Many of us count our first recollections of Frank from our committee’s Citizen’s Circle event on the war in Iraq in March, 2007.  During the open round-table discussion, with emotion in his voice Frank told us that very recently he’d changed his party registration from life-long Republican to Democrat as a protest to President Bush’s Iraq war policy.  As a veteran, this could have been no easy step for him to take.  Frank became a member of the Boxford Democratic Town Committee that same year, and we elected him a delegate or an alternate to the state Democratic convention every year since that time.

Frank loved those conventions.  He went out early to attend the parties, attended the delegates’ breakfast sponsored by the Massachusetts Congressional delegation, and relished meeting Governor Patrick in person.  We missed Frank Pomroy’s cheery presence at this year’s convention — so much so that it has suggested to us a particularly appropriate way to remember him.  We plan to name a delegate’s seat at each year’s state convention after him:  The Franklin Pierce Pomroy Honorary Delegate from Boxford will commemorate the enthusiasm with which Frank celebrated his new-found political home in the Democratic party.

Rest in peace, dear friend.

Marianne Rutter, Chair

Elected as delegates were Frank Pomroy, Mill Run Road; Cheryl L. Hoyt, Ipswich Road; and Joan Campbell, Pinehurst Drive.  Elected as alternates were Donald Bumiller, King George Drive; Maureen Malcolm, Main Street; and Susan Toleos, Sunrise Road.  The chair of the Boxford Democratic Town Committee at the time of the June convention will complete the delegation, serving ex officio.  Marianne Rutter, King John Drive, is currently the committee’s chair.

The state Democratic convention will be held on Saturday, June 4 at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell.  Democrats from across the state will gather to vote on an Action Agenda and participate in training on party-building, electoral techniques and issue-based organizing.

After the caucus, the committee held a brief business meeting.  Its next meeting will be on Thursday, March 10 at 7:30 pm.

The Boxford Democratic Committee meets regularly at various public venues in town and welcomes any Democrat registered to vote in Boxford to attend. For more information, visit the committee’s website at www.boxforddems.wordpress.com.  For general information on the Convention, please contact the Democratic State Committee at 617-776-2676.

In this season of thanks, it is fitting to recognize the members of Boxford’s Democratic committee and other neighbors who put in many hours during the election season just past.   We had a vigorous get-out-the vote effort locally, thanks to the leadership of  Louise Kress.   Joan Campbell, Sharon Heller, Susan Toleos and others stepped to various tasks, from distributing lawn signs to making voter-ID phone calls to poll-checking on election day.  We have these good friends and neighbors to thank for their part in the historic statewide effort that re-elected a governor with vision and purpose and that retained a talented, progressive all-Democratic Congressional delegation.

Even more important, this mutual dedication of effort large and small strengthens our civic life, reminding us that the right to vote is not to be taken for granted and the right to disagree is part of the bedrock of our freedom.  If you care about community and these important shared American values, please join us.

Pictured on the deck of the Community Store in east Boxford are, from left to right: front row: David Woodruff, Frank Pomroy, and Susan Toleos; back row: Marianne Rutter, honoree Jake London, and Sharon Heller

London and two other Masconomet seniors, Josh Nichols and Tom Bonanno, will also receive books during graduation week from the Boxford committee to honor their internship service with Democrats in the state legislature.  Bonanno was an intern with Rep. Theodore Speliotis (D-Danvers), whose district includes Topsfield.  Nichols’ internship was with Rep. John Rogers (D-Norwood), whose district includes Norwood and part of Walpole.

The Boxford Democratic Town Committee coordinates each year with Masconomet faculty member Deborah Shapiro to help enable internships for Masconomet seniors with Democratic members of the state legislature.  The legislative internship program is one of many work-study initiatives that form an important part of the senior-year curriculum at the high school.

Action was also taken to move forward on adopting a formal set of by-laws for the committee.  Recommendations will be made and referred for vote at the next meeting.

The committee’s next meeting will be a breakfast gathering on Saturday, May 15, at 9:45 am at the Boxford Community Store, Elm Street, East Boxford.