ATHOL — Members of Athol’s Democratic Committee met Monday, July 12, to hear from several candidates seeking office in next year’s state election and to choose delegates to the state party convention, which will be held in Lowell on Sept. 25.
Among those addressing the meeting remotely was former state Sen. Ben Downing, one of three Democrats who have announced their candidacy for governor. He served in the State Senate from 2007 to 2017. A native of Great Barrington, Downing represented the Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin, and Hampden district. If successful in his bid, he would be the first native of western Massachusetts to be elected to the state’s highest office since Democrat Joseph Ely served from 1931 to 1935.
Downing characterized Athol and similar communities as “tough, striving, creative, generous places that have had to fight much harder than they should to get resources and attention from Beacon Hill.
“And that’s what brings me to this race,” he continued. “I have lived and seen the difference that state leadership makes. I know what it feels like to be forgotten, to be written off and taken for granted. Too many in our communities suffer when those in power think they can continuously kick the can down the road.
“If we’re going to get out of this and rebuild from COVID, if we’re going to recover from this collective trauma and loss, if we’re going to become stronger at the broken places together, then we need a new sense of urgency from our leaders, starting with our governor.”
Downing accused incumbent Republican Gov. Charlie Baker of failing to take on what he called “the big challenges facing Massachusetts families and communities.” Those challenges, he said, include transportation, childcare, education, climate, and COVID response.
“He has all the power in the world, and he hasn’t used in on our behalf,” Downing claimed. “We need a governor who sees, who feels, who understands the impact of economic and racial disparities, the urgency of climate change, and the consequences of health care inaction.”
The other announced Democratic candidates for governor — state Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, Harvard University political science professor Danielle Allen, and Shrewsbury resident Orlando Silva — did not address the Athol caucus.
Other statewide candidates who did speak to the gathering included Chris Dempsey and Diana DiZoglio, who are running for State Auditor, and Lt. Gov. hopeful Brett Bero.
Bero currently teaches Strategic Problem Solving, Management Consulting, and Leading Business Turnarounds at Babson College. He bought a metal forming company in Orange in 1997, re-named it ECHO Industries, and sold the business two years ago. Bero told Athol caucus attendees that he wants to use the office of Lt. Gov. to support and promote small business in Massachusetts.
Other announced Democratic candidates for Lt. Governor include Acton state Rep. Tami Gouveia, who represents the 14th Middlesex district, and political fundraiser Scott Donahue of Melrose.
Of the candidates for Auditor, Dempsey served as Assistant Secretary of Transportation in the administration of former Gov. Deval Patrick, and was among the leaders of the “No Boston Olympics” campaign. DiZoglio served in the state House of Representatives from 2013 to 2019, when she was sworn in as state senator from the First Essex district. Incumbent Suzanne Bump has decided not to seek re-election.
The final speaker of the evening was state Sen. Anne Gobi, who said she is running for re-election in 2022. She also added that she is supporting DiZoglio in the auditor’s race.
“I’m looking forward, hopefully, to be representing Athol for years to come,” said the Spencer Democrat, “As you know, this is a redistricting year and we’ve got a lot to do and to look at.
“The folks to the west of us have to pick up about 80,000 people, so you can do the math and look at a map and figure out there’s only one way to go, right? Everyone’s going to go a little bit more east.”
Gobi is vice chair of the redistricting committee and urged people to weigh in with the committee on their concerns and suggestions for re-drawing district boundaries.
“Because our area is going to be affected,” she said. “There’s just no way around it.”
After the candidates’ presentations, the caucus got down to the business of choosing the delegates to the state convention. Those chosen to represent the Athol Democratic Committee in Lowell in September included Myra MacLeod, Wanda Davis, and Scott MacPhee. Those picked as alternates were Mitch Grosky, Mare Hawthorne, and Mack MacPhee.