Boston Ward 19 Democratic Committee

February 9, 2024: Jamaica Plain, MA

Registered Democrats in the Boston Ward 19 Jamaica Plain/Roslindale) will hold our caucus on Saturday March 9, 2024 to elect delegates and alternates to the 2024 Massachusetts Democratic State Convention. All Democrats who are registered or pre-registered in Ward 19 are invited to participate.

This year’s Massachusetts Democratic convention will be held in person at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA on Saturday, June 1, 2024. Thousands of Democrats from across the state will come together to discuss Party business and prepare for upcoming elections. The Convention will include an endorsement vote for U.S. Senator.

The Boston Ward 19 Democratic Committee caucus will be held at Painters and Allied Trades DC35 Hall, 25 Colgate Road, Roslindale.  Doors will open at 9:15 a.m. All those in line by 10:00 a.m. will be registered. Ward 19 Democrats must be inside by 10:00 a.m. to participate in electing delegates and alternates. The caucus will commence at 10:15 am. To participate in the caucus, you must be registered as a Democrat in Ward 19. We will have voter registration forms available on the spot. Also, “Pre-registered” Democrats who are at least 16 by February 15, 2024 can participate. 

Ward 19 will be electing 23 delegates and 5 alternates. Anyone who registers for the caucus can be nominated to be a delegate or alternate to the Convention. All nominees will have a two-minute opportunity to speak in support of their candidacy.

Youth (aged 16-35), people with disabilities, people of color, veterans, members of the LGBTQ+ community not elected as delegates or alternates are encouraged to apply to be an add-on delegate at the caucus or by visiting  www.massdems.org/massdems-convention.

For further information and/or if you’re interested in getting involved with the Boston Ward 19 Democratic Committee, contact info@bostonward19dems.org or check out our website at www.bostonward19dems.

Democratic voters elect their local ward committee members every four years on the day of the Presidential Primary.

Ward Committee members are responsible for organizing Democrats in their communities and providing information and education on candidates and ballot initiatives that impact their community.

The following members are on the ballot (shown in order of appearance on the ballot):

On the Ballot
KAREN LOUISE PAYNE	Karen thinks that it is very important to have a seat at the table when decisions are being made in your community. Participating in a Ward community is a form of information sharing and staying involved in changes that may impact the community. As a Ward committee member, she has had the opportunity to reach out into the neighborhoods and provide information and training to the community. She serves on the Democratic Ward 19 Committee, Democratic State Committee, and the Democratic National Committee. Being engaged in your community is very important in its stabilization.
NIKKI KONG
JOHN C. BROUSSARD
KRISTOFER SCOTT WILSON	Kris has volunteered with the Ward 19 committee since moving to JP in 2021 and serves on the communications committee. He is a Reserve Judge Advocate General in the United States Coast Guard, a Board Member of JVS Boston, a volunteer in the Jewish community, and works in real estate and private foundation law. He has held leadership roles in Democratic politics over the past decadein his home state of IN and while living in NH.
JOHN YOUNG
HASKELL I. WERLIN
DAVID S. OFSEVIT	David joined the Committee in 2012, shortly after moving to Jamaica Plain, and he has been the male co-chair for several years. He wants to continue our role in electing more and better Democrats locally and across the country, through endorsements, outreach to new voters, and contact to voters in strategic places.
JOHN WILLIAM RIORDAN	John has lived in JP since 1990 and has been an active member of Ward 19 for over a decade.  He has worked for local CDCs, Boston’s race relations organization, and as a city official.  Most recently, he’s worked to expand hospitals’ role in affordable housing and community development.  He and his wife raised their two children in JP and both are graduates of the Boston Public Schools.  He’s been active on behalf of progressive candidates for many years and appreciates the role that Ward 19 has and can continue to play in shaping a progressive agenda for Boston and beyond.
HELEN S. RAIZEN	Helen has lived in Jamaica Plain for more than 40 years and most recently in Ward 19 since 2012. She wants to continue to serve on the Ward 19 Democratic Committee to bring education about candidates and issues to the residents of Ward 19 and to work to continue the progressive planks of the state party platform.
WILLIAM H. SHAEVEL
ESTHER P. KAPLAN	Esther is a 45-year resident of Jamaica Plain and 25-year member of Ward 19 who Chairs its Communications Committee. She’s primarily focused on helping federal candidates (Flip the House, Hold the Senate and White House) via forcemultiplierus.org while her local priorities are public education, arts education; and a new community-based process to determine use of the former Shattuck Hospital.
EDMUND G. CROTTY	Edmund’s occupational history, and most volunteer activity, has been in the sector of human services and social policy and program development — mostly focused on Boston but also involving state and national advocacy.  As a resident of Jamaica Plain since 1973, he is especially committed to the evolution of the community as welcoming and supportive towards all people. Membership in the Ward 19 Democratic Committee has been a major component of this commitment.
STEVEN A. BACKMAN	Steve joined the Ward 19 Democratic Committee to help advance strong social justice public officials, has worked on Boston political campaigns going back to Mel King, previously served on the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council and taken part in many issues and campaigns. Steve and his wife Linda raised a family in Dorchester and Jamaica Plain, and over many years he worked with many local organizations as a software developer and advisor.
PHOEBE HINMAN O’MARA	Over the years Phoebe has helped to register voters, promote candidates and organize events for local ballot initiatives and neighborhood forums as a member of this Ward 19 Democratic Committee. She would appreciate your support.
PATRICK THOMAS ROATH	Patrick has been active in Massachusetts progressive political circles since working for former Gov. Deval Patrick on his 2010 reelection campaign and in his office during the second term. He is now particularly involved in voting rights and democracy reform efforts, as the board chair of Common Cause Massachusetts and a lawyer in Boston with a significant pro bono practice focused on voting rights. He has enjoyed being part of the broader Ward 19 Dems team and looks forward to gearing up significantly this election year to elect Democrats and make progress on big issues.
LISA STEVENS-GOODNIGHT	Lisa Stevens-Goodnight is a member of the Ward 19 Committee and holds the female caucus seat on the Democratic State Committee for the Norfolk and Suffolk District. She has lived in Jamaica Plain for over ten years with her husband and daughter. Lisa is the Tobacco Control Director at the Massachusetts Municipal Association and a licensed attorney. She also has an extensive background in local and grassroots advocacy. She earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and history from the University of Vermont and a law degree from Northeastern University School of Law. Her legal background includes work with the Committee for Public Counsel Services, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Civil Rights Division,  and NuLawLab in Boston.
JANE McCORMICK BOWERS	For almost half a century, Jane has been active in Democratic politics in Boston and she has seen how the active Ward Committees have led to greater activity and greater diversity for U.S. citizens.
ZIBA CRANMER	Ziba grew up in the South End of Boston but has lived in Jamaica Plain since 2010. She joined Ward 19 in 2016 and has been active on its Issues Committee. Ziba is also active with JP Progressives and cares deeply about making it easier for residents to engage in local government and elections, especially at the municipal and state level.
MELIDA S. ARREDONDO	Mélida is a Latina Native American. She loves Roslindale. That’s the reason that she’s running for the Ward 19 committee. She has a business in Roslindale. She also loves meeting the different people of Roslindale. She hopes you will support her by voting for her for the Ward 19 committee.
EDWARD S. BURLEY	For the past few years, Ed has served as Treasurer for Ward 19, and he would like to continue in this role. The Ward Committee constitutes the unit closest to voters of the Democratic Party in Mass, and as a civil rights and business attorney, and a close observer of local politics, he can often contribute an informed perspective.
ANN CLARKE	Ann is a lifetime resident of JP, a graduate of Girls’ Latin School, and worked for the Massachusetts Teachers Association for 40 years as a staff attorney, General Counsel, and Executive Director-Treasurer.  She is passionate about public education and the important role of democratic labor unions in our economic and political life.  Ann is an experienced political operative, having participated in and led many candidate and ballot question campaigns.  Ann has been a long-time member of the Ward 19 Democratic Committee and would appreciate the opportunity to continue to be of service to its mission to provide the JP community with information about, and opportunities to participate in, the political process in this perilous time.
LINDA M. SARTORI
ALICIA ANN SARTORI

The following members request that you write them in on the ballot:

Write-in
Christopher Hoeh	Chris has been a JP resident for more than 35 years. He is a lifetime Democrat and active volunteer. He serves as a member of the Ward 19 Issues Committee. He uses a wheelchair and is a leading disability rights advocate. He founded and directs of JPYS Academy.
Alexandra Oliver-Davila	Alexandra is a Roslindale resident and has been participating in the ward for the past several years. She has always been an active participant in her neighborhood including serving on the JP Neighborhood Council. She believes that it is imperative to be involved at the local level. She does not see enough people of color involved nor represented in all levels of elected office and wants to be a part of changing that.
Peggy Wiesenberg

The link below includes important dates for running as a delegate.

Start by picking up your statement of candidacy, pledge of support forms, and filing instructions at 11 Beacon St. Boston, MA 02108 or at massdems.org.

If you have questions about serving as a delegate, you may also reach out to info@bostonward19dems.org.

The state party is offering several online trainings to further explain the process:

2024 National Delegate Presentation Calendar
Session #	Date	Time	Registration	Congressional District
1	Jan 10	6 P.M.	2024 National Delegate Presentation	1, 2 & 3
2	Jan 13	10 A.M.	2024 National Delegate Presentation	4, 5 & 6
3	Jan 22	6 P.M.	2024 National Delegate Presentation	7, 8 & 9
5	Jan 27	10 A.M.	2024 National Delegate Presentation	7, 8 & 9
4	Jan 31	6 P.M.	2024 National Delegate Presentation	4, 5 & 6
6	February 3	10 A.M.	2024 National Delegate Presentation	1, 2 & 3

All candidates endorsed by the Committee were elected yesterday. We look forward to working with all members of City Council during the next two years.

At a meeting on Tuesday evening, October 24, 2023, the Boston Ward 19 Democratic Committee endorsed the following candidates in the Boston City Council election. There are four At-Large seats, but the committee could only reach the two-thirds threshold requirement for three candidates.

District Council Candidates: Enrique Pepen (District 5) and Ben Weber (District 6)

At-Large Candidates: Ruthzee LouiJeune, Julia Mejia, and Henry Santana.

The Committee encourages all voters to cast ballots, either via mail-in ballot, early voting, or in person on November 7. You must register by October 28. For further information on voting in this year’s elections, click here.

Be sure to register for this on-line forum at the link above, or click here.

The Boston Ward 19 Democratic Committee has elected, at their caucus on June 24, 2023, the following people as delegates to the State Convention in Lowell on September 23, 2023:

The following ex-officio members are eligible to be delegates:

Ed Burley (member, Democratic State Committee)
David Ofsevit (co-chair, Boston Ward 19 Democratic Committee)
Karen Payne (member, Democratic State Committee and Democratic National Committee)
Lisa Stevens-Goodnight (member, Democratic State Committee)

The Boston Ward 19 Democratic Committee will conduct its annual caucus on Saturday, June 24, 2023. The business of the caucus is to elect delegates to the State Convention.

The caucus will be in person at Curtis Hall, 20 South Street, Jamaica Plain. Registration opens at 10:30 am; you must check in or be in line by 11:00. Ward 19 has 23 delegate positions, plus 5 alternates.

The caucus is open to all. All registered Democrats in Ward 19 can participate in the process of becoming and/or electing delegates to this year’s convention, which will be held on Saturday, September 23, at the Tsongas Center in Lowell.

If you have any questions, contact info@bostonward19dems.org.

The Democratic primary election for the currently vacant seat will be held on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. There are no current candidates from any other party; the primary will, in all likelihood, determine the next representative.

All three Democratic candidates were guests of the Boston Ward 19 Democratic Committee at its regular April meeting, in separate interviews. For further information, the candidates, with their contact information, are:

• Bill MacGregor, https://www.billmacgregor.org, info@billmacgregor.org
• Rob Orthman, https://www.robertorthman.com, info@robertorthman.com
• Celia Segel, https://electcelia.com, info@electcelia.com

The 10^th district includes Precincts 2, 3, and 8 in Ward 19. To determine your voting location, click here. To confirm your voter registration, click here.