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PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY
Join the caucus
BY SETH GITELL

Which candidates get on the Democratic ballot for governor will be determined in large part at the state Democratic caucuses, which are being held early next month. At the caucuses, six Democratic candidates for governor — Senate president Tom Birmingham, Secretary of State William Galvin, former Democratic National Committee chair Steve Grossman, Treasurer Shannon O’Brien, former secretary of labor Robert Reich, and former state senator Warren Tolman — will vie for almost 4000 delegates and 2792 alternates. Does this seem to you like an obscure, esoteric ritual, open only to political initiates? No need: here are four W’s on how to get involved.

WHO can participate? The Democratic caucuses are open to any registered Democrat. Voters can switch party affiliation — or go from unenrolled to enrolled — as late as February 1, at the clerk’s office of their city or town. Newly registered Democrats should be sure to bring proof of their party affiliation — usually a photocopy of their registration form — to the site of the caucus.

WHAT will be happening? Democratic activists gather to elect a slate of delegates to attend the state convention, which takes place May 31 through June 1. Voters can run as delegates themselves, or they can go to support the candidacies of friends. They can even arrive en masse without ever having participated in party activities previously — so long as their friends live in the same ward and are registered Democrats.

WHERE? The caucuses are held at locations throughout the state. The Massachusetts Democratic Party provides a list of caucus locations updated nightly at http://www.massdems.org/body/Caucus1.htm. Voters can find out which ward they live in at http://www.secstate.isaka.net/magov/search_form.php or by calling the clerk’s office of their city or town. Here is a list of a few of the caucus locations in our area. Make sure to check the Web site — or call the Democratic Party at (617) 472-0637 — if you don’t see your location listed.

Boston

South End/Fenway (Ward 4) — South End Branch Library, February 2, 10:30 a.m.

Back Bay/Beacon Hill (Ward 5) — Community Church of Boston, February 2, 2 p.m.

Jamaica Plain (Ward 10) — Parks Community Building, February 2, 10 a.m.

Allston-Brighton (Ward 21) — District 14 Police Station, February 2, time unknown.

Brookline — Devotion School Cafeteria, February 2, 2 p.m.

Cambridge

Ward 3 — Cambridge Youth Center, February 2, 2 p.m.

Ward 7 — Agassiz School Auditorium, February 2, 2 p.m.

Ward 8 — Peabody School, February 2, 2 p.m.

WHY? Remember, in Massachusetts the rule is that candidates need the support of 15 percent of delegates at their party’s nominating convention to be listed on the ballot for the primary. Without that 15 percent, voters won’t have the opportunity to vote for a given candidate — no matter how high his or her popularity ratings or how much money he or she has raised. Whoever said that voter participation doesn’t count?

Issue Date: January 24 - 31, 2002
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