PDS Holds Candidate Forum, Announces Endorsements

By George P. Hassett

The organization dedicated to holding democratic leaders to the party platform opened their discussion to all candidates seeking municipal office in 2005 July 11 at the Visiting Nurses Association and endorsed those who most fit the ideals of their party.

                                                                           John M. Connolly vies for the endorsement of the Progressive Democrats of Somerville. His bid was unsuccessful, as PDS co-founder Rebekkah Gerwitz (far left) was endorsed as a progressive candidate in the Ward 6 Alderman race. In the center is Ward 4 Alderman Walter F. Pero, who received a PDS endorsement for his seat. 

In the race for school committee, the Progressive Democrats of Somerville endorsed Roberta Bauer in Ward 3, Mark Niedergang in Ward 5, Paul Bockelman in Ward 6 and Herbie Duverne in Ward 7.

In the aldermanic contest, PDS endorsed Lawrence Paolella in Ward 3, Walter Pero in Ward 4, Rebekkah Gerwitz in Ward 6 and Marty Martinez and Denise Provost for the citywide at-large seats.

Martinez and Gerwitz co-founded PDS after meeting while working on the Robert Reich for governor campaign.

Martinez said although they birthed the organization, the two endorsements were received fairly and justly without any bias.

"This was a fair process. Each candidate had an equal opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas. I was chosen because PDS is looking for action and change and I represent that," he said.

John L. Sullivan, candidate for Ward 5 alderman, said he appreciated the opportunity to speak with a concerned, active faction of the city.  But he said he thought the endorsements were skewed towards those who had been working with the organization for the past couple of years.

"Obviously they are going to support people they have worked with in the past. If a cop was running he would get the support of other cops. When a progressive democrat is running he or she will get the support of other progressive democrats.

"It could be characterized as being a bit unfair but a lot of very unfair activity goes on everyday at city hall," he said.

For more coverage of the Progressive Democrats of Somerville and their endorsements, see the July 20 print edition of The Somerville News.