Welcome to the PDS Website!
Mission | Values | Platform | Accomplishments | Steering Committee | Contact Us
Mission
The Progressive Democrats of Somerville (PDS) is a group of concerned Democrats from Somerville who organize to . . .
- Influence the Democratic Party and hold its elected officials accountable for supporting the progressive policies and legislation consistent with the Party Platform.
- Support Progressive Democratic Candidates and Elected Officials whose words and actions demonstrate their commitment to the principles underlying the Party Platform.
- Become an Effective Force in Local Government, to hold local elected officials accountable to the public, and to advocate for progressive policies and practices that respond to the needs of Somerville residents.
Values
We believe that government should protect the vulnerable from the powerful, ensure equal rights and opportunities for all, and preserve the separation of church from state.
We believe that government has many tasks that cannot be fairly or adequately managed by market forces alone, including: (a) protection of the environment; (b) maintenance of infrastructure; (c) protection of public safety; (d) protection of human and civil rights, including the right to privacy and control of one's body; (e) ensuring access to education and training opportunities that prepare residents for gainful employment and for full participation in their community, (f) guiding the economy, including investment in research and support for businesses, to promote corporate responsibility and the creation and retention of good jobs; and (g) ensuring resident access to decent health care, social services, and affordable housing.
We believe that government services should be financed by a system of fair, progressive, and universal taxation.
We believe that it is the shared responsibility of the government, the media, and members of the community to support the enfranchisement of residents through dissemination of accessible, accurate, and timely information about the decisions and choices that will be made by elected officials, and about the opportunities for residents to inform, influence, and shape those decisions and choices through individual and collective action.
For more on what we stand for, read our platform.
Accomplishments
- Voter Mobilization
We have actively mobilized voter support for, and helped elect, progressive Democratic candidates at the state and local level. Our successes include State Senator Pat Jehlen, State Reps Denise Provost and Carl Sciortino, as well as several Somerville aldermen and School Committee members. - Public Education
We sponsored candidates' debates, boosted participation in Ward Committees, and mobilized concerned residents on diverse public policy matters such as the city budget, zoning at Assembly Square, the Patriot Act, gay marriage, affordable housing, and public transportation. We hosted a forum on the School Superintendent search, as well as a training for progressives interested in running for office or working on campaigns. - Massachusetts Scorecard
We created and publish the Scorecard at www.MassScorecard.org. Originally endorsed by the 2003 State Democratic Convention, the Scorecard compares the voting records of Massachusetts legislators to the Democratic Party platform. It is an important means of achieving open government and issuebased accountability, and it provides an easy way for every voter to see how their representatives vote on key issues that reflect Democratic values.
Steering Committeee
These are the members of the PDS Steering Committee. All email addresses end in '@pdsomerville.org'.
| Position | Name | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chair | Marty Martinez | chair | |
| Vice Chair | Rachel Heller | vice-chair | |
| Secretary | open | secretary | |
| Treasurer | Abi Harper | treasurer | |
| Affirmative Action Coordinator |
Alex Pirie | affirmative-action | |
| Membership Chair | Erica George | membership | |
| Issues Chairs | Fred Berman | issues | |
| Endorsements Chairs | Barry Rafkind | endorsements |  |
Contact Us
To contact PDS, please email a member of the steering committee. Our mailing address is:
Progressive Democrats of Somerville
P.O. Box 441434
Somerville, MA 02143
For technical issues with the site, please contact our webmaster at webmaster
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