2012 CDM Elections
Running for President:
Taylor Barnard, Tufts ’14
Candidate Statement: I grew up in Stansbury Park, Utah and moved to Massachusetts for college. I’ve made the Commonwealth my adopted home state and now live here full time. We are lucky to live in such a progressive place and I am proud to be part of an organization that helps elect Democratic candidates who represent our interests. I am a rising junior at Tufts University with a double major in political science and philosophy. I currently serve as the Programs Director for CDM. I’ve successfully overseen this year’s Registration Rumble, Winter Summit, and Convention preparations. I also serve as President of Tufts Democrats. Both of these experiences have given me the organizational and leadership skills necessary to carry out the goals of CDM. As President of College Democrats of Massachusetts my number one goal will be to utilize CDM’s wealth of commitment and talent to maintain the Democratic Party’s hold on the Massachusetts House seats, increase our majorities on Beacon Hill, elect progressive candidates at the local level, win back the Senate seat from Scott Brown, and re-elect Barack Obama to a second term as President of the United States. I plan to increase the number of active chapters, engage chapters on a personal level, make voter registration and member recruitment a priority, and successfully coordinate with the various campaigns. I hope that you’ll join me in my efforts to make this a successful year for Democrats up and down the ballot.
Running for Vice President:
Will Poff-Webster, Harvard ’14
Candidate Statement: I’m Will Poff-Webster, the CDM Co-Eastern Regional Director and VP of the Harvard Dems, and I’m running for Vice President of CDM. As a Massachusetts resident, I’ve grown up passionate about the politics of my home state. I got involved in political activism as a Boston Public Schools student, when I helped lead a campaign to stop budget cuts to public education. Ever since then, I’ve been involved in education reform, working at the Boston Student Advisory Council, a group for student voice in education. I’ve connected this grassroots organizing with my passion for politics through volunteering for Deval Patrick, Barack Obama, and participating in CDM’s Plymouth campaign invasion, as well as interning for State Representative Marty Walsh. This summer I’m interning for Elizabeth Warren.
CDM’s greatest strength is its network of passionately political students across Massachusetts. As Vice President, I want to strengthen and take advantage of that network. Let’s hold more campaigning, political, and social events that bring together students from different chapters so we can make more of an impact and have more fun than if each of our chapters go it alone.
As an organizer with experience in issue-based campaigns, I believe CDM can have a role outside election time in advocating on issues that affect college students. To give just two examples, CDM and its chapters can fight for student loan reform and sustainable solutions to public transit fare hikes and service cuts.
Thanks, and I hope you’ll join me in thinking about how CDM can connect and serve us better!
Running for Finance Director:
Matt Shuham, Harvard ’15
Candidate Statement: I am incredibly excited to have the chance to run for the Finance Director of the College Democrats of Massachusetts. The job won’t be easy, especially with such an important election cycle already upon us, but I will do all that I can to ensure that CDM is an institution strong both politically and financially. I want to put a renewed emphasis on our fundraising efforts; they are the key to our success in an atmosphere in which money and politics are more intricately intertwined than they’ve ever been, and they will be vital in all of our efforts to engage college students going forward. This is a great year to get involved in Democratic politics and I hope every college Democrat of Massachusetts is as excited as I am for the road ahead!
Running for Communications Director:
Matthew Bonaccorsi, UMass Amherst ’13
Candidate Statement: Since joining the UMass Democrats two years ago, it has “progressively” become my second family. After rising to our Executive Board, first as Programs Director, then Vice President, and now, President, I have committed myself to College Democrats tirelessly. In addition to majoring in Political Science and International Relations, I have interned for State Senate President Pro Tempore Stan Rosenberg, State Representative Carl Sciortino, and I will be working this summer for the Elizabeth Warren for Senate Campaign.
Jonathan Dame, Boston College ’14
Candidate Statement: As Communications Director of CDM I will work to strengthen three fundamental functions of CDM as a whole:
1. Increase the input of individual chapters to the functioning of CDM.
As Communications Director I will work to ensure that individual chapters have a larger voice and role in CDM by streamlining communication from chapters to the CDM e-board. This will be done through developing personal relationships with chapter leaders, and active attempts to make myself available and reach out to chapter leaders on a regular basis through emails and phone calls.
2. Increase communication between chapters.
Although CDM summits/conventions are a great way to network and meet Democrats from across the state, CDM should work to promote a more sustainable and constructive dialogue between chapters. CDM should actively work to facilitate discussion between chapters both to host more frequent multi-chapter events, but also to give each chapter the help necessary to develop most effectively.
3. Make sure that CDM continues to effectively and professionally relay information to chapters and other relevant parties.
With crucial 2012 elections approaching, it is vital that CDM continues to effectively orchestrate canvasses, phone banks, and other events that are properly advertised and engage as many chapters as possible — CDM should be a recognized force in the 2012 elections. This will be done through increasing social media presence, maintaining an up-to-date website and most importantly by putting in the time to reach out to chapters, individuals, and other organizations through emails and phone calls.
Running for Membership Director:
Geena Bournazian, Bridgewater State University ’14
Candidate Statement: My name is Geena Bournazian and I am a sophomore at Bridgewater State University, currently working towards a degree in Political Science. This summer I will be working as an intern for Elizabeth Warren, and I am also currently developing the Law and Politics Society at my school. I am a very ambitious and driven person, and I am always excited to take on new opportunities.
I am running for the position of Membership Director because I believe I can provide a lot of insight into the position. This year Bridgewater State University started our own chapter of the College Democrats of Massachusetts, and during this new chapter process we experienced a lot of success. With the guidance of our very energetic President, we were able to build a strong chapter. However, I also saw some of the struggles we had for recruitment, given the location of our university is in Plymouth County, which is primarily Republican. We overcame this obstacle, and with the help of our voter registration drive put our name out to the student body, and even got a spot in the school newspaper. With this insight for what works and what doesn’t when starting a new chapter, I believe I can be an effective Membership Director.
When elected to the position of Membership Director, I plan to create 10 new chapters of the College Democrats across the state. I also plan to get more two year schools and community colleges involved in our organization. I plan to work with my team to come up with new and creative ways to appeal to students at these largely commuter schools, to encourage them to stay on campus and get involved. As an undergraduate student myself, I learned getting involved on campus can make a huge difference in the college experience, and it is therefore important to me to spread this message to other students and get students involved in politics. I am excited to meet everyone at the Convention on March 31st, and I hope I can secure your vote to elect me as Membership Director.