Hey! Somervillians! Let's talk about the Special Election.

[KarenInMA]

So Pat Jelhen is stalking me, because I forgot to unregister after the elections :cry: in Nov.

Mackey has gotten the endoresment of Shannon's widow. That makes for a nice headline, but means nothing to me.

Let's discuss.

And start by reading this guy's excellent review of the candidates:
http://bluemassgroup.typepad.com/blue_mass_group/2005/08/impressions_fro.html

[bottomofthehill]

1. When is/was the filing deaqdline for the race?

Is the field set?.. I thought Paul Casey State Representative from Winchester and good friend of Senator Shannon was going to get in the race.

[KarenInMA]

3. he is. mackey and jelhen are the only two Planned Parenthood

endorsed, so there the only two I'm considering. We can talk about casey too. He's a fiscall conservative, and I really appreciate that!

[Submariner]

2. Dilboy Field

is the neighborhood I grew up in, and I don't remember much Somerville voting. I thought they shot each other most of the time. I guess Somerville has tamed with time and the "Somerville Gates" notoriety.

[bottomofthehill]

6. I know Dilboy field well

Spent a lot of cold nights standing outside Johnny's Food-Master on Broadway and Alewife Brooke Parkway waiting for someone to buy beer for us so we could drink at the Field or the Brook. Sometimes I miss those cold nights but not too often. Miss Spent Youth, what fun.

[eury13]

4. The Field

Yes, the field has been set (filing deadline was last month).
- Pat Jehlen: state rep, Somerville
- Paul Casey: state rep, Winchester
- Mike Callahan: Governor's council
- Joe Mackey: Former state rep (1984-1990 I think), Somerville

I'm personally a Jehlen fan, and have done some volunteering for her campaign. (So that may have been me who called you Karen!) Casey's way too conservative for me socially (I can respect fiscal conservativism, but his position on gay marriage and other social issues is a turn-off).
Callahan just doesn't connect with me. He seems like he's stuck in the good ol' boy days of political back slapping and hasn't impressed me with any positions or ideas. Mackey seems decent, but hasn't been in office in 15 years. He strikes me as too out of touch and disconnected with the progressive community.

From what I've heard, Jehlen's the front-runner, though it's still competitive. Callahan and Mackey keep leap-frogging 2nd and Casey's taking up the rear. As far as endorsements go, I think the ones that matter will be the ones who provide manpower on election day. Turnout's going to be low and no one's going to show up based solely on name recognition. It'll be about who has the organization to get their voters to the polls, and in that regard I definitely think Jehlen has the advantage.

[TaleWgnDg]

10. kick

[TaleWgnDg]

5. Democracy for America endorses Patricia Jehlen . . .

.

Democracy for America endorses Patricia Jehlen . . .

What is Democracy for America? Who chairs Democracy for America?

"James H. Dean, Chairman . . . As the chair of Democracy for America (DFA), Jim Dean is committed to carrying on what his brother, Governor Howard Dean, started - strengthening grassroots participation; and the recruitment and election of fiscally responsible and socially progressive candidates to all levels of government. This is a long-term investment that will pay off if we are willing to stand up for what we believe in and support candidates at every level of political office."

. . . more at http://www.democracyforamerica.com/about.php

I received an email from Democracy for America in which they've endorsed Massachusetts State Representative Patricia Jehlen (Democrat) for the Second Middlesex State Senate District: MEDFORD (all); SOMERVILLE Ward 1, Precincts 2, 3, and Ward 2, Precincts 2, 3, and Wards 3, 4, 5, 6, 7; WINCHESTER (all); WOBURN, Ward 2.

The Massachusetts Special Election primary will be held on August 30, 2005, and the general election will be held on September 25, 2005. This special election is being held due to a vacant seat as a result of the death of Massachusetts state Senator Charles E. Shannon, Jr. (Democrat).

Other endorsements of Pat Jehlen include (keep checking for updates):

Groups
Boston Teachers Union
Cambridge-Area Democracy For America
Citizens for Participation in Political Action (CPPAX)
Clean Water Action
Coalition for Social Justice
Commonwealth Coalition
Democracy for America
Freedom to Marry Coalition of Massachusetts
GALLAN (Gay and Lesbian Labor Activists Network)/PAW/AFL-CIO
GREY2K USA
Humane USA Massachusetts
Mass. Clean Water Action Vote Environment
MassEquality
Mass Federation of Teachers
Mass NOW
Massachusetts Nurses Association
Massachusetts Organization of State Engineers and Scientists
Massachusetts Peace Action
Massachusetts Teachers Association
Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus
NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts
National Association of Social Workers/MA PACE
Neighbor to Neighbor
OutSomerville
Progressive Democrats of Massachusetts
Progressive Democrats of Somerville
SEIU Local 3, National Conference of Firemen & Oilers
SEIU Local 509
SEIU Local 615
SEIU Local 2020
Sierra Club
Somerville Teachers Association
UNITE HERE
UAW Region 9A

Individuals
Robert Reich, former U.S. Labor Secretary
Congressman Barney Frank
Sen. Harriette Chandler
Sen. Susan Fargo
Sen. Pamela Resor
Sen. Susan Tucker
Rep. Ruth Balser
Rep. Deborah Blumer
Rep. Tony Cabral
Former Rep. Paul Demakis
Former Rep. Carol Donovan
Rep. Gloria Fox
Rep. Anne Gobi
Rep. Jay Kaufman
Rep. Kay Khan
Rep. Steve Kulik
Rep. David Linsky
Rep. Barbara L'Italien
Rep. Liz Malia
Rep. Jim Marzilli
Rep. Anne Paulsen
Rep. Doug Petersen
Rep. Byron Rushing
Rep. Tom Sannicandro
Rep. Carl Sciortino
Rep. Ellen Story
Rep. Frank Smizik
Rep. Bill Straus
Rep. Pat Walrath
Rep. Marty Walz

"Pat Jehlen is the kind of principled, progressive Democrat we need in the State Senate."
- Robert Reich, former U.S. Secretary of Labor

"As Chair of PDS, people often ask me to define ‘Progressive’. I might do well to answer them with two words - ‘Pat Jehlen’."
- Kate Wallace, Chair of The Progressive Democrats of Somerville

[KarenInMA]

7. Globe endorses Makey

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2005/08/22/mackey_for_state_senate/

[TaleWgnDg]

8. Hhhhhhmmmmm. Interesting, however,

Hhhhhhmmmmm. Interesting, however, the Boston Globe's been off-base in the past regarding its editorial endorsements of candidates. I'll stand up for Patricia Jehlen along side progressives Robert Reich who is the former U.S. Secretary of Labor and past Massachusetts candidate for governor, and Howard Dean's "Democracy for America" in their endorsement of Jehlen for the 2nd Mdsx (state) Senate District.

Thanks for the heads-up, KarenInMa.


VOTE FOR JEHLEN ON AUGUST 30th (special election)


____________________________________________

edited to add: Here's Jehlen's "issues and priorities" as stated on her website, http://www.patjehlen.org/issues.shtml and here's "about Pat" from her website, http://www.patjehlen.org/about.shtml

.

[TaleWgnDg]

9. Here's the latest from Dean's "Democracy for America" . . .

.
What is Democracy for America? Who chairs Democracy for America?

"James H. Dean, Chairman . . . As the chair of Democracy for America (DFA), Jim Dean is committed to carrying on what his brother, Governor Howard Dean, started - strengthening grassroots participation; and the recruitment and election of fiscally responsible and socially progressive candidates to all levels of government. This is a long-term investment that will pay off if we are willing to stand up for what we believe in and support candidates at every level of political office."

I received this (below) email from Dean's Democracy for America:

Dear (voter,)

On Tuesday (August 30, 2005), the voters of the 2nd Middlesex District will choose their next State Senator -- and that candidate should be Pat Jehlen.

http://www.patjehlen.org/

Pat Jehlen is running an exciting grassroots campaign to bring a progressive voice to the state senate. She has been endorsed by Democracy for America, the Massachusetts Teachers Association, Freedom to Marry Coalition of Massachusetts, MassEquality, NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts, and many others.

But she needs your help to take the final step this Tuesday. Face to face contact is the best way to persuade voters and make sure that they turn out on Election Day.

Please join DFA Chair Jim Dean to go door-to-door and talk to undecided voters this weekend for the final push to get-out-the-vote for Pat Jehlen!

When: Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday
12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
(Jim Dean will be there on Sunday.)

Where: Davis Square Campaign Office
240 Elm Street, Suite B1
Somerville, MA 02144
617-628-1990

For more information about volunteering, please contact Progressive Democrats of Somerville organizer Karen Gardner at [e-mail]. If you live in Somerville, Medford, Winchester, or Woburn -- please remember to vote on Tuesday! You can find your polling place at:

http://www.patjehlen.org/polling.shtml

Sincerely,

Chris Warshaw
Political Director
Democracy for America

.

[woosh]

11. Don't foget to vote today!

[TaleWgnDg]

12. Indeed the 2nd Middlesex DID vote for Jehlen. JEHLEN WINS!

.

Jehlen wins the primary election on Tuesday, August 30, 2005! Congratulations to Jehlen and all her workers and volunteers! Now, on to the general election . . .

You go, Patricia Jehlen, you go!

.