 2018 statewide
This news announcement was published Friday, Jan. 19, 2018, and updated as a news summary Feb. 11.
