State Rep. Jack Lewis: Framingham Democrats should vote Group 1 at March 5 primary
Confused by this local election? It's understandable. The election of the Framingham Democratic Committee on Primary Day is normally neither complicated nor controversial. Usually, a single diverse slate of names is put forward to serve as full members for the next four years.
The Framingham Democratic Committee (FDC) encourages participation and new perspectives, with most participants beginning as associate members to provide a chance to understand the requirements of full membership. Its meetings are open.
As recent statewide and regional candidates have commented, the FDC is among the most active and successful in the state.
This year, on your March 5 presidential primary ballot, there are two slates of names for the FDC. And you may recognize individuals in both groups.
Remember that most of them could have been united into one slate, with unlimited additional people serving as associate members. The recent election of seven new full members and 12 new associate members demonstrates there are regular opportunities for bringing in new membership.
We (Group 1) built our slate by reaching out to current and associate members, including three current members who appear on the Group 2 slate. Group 2 did not work with the committee leadership to include “new voices”; instead, it secretly recruited a competing slate.
When we learned of their efforts, just a few days before the nomination papers deadline, we proposed incorporating several of these “new voices” into a unity slate, and thereby avoiding a contentious election. Several active members of the FDC even offered to step down from the Group 1 slate to make room for seven of Group 2's candidates. Even though some of their prospective members had not expressed interest in FDC membership, creating unity was paramount. Our time would be better spent helping Democrats win the White House, Senate and Congress, rather than campaigning for a local committee.
This offer of a unity slate was rejected outright as “insulting.” Group 2 made clear that its intention was never to solely incorporate new people. Instead, it sought to remove current members due to personality politics, stating they wanted to “reset” the FDC.
While Group 2 talks of bringing new voices to the committee, their choices show a different reality. Among its members are two "life members" (former City Councilor John Stefanini and former Town Moderator Jerry Desilets), both automatically members due to 20 previous years on the committee. If elected, their inclusion blocks an opportunity for two new members.
Unfortunately, Group 2 has chosen a course of action that could prevent new and less well known individuals from being elected. It would be counterproductive to lose dedicated current members and prospective new members when they might have successfully unified to serve as the next 35 FDC members.
Furthermore, Framingham Unfiltered has endorsed Group 2, an endorsement that was not rejected. Framingham Unfiltered, which is run anonymously, is a local, online, divisive blog often publishing personal information and attacking our immigrant community, reproductive rights, the LGBTQ+ community and local elected women and people of color. Definitely not the perspective to influence the future of the Democratic Party and our community.
Ranging in age from 22-86, Group 1 includes representation from all nine Framingham districts. With four current city councilors (including the two newest), two former city councilors, a school committee member, small business owners, labor union leaders, community advocates, teachers and medical professionals, Group 1 truly embodies the diverse tapestry of Framingham.
Because we were unable to negotiate unity, I ask for your help to continue our local success on March 5 by filling in just one oval to elect Group 1.
Jack Patrick Lewis represents the 7th Middlesex District in the State House of Representatives.
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Two slates Framingham Democratic Committee on March 5 primary ballot
