FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, March 31, 2017

CONTACT
Emily Fitzmaurice, Massachusetts Democratic Party, 617-939-0808

MASSACHUSETTS DEMOCRATIC PARTY ANNOUNCES PLATFORM HEARINGS 

Former Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Murphy, Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins, and Former Bernie for America State Director Paul Feeney to chair hearings in all regions of the state

BOSTON – Today, the Massachusetts Democratic Party announced that it will be hosting 11 Platform hearings around the state. These meetings will facilitate dialogue and encourage input from Democrats at the local level to inform the party platform, which will be voted on by delegates at the State Party’s convention on June 3rd in Worcester.

The Committee is being chaired by Former Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Murphy, Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins, and Paul Feeney, the Legislative Director of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2222 and former Massachusetts State Director for Bernie Sanders for America. These three Democratic leaders have decades of experience working on behalf of Massachusetts residents and voters. They will be overseeing the entire Platform Committee, which is made up of local Democratic activists, officials, and organizers.

“Considering the state of our democracy and nation, people are concerned about where we’re headed and we’ve seen a swell in momentum at the local level,” said Massachusetts Democratic Party Chair Gus Bickford. “We’re excited to get these hearings underway and learn about the issues our residents and voters are most concerned about. I want to thank Lieutenant Governor Murphy, Sheriff Tompkins, and Paul Feeney for their dedicated work on behalf of the Party and its members.”

Following the hearings, the Platform Committee will draft the proposed 2017 state Party Platform. The Massachusetts Democratic Party Platform is a statement of values and reflects the current policy positions of the Party. The most recent edition of the Party platform is the 2013 platform.

The hearings will begin with an introduction from the local Democratic Town Committee and will then open up for public comment. Those interested in testifying will be given three minutes to do so and submitting written testimony is encouraged.

Below is the schedule of official Party Platform hearings:

Official Hearings

Tuesday, April 4 – Lynn
North Shore Community College Cafeteria

2^nd Floor

McGee Building

300 Broad Street, Lynn

7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Thursday, April 6 – Boston
Boston Teachers Union

180 Mount Vernon Street, Dorchester

7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday, April 8 – Springfield
Van Sickle Middle School Cafeteria

1170 Carew Street, Springfield

10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Saturday, April 8 – Pittsfield
Berkshire Athenaeum

1 Wendell Avenue, Pittsfield

2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday, April 9 – Worcester
Leo’s Ristorante

11 Leo Turo Way, Worcester

2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Wednesday, April 19 – New Bedford
GSM Labor Council

560 Pleasant Street, New Bedford

7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Tuesday, April 25 – Arlington
Arlington Town Hall, Auditorium

730 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington

7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Thursday, April 27 – Brockton
Brockton Fire Fighters Local 144

80 Warren Avenue, Brockton

7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Sunday, April 30 – Lowell
Middlesex Community College

Middles Cafeteria, Carole Cowan Center

33 Kearney Square, Lowell

2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, May 6 – Foxborough
John J. Ahern Middle School Cafeteria, 111 Mechanic Street, Foxborough

10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Saturday, May 6 – Plymouth
Plymouth Main Library, Fehlow Room

132 South Street, Plymouth

2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

 

In addition to the official hearings conducted by the Party’s Platform Committee, local Democratic Committees, Democratic State Committee members, and local Democratic organizations may conduct platform meetings prior to the 2017 Democratic State Convention on June 3rd. All platform meetings should take place before May 1, 2017 to ensure the input is considered for the 2017 platform. 

Below are the requirements for holding a platform meeting:

• The Massachusetts Democratic Party must be notified of the meeting five business days prior to its scheduled date. Please report your meeting using this link: http://bit.ly/platformmtgdatereporter;
• The meeting is open to the general public, regardless of party affiliation or registration status.
• The meeting location must be ADA accessible; and
• The meeting must be conducted with a clerk who will take notes of participants’ testimony. All notes must be submitted to the state party through this form: http://bit.ly/platformnotesreporter.

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