April 9, 2012

Congratulations to all of the PDS members who were elected to their Ward committees last month! And a very hearty congrats to two of our Leadership Team members, Mike Grunko who was elected Vice-Chair, and to Katie Wallace who was elected Secretary of the Somerville Democratic City Committee tonight!

Help kick of 2012 and a year of issue-based and political organizing by attending the PDS Annual Meeting!

Join us for a review of 2011, the honoring of two new awards for community activism, a dialogue about PDS in 2012 and election of new officers.

More details to follow including information about some special guests!

Look forward to seeing you in 2012!

Please join us and support...

Monday, October 24th - 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Masala, 1127 Broadway, Teele Square, Somerville

Special Guests: State Rep. Carl Sciortino & State Rep. Denise Provost

Hosted by: Rachel Heller, Marty Martinez, Katie Wallace, Justin Klekota, Alba Chitouras, Costa Chitouras, Erica Schwarz, Melissa McWhinney, Fred Berman, Joyce Shortt, Richard Shortt, Jeanette Amazeen-Thomas, Lisa Tatterson, Judy Neufeld, Greg Dennis, Dick Bauer, Roberta Bauer, Judy Eisenberg

The race is in the final stages and Katjana needs our help to get over the top!

Join her friends and supporters by helping get her over the top in this important race.

Suggested Donations: $35, $50, $100

If you cannot make the event, but can still donate, go to http://www.katjana.org/pages/donate.html

For more information, please contact Alexis at manager@katjana.org or Marty at mm8353@hotmail.com

Join our next PDS day for Christine Barber for Ward 4! Members will be going door to door talk with voters about Christine’s experience and vision for Ward 4 and the entire city of Somerville!

Choose a time that works for you THIS SUNDAY, October 2!
Shift 1: 12pm-2pm
Shift 2: 2pm-4pm

If you have one hour or the whole day, help make sure we elect a strong, progressive candidate for Ward 4 Alderman! Please RSVP to Rachel Heller at rachel.heller@gmail.com

We’ll be meeting at 87 Thurston Street.

As everyone knows, when we endorse, we work. So take a minute and see what is happening with two of our local Alderman candidates and get involved in their race!

Christine Barber for Ward 4 Alderman

Christine's 35th birthday is coming up this weekend. Most of you know that Christine loves celebrating birthdays, and this year it's important for all of us to help her do so. Please donate $35 for her 35th birthday. Christine will be out going door to door talking to members of the community on her Birthday, and you can help her by supporting the campaign for Ward 4 Alderman. Your generous donation of $35 for her 35th birthday will support our voter outreach and mailings, and help us build a strong campaign heading into the fall!

Contribute $35 today to celebrate Christine's 35th birthday! Go to our website and donate through paypal or send a check to Committee to Elect Christine Barber / 87 Thurston St / Somerville, MA 02145

Other ways you can help Christine celebrate her 35th birthday is by helping us reach our goal of 35 new Facebook and 35 new Twitter followers.

I hope you can be take part in celebrating Christine's 35th birthday.

Katjana Ballantyne for Ward 7 Alderman

Join PDS nights with Katjana!

Members will be going door to door to talk with voters about Katjana's experience and vision for Ward 7 and the entire city of Somerville!

Choose one or both dates to join us!

• Monday, Aug 29th - 6 to 8:30
• Wed, Sept 7th - 6 to 8:30

If you have one hour or the whole evening, help make sure we elect a strong, progressive candidate for Ward 7 Alderman! If interested, please contact Alexis at manager@katjana.org.

Remember PDS members, Democracy Demands Participation! Lets make sure we show what our support means for these candidates!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 10, 2011

CONTACT:
Marty Martinez, Chair
chair@pdsomerville.org
617.256.5641

PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS OF SOMERVILLE ENDORSE CANDIDATES FOR THE 2011 MUNICIPAL RACES

Aldermen at Large Bill White and Dennis Sullivan endorsed for re-election. Katjana Ballantyne endorsed for Ward 7 Alderman and Christine Barber endorsed for Ward 4 Alderman.

Somerville, MA. The Progressive Democrats of Somerville (PDS) has made endorsements in the contested Alderman-at-Large race, and in the races for Ward 4 and 7 Alderman. PDS will consider an endorsement for Ward 3 Alderman at their next meeting in September.

PDS is proud to endorse incumbents Bill White and Dennis Sullivan for reelection for Alderman at Large. Each candidate brings something different to this race and the PDS membership overwhelmingly voted to support those perspectives. "Aldermen at Large Bill White and Dennis Sullivan continue to be strong voices for open, accessible, and accountable government and we know that we have strong progressive leaders on the Board of Aldermen with them present." said PDS Chair Marty Martinez. "We are proud to endorse both of these candidates."

PDS is proud to endorse Christine Barber for Ward 4 Alderman. The PDS members were unanimous in their support for Christine and were impressed with her credentials and grassroots campaign. "Ward 4 needs a strong and energetic leader and that leader is Christine," said PDS Chair Marty Martinez. "As a health policy expert, Christine understands the complex issues that the city faces and we are excited to work with her on her campaign for Ward 4 Alderman."

PDS is proud to endorse challenger Katjana Ballantyne for Ward 7 Alderman. As the former President of Somerville Community Corporation, Katjana cares about keeping Somerville affordable for all residents and families. PDS members were excited about her focus on an open and inclusive government. "Katjana would bring a fresh perspective to the Board of Alderman," said PDS Vice-Chair Judy Neufeld. "PDS is proud to endorse Katjana for Ward 7 Alderman."

PDS invited all candidates in a contested race to submit a written response detailing their positions on a variety of issues, except for the candidates in Ward 3. Candidates were asked to respond to important issues facing this district including thoughts on local issues including the Green Line Extension, the proposed Wal-Mart store, and ways to engage community in local government. Nearly 40 community members attended the PDS Endorsement Meeting on Tuesday, August 9, 2011 and asked the candidates thoughtful questions. Their responses to the questionnaires are posted on the PDS website at www.pdsomerville.org.

The Progressive Democrats of Somerville will be holding endorsements for the contested 2011 municipal elections. The following candidates have sought our endorsement by responding to our questionnaire, and their responses are linked to below.

Alderman at Large:

• Jack Connolly, Incumbent [responses] [website]
• Sean Fitzgerald, Challenger [responses] [website]
• Dennis Sullivan, Incumbent [responses] [website]
• Bill White, Incumbent [responses] [website]

Alderman Ward 4:

• Christine Barber, Challenger [responses] [website]

Alderman Ward 7:

• Katjana Ballantyne, Challenger [responses] [website]

Join us for our Summer Endorsement Meeting on Tuesday, August 9th! We will consider endorsements in contested races for the Board of Aldermen in Somerville.

Come to the VNA on Lowell Street at 630pm for some good discussion about local politics and learn more about the political organizing happening in Somerville!

Questions or comments, feel free to contact Marty Martinez, PDS Chair at chair@pdsomerville.org

From the Katjana Ballantyne campaign:

It’s official!

Exciting News! Today I pulled nomination papers and I’ll be collecting signatures over the next week or so.

Visit my facebook page and click on the like button to become a fan!