A Wiser Yes For Reading Focused On Override Success

To understand the difference between Yes For Reading 2016 and the Yes For Reading organizers who held their first rally Monday night, don't look at the emotional override issues, look at their numbers.

The group that tried to convince Reading's roughly 19,000 voters to support the $7.5 million override in 2016 was 10-15 strong. They were passionate, determined, and above all else, outnumbered. The result was a convincing loss with 4,097 opposed, 2,795 in favor.

This time around, Yes For Reading co-chairs Erin Gaffen and Michele Sanphy are applying the lessons learned from 2016. The small team has been replaced by an army of volunteers and Monday night alone almost 200 showed up at the First Congregational Church. Divided up by precincts, complete with a precinct captain, the group is well organized and volunteers will soon be fanning out across Reading to talk to residents. As much as they would like everyone in town to vote yes, their efforts are as much to get the vote out as it is to convince Residents how to vote.

In 2016, 15 percent of registered voters under 40 years old voted, meaning few parents with school children cast their vote. It also meant voters over 60 years old became the largest voting block. It was a clear formula for defeat. Gaffen told the assembled group, "we need parents to show up and show up big." After a 37 percent turnout in 2016, Gaffen hopes for a 50 percent turnout this April, leading to her goal of 4,800 yes votes. But in truth, she would take just one more vote than the no camp.

"I lose sleep every night thinking about the effect a failed override would have on our town," said Gaffen, who joined with Sanphy in questioning organizers in towns that had successful overrides about their strategies.

Entering the church there was a sign-up table filled with volunteer opportunities. Want to host a coffee or cocktails in your home, sign right here. Want to have a lawn sign, drop off a lawn sign, donate, or be an election day volunteer? Sign on the dotted line. There was even a sign-up sheet for writing letters to the editor (two brave souls had signed up). The entire room screamed "we learned our lesson."

"Spread the word, spread the enthusiasm and talk to every person you know in Reading," said Sanphy.

The army has its mission.

Photo by Bob Holmes