TDTC Unanimously Supports Healey at Democratic State Convention in Worcester

By Cathy Dwyer, TDTC Chair

Seventeen members of the Tewksbury Democratic Town Committee (TDTC) were among more than 5,200 delegates elected to take part in the 2022 Massachusetts Democratic State Convention on Friday, June 3 and Saturday, June 4 in Worcester. The convention was hybrid, with attendees having the choice to travel to the DCU Center one or both days or participate remotely.

By the end of the convention on Saturday, the party had endorsed 12 candidates for statewide office, including Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer and Auditor, to move ahead to the primary ballot this September.

Read about Tewksbury’s presence at the Republican State Convention in Springfield here.

The Tewksbury residents taking part in voting — Cathy Dwyer, Peter Francis, Bridget Garabedian, Lorna Garey, Donna Gill, Joe Gill, Maureen Kelledy, Mark Kratman, Peter Miller, Julie Naughton, Patrick Nichols, Mary-Ann O’Brien Nichols, Rita O’Brien Dee, Bonnie Page and Marie Sweeney — were unanimous in their support for Maura Healey to be the Democratic nominee for governor in 2022.

Healey was backed by 71% of delegates while Sonia Chang-Díaz gained the support of 29%, meaning Chang-Díaz will be on the primary ballot.

The convention opened on Friday, June 4, with a speech by treasurer Deb Goldberg, who had no primary challenger. On Saturday, delegates heard from all candidates as well as senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey.

Many Tewksbury delegates had committed their votes after hearing and personally questioning candidates like Tami Gouveia, Quentin Palfrey and Chris Dempsey, all of who attended TDTC meetings in person. While most Tewksbury delegates stayed the course and voted as planned, as at past conventions, it’s clear that some candidate convention-day speeches persuaded delegates to cast their votes in their favor. In particular, all in-person delegates selected Tanisha Sullivan as their choice for Secretary of State after Sullivan’s fiery speech. Meanwhile, those participating remotely stuck with incumbent William Galvin.

Delegates attending remotely expressed satisfaction with the security and ease of using the VOATZ app to cast their ballots. Those attending in person could choose to use the app or report their votes to the Second Essex & Middlesex teller, Barbara L’Italien. Paper ballots were also available.

Delegates attending on-site and virtually kept in-touch throughout the process via a Facebook Messenger group created for that opportunity.

The Massachusetts primary election for statewide office is Tuesday, September 6. Residents interested in meeting many of the candidates on the ballot for November are invited to attend the TDTC’s annual Unity Breakfast, to be held Sunday, Sept. 25 at the Tewksbury Country Club. Tickets are available now, and the speaker lineup will be announced shortly.