Updated July 24, 2018
What’s Inside
1) FCCPR Endorses Candidates Using Ranked Choice Voting
2) Jo Comerford Campaign Events
3) Francia Wisnewski Campaign Events
4) Kate Albright-Hanna Campaign Events
5) Next FCCPR General Assembly
6) Hiroshima to Nagasaki Vigil, August 6 – 9, Town Common, Greenfield
7) New Salem State Senate Candidates Night, July 24, 7-9 p.m.
8) Vote Yes on 1! Patient Safety Act
9) H. 4041 – An Act to Protect Massachusetts Pollinators
10) Progressive Democrats of America/ FCCPR Amherst Picnic
1) FCCPR Endorses Candidates Using Ranked Choice Voting
The membership of Franklin County Continuing the Political Revolution, using rank choice voting (RCV), has voted on endorsements in the Democratic primary races for Governor, Representative to the Mass. House of Representatives in the First Franklin District, and State Senator in Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester District.
In the Senate race which had five candidates contending, Jo Comerford
won the endorsement with 92.8% of the vote.
In the 1st Franklin House race, seven candidates sought an endorsement
from FCCPR. Since the 60% threshold required by the FCCPR protocol
for a single endorsement was not reached, the top two vote getters
are both endorsed. Kate Albright-Hanna and Francia Wisnewski
are the two candidates receiving our endorsement.
At the last General Assembly of the FCCPR membership, the group decided
to reconsider the Governor’s race in which it had previously chosen
not to endorse a candidate. Bob Massie received 50.5% of the
vote compared to 49.5% for “no endorsement.” Jay Gozales
came in third.
FCCPR thanks all the candidates who filled out and submitted questionnaires
for endorsement and attended numerous candidate forums to help voters
become acquainted with their positions so that they could make
informed decisions.
The only other candidate endorsed by FCCPR is Tahirah Amatul-Wadud
for Congress in the First Congressional District, who won her
endorsement earlier in the year.
2) Jo Comerford Campaign Events:
Phone Banking and Door Knocking
All out for Jo Greenfield Door Knocking Weekend
Phone Banking for Jo in Greenfield
Every Wednesday until election day! 7/25, 8/1, 8/8,8/15, 8/22, 8/29, 5:30-7:30pm, 308 Main Street, Suite 300 (3rd Flr), Jones Whitsett Architects Offices, Greenfield. To sign up, visit https://goo.gl/84Gb4T You can also call from home by emailing volunteer@jocomerford.org
Colrain House Party, Monday, July 30, 23 Wilson Hill Road. 5:30-7:00pm. Hosted by Therese Fitzsimmons and Anne and Tom Yeomans
3) Francia Wisnewski Campaign Events
Information and events posted at ElectFrancia.com and Facebook.com/ElectFrancia
Please contact 413-206-9789 or ElectFrancia@gmail.com with any questions
Voter Outreach
WEEKLY DOOR KNOCKING Every Saturday & Sunday – 2pm (shifts last approx. 2 hours) Every Wednesday – 6pm. Meet at Mariposa Collective, 111 Avenue A, Turners Falls
WEEKLY PHONE BANKING & VOLUNTEER NIGHT Every Wednesday – 6-9 pm (come for all or part), 111 Avenue A, Turners Falls
Come knock on doors, make phone calls, do data entry, be awesome! We’ll provide all the scripts, training, snacks, and moral support you might need, and we promise it will be fun and fulfilling! If you have other time available, please let us know. We will be canvassing and calling voters nearly every day throughout the summer, and we’re happy to work with your schedule. Email: ElectFrancia@gmail.com
House parties
Leverett Tuesday, July 24, 5:30-7:30pm. Leverett House Party, 4 Cemetery Rd, Leverett (near the transfer station)
Sunderland Sunday, August 5, 4-7 pm. Sunderland House Party Email mchughtie@gmail.com for address and directions
Montague Center Thursday, August 9, 5:30-7:30. Montague Center House Party, 7 North St, Montague Center
Haydenville/Williamsburg Thursday, August 23, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Haydenville/Williamsburg House Party, Location pending
Public candidate forum
Recorder/Gazette-Hosted Candidate Forum
Tuesday, August 7, 6:30pm, Deerfield Academy
4) Kate Albright-Hanna Campaign Events
Whately Thursday, July 26th at 7pm, Nancy Talanian’s home (please rsvp, space is limited):
https://www.facebook.com/events/505373296585992/
Middlefield Sunday, August 5th at 4pm, Middlefield at Noreen Suriner’s home:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1982418055143588/
Cummington
Saturday, August 18th at 10am, Cummington at the Old Creamery Co-Op (we’ll be outside with coffee and donuts):
https://www.facebook.com/events/247240819400889/
If anyone is interesting in canvassing or phone banking for Kate, please contact Aaron Welch at welch@kate4rep.org and he will get you hooked into events.
5) Save the Date – Next FCCPR General Assembly
Next General Assembly Meeting Sunday August 26th 2-4pm
Guiding Star Grange, 401 Chapman St Greenfield
6) Hiroshima to Nagasaki Vigil, August 6 – 9, Town Common, Greenfield
The FCCPR Peace Task Force will highlight the renewed dangers of nuclear
weapons with a Hiroshima to Nagasaki 4-Day Vigil August 6-9, 2018 on
the Greenfield Town Common and many associated cultural activities in
August between Hiroshima Day and Nagasaki Day. See full schedule.
From August 6th through 9th, there will be numerous events to help us understand the magnitude of war and the importance of peace. There will be opportunities to make art, origami and to join in with singers, poets & performers in celebrating peace. There will also be tables set up with information for you to peruse on the nuclear situation and the global peace movement. There will be petitions to sign to support the international movement to abolish Nuclear Weapons. Stop by ANYTIME!
A few of the highlights:
- Buddhist monks from the Peace Pagoda
- Stories from survivors
- Speakers
- Poets
- Puppet Show
- Films
- Music
For more info, contact Sally alley Muffin Stuffin (413) 834-2147
Or Rebecca Tippens 413 624-5140. Rebecca_tippens@yahoo.com
7) New Salem Candidates Night
On Tuesday, July 24 from 7-9 pm in the New Salem Town Hall, voters in
the Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester Senate District will have an
opportunity to meet the Democratic candidates running for the senate
seat formerly held by Senator Stan Rosenberg. A regional committee
made up of local town Democratic committees in the northeastern
region of Franklin County is hosting the candidates.
Write-in candidates Jo Comerford, Steve Connor, David Murphy, and Ryan
O’Donnell as well as Chelsea Kline, the only candidate on the ballot,
have all agreed to attend. The evening will open with an hour of
comments by audience members alerting the candidates to the
particular problems of the north region followed by comments by the
candidates and questions.
The New Salem Town Hall is located at 15 South Main Street and is handicapped accessible.
For more information, contact Mary-Ann Palmieri, mapalmieri1126@gmail.com, or Sharon Tracy (978) 544-8822.
8) Vote Yes on 1, Patient Safety Act
Hospital executives have already begun to send slick mailers to Massachusetts
residents trying to confuse the issue of patient safety by posing as
rank-and-file bedside nurses. But don’t be fooled! Patients are
safer when there are more nurses on staff. Period. Our friends at the
Massachusetts Nursing Association fought a grueling battle with
management for over year to win safe staffing at our community
hospital in Greenfield. They finally won, thanks in no small part to
us – the community members who supported them through thick and
thin. Now we have the chance to codify this win into state law. Vote
yes for patient safety! Vote yes on question 1!
9) H. 4041 – An Act to Protect Massachusetts Pollinators.
Food and Agriculture Campaign Associate, Food and Technology Program
Friends of the Earth U.S. 1101 15th St. NW, 11th Floor Washington, DC 20005
JDavidson@foe.org www.foe.org
H. 4041 would restrict the use of neonicotinoid insecticides (or “neonics”) to licensed applicators only. Neonics are one of the leading causes of global bee declines. In fact, Massachusetts beekeepers lost 65% of their hives this past year, 25% more than the
national average. H. 4041 would take these dangerous pesticides out of the hands of people who aren’t trained to use them.
The Massachusetts Medical Society recently passed a resolution expressing concern about neonic use, and recent studies have shown that neonics are frequently found in mammals. It would be wonderful if FCCPR members would reach out to their local state representatives about H. 4041.
Please feel free to reach out to Jason (jdavidson@foe.org or 202-222-0738)
for a sample letter or if you have any questions. Click here for more
information.
10) Progressive Democrats of America/ FCCPR Amherst Picnic
FCCPR is co-sponsoring a summer social event with PDA on August 19, from 1:00 – 4:00 PM at Groff Park, 83 Mill Ln, Amherst. Many politicians and candidates will likely be there. Bring something to share and join us! If you’re interested in car-pooling, contact David (dgreenberg@fccpr.us)