HuffPost's OffTheBus members produced these superdelegate profiles as part of its Superdelegate Investigation. You can find all profiles here.
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Gus Bickford
Member, Democratic National Committee
Massachusetts
Basic Bio
* Graduate of St. George's and Brown University, Westford, Massachusetts resident Gus Bickford has, since 2001, had a consultancy, Factotum Productions, for the use of databases and information technology in political campaigns.
Political interests and issues
* Use of databases and information technology in winning Democratic elections.
Involvement in the Democratic Party
* Currently a member of the DNC, and thus a superdelegate.
* Past executive director of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, and was the deputy campaign director for Niki Tsongas' 2007 congressional campaign.
Pledged Status
* Bickford officially endorsed Hillary Clinton on 1 November 2007, the same day that he became a paid consultant for the Clinton campaign.
* As of February 23, 2008, Bickford had earned $8,000 in consulting fees from the Clinton campaign.
Involvement in the 2008 Election
* Paid consultant for the Clinton campaign.
Previous Campaign Work
* Deputy Campaign Director, Nicola S. Tsongas 2007 congressional campaign
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/gallery/021208_superdelegates?pg=27
http://www.netezza.com/media/2006/eweek_111606.html
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/0/9A/095
http://www.framinghamdems.org/Nov-04-2007Minutes.html
http://www.lowellsun.com/ci_8345181?source=most_emailed
http://www.fcw.com/print/13_3/news/97633-1.html
http://www.thesunblog.com/community/archives/2007/07/
This profile was produced through HuffPost's OffTheBus Superdelegate Investigation. All profiles will be donated to the Superdelegate Transparency Project. If you have information that should be added to this profile, please join the Superdelegate Transparency Project and update the profile there.
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Raymond Jordan
Former State Representative from Springfield, Vice-Chair of Massachusetts Democratic Party, DNC member
Massachusetts
Basic Bio
* 64 years old
* Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government alum http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/news/inthenews/2003/093003.htm
* Represented the 12th Hampden district from 1975 to 1994
* Daughter, Denise R. Jordan--Chief of Staff to Springfield Mayor, Domenic J. Sarno (12/17/07) http://www.masslive.com/republican/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-12/119797144133670.xml&coll=1
Political interests and issues
* Helped secure funding for housing development, summer programs and environmental cleanup. http://www.masslive.com/republican/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-12/119797144133670.xml&coll=1
* Currently the HUD New England liaison for faith-based and community initiatives (as of 7/12/07)
* Has made comments condemning predatory lending practices by the mortgage industry. http://www.masslive.com/news/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-9/1177057629155400.xml&coll=1
Involvement in the Democratic Party
* Worked in the Clinton Administration.
* Supported Clinton over Tsongas in 1992. http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/02/13/pressures_on_mass_superdelegates/
* Vice-Chair of the Massachusetts Democratic Party (20 year seat member) http://www.massdems.org/Contact/mdp.htm
Pledged Status
* Pledged vote to Sen. Barack Obama http://boston.com/news/politics/gallery/021208_superdelegates?pg=21
Previous Campaign Work
* Clinton 1992 and Administration.
This profile was produced through HuffPost's OffTheBus Superdelegate Investigation. All profiles will be donated to the Superdelegate Transparency Project. If you have information that should be added to this profile, please join the Superdelegate Transparency Project and update the profile there.
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Elaine C. Kamarck
Massachusetts
Basic Bio
* Since 1997 Elaine Kamarck has been a Lecturer in Public Policy at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government, Cambridge, MA.
* Received her PhD in political science from the University of California, Berkeley, and BA from Bryn Mawr. http://www.hks.harvard.edu/about/faculty-staff-directory/elaine-kamarckfile://localhost/
* Was also executive director of Visions of Governance for the 21st Century at the Kennedy School, and has worked as a senior fellow at the Progressive Policy Institute. http://www.ezgoveurope.com/company/team.htm
Political Interests And Issues
* Served in the White House from 1993 to 1997, where she created and managed the Clinton Administration's National Performance Review, also known as reinventing government.
* Kamarck conducts research on 21st century government, the role of the Internet in political campaigns, homeland defense, intelligence reorganization, and governmental reform and innovation.
* Academic journal publications include an assessment of Howard Dean's fifty state strategy and the 2006 midterm elections; rethinking emergency response; and "The Gathering Storm."
* Has written on democratic strategy for the future.
* Magazine and newspaper columns, articles and op-eds include "Civil Servants and Politicians;" "Emergency Spending--The New Entitlement Program;" "Make FEMA Independent Again;" and "How Blair Modernized the U.K."
* Research Papers/Reports include "Security First: A Strategy for Defending America."
* Is the author of "The End of Government As We Know It: Policy Implementation in the 21st Century" published by Lynne Rienner, Publishing, Fall, 2006. http://www.hks.harvard.edu/about/faculty-staff-directory/elaine-kamarck
* Has been a regular with Newsday and the Los Angeles Times, and has appeared on many television programs, including ABC News, Nightline, The Lehrer Newshour, CNN, and CSPAN as a government policy expert. http://www.currentargus.com/ci_5618688
* Co-author "The Politics of Polarization," (2005), "exposes several pervasive myths that are allowing Democrats to evade difficult truths about the electorate. . . also reveals how Democrats have lost ground among key groups of voters, including married women and Catholics." http://www.thirdway.org/press/release/9
* Has written on applying 21st-century government to the challenge of homeland security, and on transforming the intelligence community to improve collection and management of information. http://www.businessofgovernment.org/pdfs/KamarckReport.pdf
* Answers questions about how the delegate systems work for the Democratic and Republican parties. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/forum/politics/jan-june08/delegates_02-05.html
* Kamarck welcomes media inquiries on domestic preparedness, civil service, innovations in government, and the Presidency.
* Is teaching a course on presidential elections in the Spring at Harvard.
Involvement in the Democratic Party
* Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Massachusetts, 2000, 2004; member of Democratic National Committee from Massachusetts 2004. http://www.politicalgraveyard.com/bio/kabzinski-kanczuzewski.html
* Approximately 1980 while in graduate school joined the Democratic National Committee as Research Director for the Commission on Presidential Nomination and Party Structure.
* Became program director for the Midterm Conference, executive director of the commission that established state party compliance with the delegate selection rules, and executive director of the 1980 Platform Committee. http://links.jstor.org/
* "This guy [Howard Dean] is not some crazy guy," said Harvard University professor Elaine Kamarck, an experienced Democratic theorist who studied the Emanuel-Dean dispute and the 2006 results - and came down on the side of the chairman. . . .Kamarck attributes Dean's run-in with the 'Clintonistas' to the 'insider antipathy' of a nervous establishment, which looks with trepidation at the Internet's impact on politics. http://www.currentargus.com/ci_5618688
Pledged Status
* Hillary Rodham Clinton superdelegate commitments tracked by the Washington Post and washingtonpost.com, based on public endorsements of candidates by super delegates." http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/delegates/candidates/hillary-clinton/
* As of Feb. 13, ten [of Massachusetts' 26 superdelegates] are supporting Obama, nine are with Clinton, six remain uncommitted to either candidate, and one (who serves on a national party credentialing committee) is officially neutral, according to interviews. [DNC Member-At-Large Dr. Elaine Kamarck listed as one of the nine Clinton pledges.] http://harwichdemocrats.blogspot.com/2008/02/massachusetts-democrats-super-delagate.html
* "They should do them [Michigan and Florida primaries] both over," said Elaine C. Kamarck. But Kamarck would not abide the alternative advanced by Clinton forces, to simply count delegates based on the discredited balloting which had Mrs. Clinton ahead in Michigan and Florida. "'They won't be seated,'" she said. . . Kamarck. . .is a member of the party's Rules Committee." http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/17/us/politics/17caucus.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Elaine+Kamarck&st=nyt&oref=slogin
Previous Campaign Work and Experience
* Was one of the founders of the New Democrat movement that helped elect Bill Clinton president.
* In 2000 took a leave of absence to work as Senior Policy Advisor to the Gore campaign. http://www.hks.harvard.edu/about/faculty-staff-directory/elaine-kamarck
* Worked on the Carter and Mondale campaigns, and campaign manager for Bruce Babbitt.
This profile was produced through HuffPost's OffTheBus Superdelegate Investigation. All profiles will be donated to the Superdelegate Transparency Project. If you have information that should be added to this profile, please join the Superdelegate Transparency Project and update the profile there.
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Paul G. Kirk, Junior
Massachusetts
Basic Bio
* Founding Board Member of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and currently serves as Chairman of the Foundation's Board of Directors.
* Kirk is affiliated with Sullivan & Worcester LLP of Boston, Massachusetts, a law firm (with offices in Washington, DC and New York City) of which he was a partner from 1977-1990.
* Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Kirk & Associates, Inc., a business advisory and consulting firm located in Boston.
* Member of the Board of Directors of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., Rayonier, Incorporated and Cedar Shopping Centers, Inc.
* Served on the Board of Directors of ITT Corporation from 1989 - 1997 and Bradley Real Estate, Inc. from 1991 - 2000.
* Trustee of Stonehill College.
* Past Chairman of the Harvard Board of Overseers Nominating Committee and presently serves as Chairman of the Harvard Overseers Committee to Visit the Department of Athletics.
* A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School
* Kirk resides in Marstons Mills, Massachusetts with his wife Gail.
Involvement in the Democratic Party
* Chairman of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, a nonprofit organization working to strengthen and expand democracy world wide.
* From 1985 to 1989, Kirk served as Chairman of the Democratic Party of the United States and from 1983 to 1985 as its Treasurer.
* Kirk served as special assistant for Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) from 1969-1977.
Pledged Support
* Not pledged
Involvement in 2008 Election - Campaign Appearances, Statements
* Kirk is also co-founder and Co-Chairman of the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) established in 1987 to sponsor and produce debates for leading U.S. presidential and vice presidential candidates and to undertake research and educational activities relating to the debates.
Contributions to Candidates
* $2100 to Christopher Dodd
Connections to Politicians, Leaders on State Level
* Kirk served as special assistant for Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) from 1969-1977.
This profile was produced through HuffPost's OffTheBus Superdelegate Investigation. All profiles will be donated to the Superdelegate Transparency Project. If you have information that should be added to this profile, please join the Superdelegate Transparency Project and update the profile there.
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Debra Kozikowski
Vice-Chair, Massachusetts Democratic Party
Basic Bio
* Debra Kozikowski is currently a real estate agent in Chicopee, Massachusetts and director of a non-profit advocacy organization called RuralVotes
* She attended a local college and was formerly a teacher
Involvement in the Democratic Party
* Kozikowski was elected Vice-Chair of the Massachusetts Democratic Party in 1996 and served as an automatic delegate in 1996, 2000, and 2004.
* She was elected as a delegate for Tsongas from the 2nd Congressional District in 1992; she was elected as an at-large (super) delegate alternate in 1988.
* She describes herself as a "grassroots activist": "I am basically an average housewife who sells real estate part time and has a commitment to Democratic politics. Believe in what you do and it's easy to stay involved."
Involvement In 2008 Election - Campaign Appearances, Statements
* On whom she will support: "I plan to endorse the presumptive nominee" (OTB interview)
* On factors influencing her decision: "What America has to say- the voters, and what in my heart and soul I believe about the candidates electability." (OTB interview)
* On the influence of the state/local primary results: "The weight of my decision lies beyond how my state voted, though I appreciate how people in my state voted, it will have a minimal impact on my ultimate vote come August. That said, I remain uncommitted to either candidate." (OTB interview)
Contributions To Candidates
* No contributions found in Fundrace 2008 database
Family's Involvement In Politics, The Democratic Party
* Her father (deceased) was a dedicated Democrat; her mother remains so.
* "More important than hearing from Bill Clinton, I hear from my mother every day, who has in her old age become a militant feminist. My mom actually says, "How can you even consider voting for a man when there is a perfectly capable woman candidate?" (OTB interview)
This profile was produced through HuffPost's OffTheBus Superdelegate Investigation. All profiles will be donated to the Superdelegate Transparency Project. If you have information that should be added to this profile, please join the Superdelegate Transparency Project and update the profile there.
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David M. O'Brien
Massachusetts
Basic Bio
* Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, 1964
* Received an undergraduate degree in Political Science from Merrimack College, 1986
* Earned a Master in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University http://www.obrienforcongress.com/bio.htm
* Employed as a consultant for Melmark New England, a private nonprofit school serving the needs of autistic students http://www.wickedlocal.com/concord/homepage/x2136083086
Political interests and issues
* Worked to bring affordable housing to Lowell
* Would like to see our troops out of Iraq "safely and soon"
* Supports the idea of universal health care
* In favor of imposing campaign finance regulations on 527 groups
* Would like to see a path toward legalization for undocumented immigrants currently in the United States.
* Worked in the federal government under President Clinton as one of the first staffers to help start the Americorps program in 1993.
* Worked at the U.S. Small Business Administration as the regional advocate for New England. http://point08.blogspot.com/2007/03/interview-with-david-obrien-candidate.html
Involvement in the Democratic Party
* Delegate, Democratic National Convention, 2000, 2004
* Presidential Elector for Massachusetts, 1992 http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/obrien2.html
* Member, Democratic National Committee, 1996
* Member, Democratic State Committee, 1992 http://www.obrienforcongress.com/bio.htm
Involvement in the 2008 Election
* Pledged support to Barack Obama http://harwichdemocrats.blogspot.com/2008/02/massachusetts-democrats-super-delagate.html
Previous Campaign Work and Experience
* Candidate in Special Election for Congressman, Fifth District.
* Started with Mike Dukakis's campaign, worked on the presidential campaigns of Bill Clinton and Al Gore twice.
* Traveled in the 2000 campaign with the Gores occasionally but more often in the general election with Joe Lieberman as his trip director. http://point08.blogspot.com/2007/03/interview-with-david-obrien-candidate.html
Connections to Politicians, Leaders on State Level
* Worked with former state Senator Patricia McGovern, 1986 http://point08.blogspot.com/2007/03/interview-with-david-obrien-candidate.html
This profile was produced through HuffPost's OffTheBus Superdelegate Investigation. If you have information that should be added to this profile, please send an email to campaigntrail@huffingtonpost.com with "superdelegate profile" in the subject line. All profiles will be donated to the Superdelegate Transparency Project.
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James Roosevelt, Junior
Massachusetts
Basic Bio
* Born on November 9, 1945, in Hollywood, California
* Married Ann Martha Conlon on June 15, 1968, in Cambridge, Mass.
(Ann Roosevelt is a residential real estate broker in Cambridge. She is also a consultant on environmental issues and policy, and is the president of the Cambridge Water Board, which governs the water supply there. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/19/fashion/weddings/19roosevelt.html?_r=1&ref=weddings&oref=slogin)
* Earned an A.B. with honors in government from Harvard College in 1968
* Earned a J.D. in 1971 from Harvard Law School
* Completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in 2003
* 1999 to 2005: Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Tufts Health Plan, Waltham, MA
As the general counsel, presided over the legal department and the company's compliance, privacy and government relations functions.
* 2005 to present: President and CEO of Tufts Health Plan (he received $1.19 million in 2007, including a bonus of $552,909. Directors at THP earn between $11,500 and $29,000. Tufts Health Plan reported net income of $110 million on revenue of $2.2 billion.http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2008/03/01/blue_cross_chief_earned_36m_in_07/)
* Co-Chairman of Tufts Health Care Institute
* Chief legal counsel for the Massachusetts Democratic Party and co-chair of the Rules and By-laws Committee of the Democratic National Committee
* Past President of the American Health Lawyers Association
* Was a partner at Choate, Hall & Stewart in Boston for 10 years
* Frequent lecturer and author on legal and public policy topics
* Clinical instructor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at Tufts University School of Medicine
* Admitted to the bars of the District of Columbia, Massachusetts and the U.S. Supreme Court
* Resides in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Mass. http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:XdUAQoLb6JIJ:www.bostonbar.org/cle/0405/Rooseveltbio.pdf+%22James+Roosevelt+Jr.%22+Massachusetts&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=ushttp://www.tmci.org/about_thci/boardbio.html
* Spent a year as a novice at a California monastery of a Catholic order, the Christian Brothers http://www.joi.org/bloglinks/The%20New%20York%20Times%20%20New%20York%20Region%20%20Roosevelts%20and%20the%20Quirks%20of%20Destiny.htm appointed to Board of Directors of the Kenneth B. Schwartz Center, a small nonprofit in Boston founded by a patient to help strengthen relationships between patients and caregivers
http://www.kennethbschwartz.org/news/2007_04_04.html
Political interests and issues
* Received the 2005 Lifetime Achievement Award for his lifelong efforts to preserve Social Security and Medicare. The award is part of the National Committee's annual Salute to Leaders in Aging program, which recognizes individuals and organizations for outstanding service to seniors and their families. http://www.ncpssm.org/news/archive/2005-05-05/
* Frequent speaker against the privatization of Social Security http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?pid=2242
http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:iBsXlfKTkCUJ:democrats.senate.gov/dpc/hearings/hearing18/roosevelt.pdf+%22James+Roosevelt+Jr.%22+massachusetts&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=18&gl=us
Involvement in the Democratic Party
* Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Massachusetts in 1980, 2000, 2004
* Member of Democratic National Committee from Massachusetts, 2004 http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/roosevelt.html
* Was associate commissioner for retirement policy for the Social Security Administration under the Clinton Administration http://www.superdelegates.org/James_Roosevelt_Jr
* Chief legal counsel for the Massachusetts Democratic Party http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:XdUAQoLb6JIJ:www.bostonbar.org/cle/0405/Rooseveltbio.pdf+%22James+Roosevelt+Jr.%22+Massachusetts&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=us
Involvement in the 2008 Election
* Uncommitted
* "One of the three chairs of the Democratic National Convention Credentials Committee, which will decide whether Michigan and Florida pledged delegates should count at the DNC" http://www.superdelegates.org/James_Roosevelt_Jr
http://washingtontimes.com/article/20080219/NATION/73827779
* "The chairs of the committee are all veterans of the Clinton administration in some way: Alexis Herman, James Roosevelt, Jr. and Eliseo Roques-Arroyo: this led to certain conspiracy theories. But all three have maintained their neutrality; there are many Clinton officials supporting Obama, and it's hard to find prominent Dems who didn't play some role in the Clinton administration. Anyway, Mr. Dean has not packed the committee with Clinton loyalists. He's packed the committee with, well, Dean loyalists." http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/03/kate_oconnor_former_cpos.php
Contributions to Candidates
* 2004 - $250 to Kerry
* (wife Ann has donated $1000 to Clinton in Q1/2007, $2000 to Kerry in Q1/2004)
Family's Involvement in Politics, the Democratic Party
* Grandson of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States http://www.ncpssm.org/news/archive/2005-05-05/
Previous Campaign Work and Experience What campaigns did they work on before, in what capacity?
* In 1986, ran unsuccessfully against Joseph P. Kennedy II for Representative of Massachusetts' Eighth Congressional District http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=273745
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives%2C_Massachusetts_District_8
This profile was produced through HuffPost's OffTheBus Superdelegate Investigation. All profiles will be donated to the Superdelegate Transparency Project. If you have information that should be added to this profile, please join the Superdelegate Transparency Project and update the profile there.
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DIANE SAXE
Grafton, Massachusetts
Basic Bio
* Saxe was born in Boston.
* Obtained a master's degree (field unknown) at Indiana State University.
* Recently retired as director of the meetings and conferences department of the 28,000-member, 120-year-old American Mathematical Society, headquartered in Providence, R.I. In federal finance filings she is described as a "meeting planner."
* Lives in Grafton, Massachusetts
Political interests and issues
* Saxe says that in politics she has specialized in "training and grassroots efforts" and in "campaigning for candidates." Says she is "not issue-oriented."
Involvement in the Democratic Party
* News reports in Massachusetts describe Saxe as a "veteran activist." Was elected to the DNC in 2004.
* Previously was chair of field services for the party, and chair of the party's Campaign Institute for 10 years.
* Is a member of the rules committee and the (convention) site selection committee.
* Has worked on "many campaigns," she says. She has not appeared much in the press. One exception: Interview with the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Feb. 15, 2008. That article described her as age 60, one of 4 DNC members from Massachusetts and one of the state's 26 superdelegates.
Pledged Status
* After initially endorsing John Edwards in June 2007 - named a convention delegate for Edwards -- Saxe endorsed Clinton after Edwards dropped out Jan. 30. The Worcester article cited above says: "She said she is convinced that Mrs. Clinton has the most experience for the job, but she is still not happy about her own role because having a fraction of the party membership - there are roughly 4,600 regular delegates - essentially pick the nominee is a decidedly undemocratic way to run the Democratic Party."
* Direct quote from her in that article: "I hope and feel strongly that this won't be decided by going to the convention. It's just the politics of the whole situation, just coming down to 800 people."
Involvement in the 2008 Election
* Says she has "not really" appeared at events for Hillary Clinton. "I was a delegate of John Edwards and did appear for him," she says.
Contributions to Candidates
* Saxe gave $250 to John Kerry in February 2004 and $300 to him in 2002.
* Also has made modest donations to the Massachusetts Democratic Party
* Contributed to one or two congressional candidates from Massachusetts.
Previous Campaign Work and Experience
* "She has been "involved in many campaigns," and "can't remember them all," she says. But she lists: Kerry, Clinton, Gore and Dukakis for president; Shannon O'Brien for Mass. Governor and state treasurer, Tim Murray for Mass. Lieutenant governor, Chris Gabelli for Mass. Governor, Ed Augustus for Mass. Senate -- and even "Guy Glodis for sheriff."
This profile was produced through HuffPost's OffTheBus Superdelegate Investigation. If you have information that should be added to this profile, please send an email to campaigntrail@huffingtonpost.com with "superdelegate profile" in the subject line. All profiles will be donated to the Superdelegate Transparency Project.
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Alan Solomont, Massachusetts
* Received a B.A. from Tufts University in 1970 in Political Science and Urban Studies
* Pursued independent studies abroad as a Thomas J. Watson Fellow
* Earned a B.S. in Nursing from the University of Lowell
* Married to Susan Lewis, who is a Senior Advisor at The Philanthropic Initiative where she advises individuals, foundations and corporations on strategic philanthropy
* Chairman and CEO of Solomont Bailis Ventures, whose mission is to launch new and innovative health and eldercare ventures
* Director of the Boston Private Bank & Trust Company
* Managing Member of Angel Healthcare Investors, LLC
* Chairman of the Board of Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston
* Vice Chairman of Boston Medical Center
* Chairs Boston Medical Center's Development Committee
* Member of the Boards of the Jewish Fund for Justice
* Member, the New Israel Fund, Israel Policy Forum
* Member, Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly
* Member, the Heller School at Brandeis University
* Member, WGBH Educational Foundation
* Trustee of alma mater, Tufts University, where Solomont chairs the National Advisory Board of the University College of Citizenship and Public Service.
* Chosen by President Clinton and Vice President Gore to serve as National Finance Chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in 1997
* Delegate to the 1996 and 2000 Democratic National Conventions
* National Chairman of the Democratic Business Council
* Treasurer of the Massachusetts Democratic Party
* Chairman of the DNC's Leadership 2000 Board.
* Was a leading provider of eldercare in New England
* Committed to peace in the Middle East and a democratic Israel
* Accompanied House Democratic leader Richard Gephardt to Israel in 1998 on the occasion of Israel's 50th Anniversary
Involvement in 2008 election - campaign appearances, statements
* Uncommitted
* Q1/2007, $4,600, Barack Obama
* Q1/2007, $2,100, Tom Vilsack
* Q1/2007, $1,000, Bill Richardson
* Q1/2004, $25,000, DNC
* Q1/2004, $2,000, John Kerry
* Q1/2004, $2,000, Dick Gephardt
* Named by President Clinton to serve on the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service. The Corporation oversees three national service initiatives: AmeriCorps, the National Senior Service Corps and Learn & Serve America
* Involved in John Kerry Presidential Campgain http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Alan_D._Solomont
* Massachusetts finance chairman of the Kerry campaign,1968 Democratic convention in Chicago. when as Tufts student majoring in political science who landed work as a page on the convention floor
* Worked on both of Clinton's presidential campaigns
* Selected by Clinton in 1997 to dig the Democratic Party out of debt as national finance chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
* 1982, Michael Dukakis's gubernatorial campaign
This profile was produced through HuffPost's OffTheBus Superdelegate Investigation. If you have information that should be added to this profile, please send an email to campaigntrail@huffingtonpost.com with "superdelegate profile" in the subject line. All profiles will be donated to the Superdelegate Transparency Project.
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Honorable John Tierney
United States Representative
Massachusetts
Basic Bio
Information for this section comes from Tierney House
* Born in Salem, Massachusetts
* Attended Salem Public Schools and graduated from Salem State College
* Earned law degree from Suffolk University
* Partner in the law firm of Tierney, Kalis and Lucas for over 20 years
* Took Office in January 1997
* Tierney and wife, Patrice, continue to make Salem their home
Involvement in the Democratic Party
Information for this section comes from Tierney House
* Sixth term representing Massachusett's Sixth District as United States Representative
* Serves on the Education and Labor Committee
* Member, Subcommittee on Higher Edcuation, Lifelong Learning and Comptetitiveness
* Member, Subcommittee on Health, Employment Labor and Pensions
* Chairmanship of the National Security and Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
Personal political interests and issues
Information for this section comes from Tierney House
* Fighting for a vibrant middle class
* Education and labor issues
* Authored legislation to make college more affordable
* Committed to creating more jobs and ensuring workers receive needed training. This is reflected in his sponsorship and authorship of several key initiatives that strengthen laws protecting American workers, including the Emergency Retiree Health Benefits Protection Act, which would prohibit profitable companies that promised employees retirement coverage from curtailing or eliminating benefits under their retiree health plans after an employee retires
* Tierney believes that we can, and we should, have a government that is truly responsible to the American people -- not to special interest groups and lobbyists
Contributions to Candidates
* First quarter 2004, $1000, John Kerry, http://fundrace.huffingtonpost.com/neighbors.php?type=name&lname=tierney&fname=john&search=Search
This profile was produced through HuffPost's OffTheBus Superdelegate Investigation. If you have information that should be added to this profile, please send an email to campaigntrail@huffingtonpost.com with "superdelegate profile" in the subject line. All profiles will be donated to the Superdelegate Transparency Project.
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Margaret ("MarDee") Xifaras
Basic Bio
* Graduated from the University of Illinois
* Masters degrees from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and Southeastern Massachusetts University (now University of Massachusetts Dartmouth).
* Received her law degree from Boston University.
* Is in her young 60s.
* Admitted to practice in Massachusetts and Florida, also admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
* Member of the Massachusetts Bar Association, the Bristol County Bar Association and the New Bedford Bar Association.
* Former Chair of the Family Law Section of the Massachusetts Bar Association.
* Frequent panelist or presenter on family law and ethics.
* Practices law in New Bedford, Massachusetts. (Source: Lang, Xifaras & Bullard law firm website).
Political interests and issues
* Is a breast cancer survivor and has been involved, with her daughters, in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer is held across the country, and has raised over $100 million to fight breast cancer.
* Has also been involved in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life walk. (Source: Boston Globe, May 18, 2006 article by Paul E. Kandarian, "People" section).
* The online Standard-Times on February 11, 2004 reported that both Margaret D. Xifaras and her husband John Xifaras were scheduled to be recognized with a humanitarian award for years of outstanding community service. The award was being given during a grief seminar at the Venus de Milo restaurant in the town of Swansea, Massachusetts. The article noted that Margaret D. Xifaras was well known in local, regional and national political and governmental circles and that she had also been recognized for outstanding community service by the Massachusetts Bar Association.
* Chairwoman of the board of the Southern New England School of Law in Dartmouth
* Volunteer and contributor to Habitat for Humanity for a decade.
* Joined the peace corps when she graduated from college and spent two years as a volunteer teacher in Malawi. (Source: Standard-Times, 2/11/04).
* Her husband John Xifaras is a retired Superior Court judge with more than four decades of judicial and legal experience.
* Judge Xifaras has been honored for his public service on other occasions including receiving an award from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, New Bedford branch, for services he had contributed to the NAACP and to black people in the community. (Source: Standard-Times, 2/11/04).
* Margaret D. Xifaras was co-chairwoman of a campaign to raise $500,000 needed to get the schooner Ernestina refurbished and certified as a sail-training ship. http://www.ernestina.org/history/1987.html
* Honored by The Massachusetts Bar ("MBF") which awarded her the Great Friend of Justice Award.
* Xifaras is a past president (1996-1998) of the Massachusetts Bar Foundation, and is a MBF Louis D. Brandeis Life Fellow. http://www.massbar.org/for_attorneys/publications/lawyers_journal/2003/november/celebrating_colleagues_a_theme_at)
Involvement in the Democratic Party
* Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Massachusetts, 1980, 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008
* Member of Democratic National Committee from Massachusetts since 2004. PoliticalGraveyard.com/bio
Involvement in the 2008 Election
* Barack Obama's campaign announced on February 21, 2008, that Margaret D. Xifaras, a Democratic National Committee member from Massachusetts, is in the fold.
* Said that she was uncommitted in the presidential race for well over a year because she wanted to see how each campaign handled the organizational, financial, issues development, and strategic aspects of his or her campaign. Xifaras said that she ended up deciding to support Obama after his decisive win in Iowa, and the ten wins after Super Tuesday. Stated that Obama and his campaign had shown organizational and financial strength, wise positions on issues, and overall relied on strong community-based organizers rather than just the same old political establishment. http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/02/massachusetts_s.html
Contributions to Candidates
* Has made contributions to the DNC, to John Kerry, and to Barack Obama. (Source: http://fundrace.huffingtonpost.com/neighbors.php?type=name&lname=Xifaras&fname=Margaret&search=Search)
Family's Involvement in Politics, the Democratic Party
* Husband is a retired judge who now works as a private mediator, arbitrator, and/or settlement judge with JAMS. Standard-Times, 2/11/04
Previous Campaign Work
* Xifaras was one of the original Gerry Studds super-campaigners. Gerry Studds an American Democratic Congressman from Massachusetts who served from 1973 until 1997. He was the first openly gay national politician in the U.S. http://www.boston.com/news/globe/obituaries/articles/2006/12/03/friends_remember_studds_as_a_gentle_but_determined_force/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+__+Obituaries)
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