BOSTON – Massachusetts Democratic Party Chair Gus Bickford today announced Veronica Martinez as Executive Director of the Massachusetts Democratic Party. Martinez will work with Chairman Bickford and the Democratic State Committee to support the development of the Democratic Party’s 2017 Platform and to contribute to the Party’s organizing efforts ahead of the 2018 elections.

“In the era of President-Elect Trump and Governor Charlie Baker, I believe the state and national party have to regroup and grow our organization and message from the ground up, working with the grassroots to deliver our message passionately, person to person and door to door,” said Bickford. “Veronica will bring her keen organizational and management skills to help during this critical time and I couldn’t be more excited to have her be part of the team.”

Martinez joins the Massachusetts Democratic Party after working as an aide to CNN senior political analyst and Harvard Kennedy School Professor, David Gergen. Prior to her work with Professor Gergen, Veronica served as an advance lead for Governor Deval Patrick, and has also accrued experience on a number of campaigns including those of Senator Warren and Senator Markey. A native of South Carolina, Veronica came to Massachusetts by way of Wellesley College.

The Executive Director Selection Committee was co-chaired by former Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral and Democratic State Committee Member Mark DiSalvo.  Democratic National Committee Member Sue Thomson, Former Fitchburg Mayor Lisa Wong and Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera also served on the Committee.

“The election of Donald Trump reinforces just how critical our work is,” said Martinez. “I am looking forward to working alongside Chairman Bickford and the Democratic State Committee to make sure Donald Trump’s America is a thing of the past and not our future.”