The Massachusetts Democratic Party is holding an election for its chair Thursday. And the current head is at the center of a bit of controversy.
Chair Gus Bickford is running for another term. He's being opposed by Mike Lake and Bob Massie, who have both run unsuccessfully for statewide office. Lake ran for auditor in 2010 and lieutenant governor in 2014, while Massie campaigned for governor in 2018.
CommonWealth Magazine reports a recent internal investigation faulted Bickford for advising the College Democrats of Massachusetts to talk to a reporter about claims of inappropriate behavior with students by then-congressional candidate and Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse.
The report said Bickford should have advised the students talk to officials at their respective colleges instead.
Sheila Murray of West Stockbridge is part of the Democratic state committee, and has a vote for the next chair.
"It's a western Mass. issue, so people from western Mass. are going to make it much more of an issue than other parts of the state that have no involvement — don't even know it," Murray said.
Springfield City Councilor Jesse Lederman is also a member of the statewide committee. He said the situation with Bickford could be on the minds of members as they decide who to vote for.
Lederman said he's looking for a chair who will continue a recent trend of more young people getting involved with the party.
"What are we doing to cultivate and support young people who might not be getting involved as candidates for office, but who are interested in getting involved as orgainzers?" Lederman said. "What are we doing to teach people how to run campaigns, how to connect with communities, and how to be able to get the word out about their candidate?"
Lederman also said another issue for the party: figuring out what to look for in the next candidate for governor, and what efforts to support them will look like.
Governor Charlie Baker, a Republican, has not said if he will run for a third term in 2022.
