Regional US Senate Candidate Forum

US Senate candidates Mayor Setti Warren and Representative Tom Conroy will be meeting  with area voters on Tuesday, August 16 at forum hosted by the Westborough, Shrewsbury, Grafton, Northborough, Southborough, Hopkibton and Ashland Democratic Town Committees (DTCs). The meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Community Room at Tatnuck Bookseller at 18 Lyman Street in Westborough .

This is the second in a series of events with candidates for US Senate.  "Democrats in Central Massachusetts are excited, engaged, and ready to go for 2012," noted Jason Palitsch, chair of the Shrewsbury DTC.  "We had a great crowd at our first Senate forum, and I know that members of Shrewsbury's Town Committee are looking forward to hearing from the next group of candidates."  Setti Warren is the Mayor of Newton, Massachusetts. After 9/11.  Mr. Warren decided to enlist in the Navy Reserves, and he served a yearlong tour of duty in Northern Iraq as a Navy Intelligence specialist. Mr. Warren has spent over two decades in public service.  He spent over ten years in the federal government as a White House staff member during the Clinton administration, the head of FEMA in New England, and then as John Kerry’s point person on Small Business in Massachusetts. He knocked on over 11,000 doors to become the Mayor of Newton, and since then has balanced two budgets during tough times, saving taxpayers 8 million dollars. Mr. Warren will be introduced by Mayor Joe O'Brien of Worcester.  

Tom Conroy is the third-term State Representative from the towns of Lincoln, Sudbury and Wayland. He has compiled an extensive legislative record and currently is vice-chair of the Joint Committee of Health Care Financing. Mr. Conroy has significant experience in the business, non-profit, and government sectors, including 16 years as a risk and management consultant and on the staff of U. S. Senator Barbara Mikulski. Mr. Conroy launched his Senate bid on June 2nd and is in the midst of a 600-mile “Town to Town Walk” across the Commonwealth in his quest to become “The voice of the people” in the US Senate. Mr. Conroy will be introduced by Representative Carolyn Dykema.

In addition to hearing the candidates, voters who are interested in getting involved will have an opportunity to talk informally with officers in area Democratic committees.  "Voters were very interested in the opportunity to hear from people who are running for US Senate," said  Kate Donaghue, chair of the Westborough DTC. "At the first forum we had people from more than a dozen communities. We made the decision to have forums early in the process.  We have the privilege of being able to have real conversations with candidates," she added.  

Most of the area Democratic Town Committees have regular meetings.  Information is available at www.massdems.org.  Mr. Palitsch and Ms. Donaghue are also members of the Democratic State Committee and can assist people who are interested in getting involved locally with the Democratic Party.  Mr. Palitsch can be reached at 508-847-1139 or jasonpalitsch@gmail.com. Ms. Donaghue is at 508-404-8531 or KateDonaghue@aol.com .