This past Saturday, June 2nd, Democrats from across Massachusetts gathered at the MassMutual Center in Springfield for our annual state convention. Thirty of the roughly 4,500 delegates in attendance represented Boston’s Ward 5 (includes all or parts of Beacon Hill, Bay Village, Back Bay, Kenmore Square, and Fenway). We listened to speeches by many statewide officers, including State Treasurer Steve Grossman, who channeled his inner F.D.R. by saying that “the test of our progress is not whether we add more to…those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have little.” We also heard Governor Deval Patrick give one of his best speeches, calling on us as citizens and Americans to turn toward each other, rather than on each other, during these times of economic uncertainty.
The spotlight of the convention was definitely on Elizabeth Warren, who received nearly 96% of the delegate votes to earn the Democratic nomination for United State Senate. She will face incumbent Senator Scott Brown on November 6th’s Presidential election ballot. Recent polls have shown the race a virtual tie.
On a personal level, a friend of mine who was recently elected a member of the Boston Ward 5 Democratic Committee sent the following email to her friends after returning home from Saturday’s convention (she was a delegate):
“It [the convention] was an amazing experience and great to be a part the democratic process as a delegate from Ward 5. My grandfather came over from Sweden when he was 15 years old, played soccer in NYC for money and taught himself how to speak English. He was so proud to be able to vote and exercise his citizenship. Yesterday, my Dad called to tell me how proud of me he was and that if my grandfather were alive today, he would have been so proud.
Regardless of what your beliefs are, please vote! Each vote matters.”
I’ll echo my friend’s request by saying how important it is to express our collective values as Americans and urge everybody to vote on November 6th!
Sincerely,
Joshua L. Dawson
Chairman, Boston Ward 5 Democratic Committee
