Town Dems Unite Behind Brownsberger, Rogers

With less than seven weeks remaining until Election Day, the Belmont Democratic Town Committee met last Wednesday, Sept. 19, to recruit volunteers for state and national campaigns, add new members, and discuss ways of broadening the Committee’s appeal to local Democrats.  

Following a primary election on September 6 that contained several hotly contested races, the Belmont Democrats united behind the candidates selected by voters in the primary as well as those that ran unopposed on Sept. 6:

President:  Barack Obama (incumbent)
U.S. Senator:  Elizabeth Warren
U.S. Congressman:  Ed Markey (incumbent)
State Senator:  Will Brownsberger (incumbent, but in a redrawn district)
State Representative:   Dave Rogers
Sheriff, Middlesex County:  Peter Koutoujian (incumbent)
Governor’s Council:  Marilyn Devaney (incumbent)

Representatives from the campaigns spoke about key opportunities for volunteering between now and the general election. 

• For the Obama campaign, Debbie Deutsch stressed the importance of personal contacts, through canvassing focused on voters in neighboring New Hampshire communities.  Canvasses are scheduled for every Saturday and most Sundays between now and November 6.

• Sallye Bleiberg, who heads up the campaign effort for Elizabeth Warren in Belmont, also stressed the importance of canvassing and calling to identify all likely Warren supporters.  She hopes to ensure that every Elizabeth Warren supporter gets to the polls in November.

• Dave Rogers’ campaign manager, Alex Wallach Hanson, reported that Dave continues to work hard to meet Belmont voters, learn their concerns, and acquaint them with his legislative priorities. While Dave Rogers met a large number of Belmont voters during the primary campaign, he aims to meet many more between now and November.

• Ellen Schreiber, who manages Will Brownsberger’s state senate campaign, noted that his newer constituents (in Watertown and Boston [Brighton/Fenway/Back Bay]) are expressing “amazement” at qualities Belmont residents have long experienced in their dealings with Will – “he’s everywhere,” a great listener, and always willing to explain the basis for his positions. The campaign is hoping that Belmont residents' long familiar with Brownsberger’s record of service to their community will help with outreach to these new constituents. 

Information on how to reach any of these campaigns to volunteer is available on the Belmont DTC website. For those who would prefer to avoid the computer, information can be obtained from the Belmont Demoratic Town Committee by calling 617-855-9101. 

In addition, the Committee authorized Chairwoman Trish Lohmar to proceed to rent space for a shared Belmont Democratic campaign headquarters, accessible to all of the candidates between now and Nov. 6.

Finally, the Belmont DTC voted to promote one associate member, Karen Freidberg, to full member status, and welcomed eight new associate members:  Tony Alcorn, Sean Mahoney, Wayne Mesard, Lois Pines, Bobby Reardon, Paul Richter, Paul Roberts and Ellen Schreiber.

Information submitted by Helen Golding, Secretary, Belmont Democratic Town Committee.