The Sandwich Democratic Town Committee

[Editor’s note: Bill Fleming is a member of the SDTC and a 2014 Convention Delegate.]

It is time. It is time for us to consider taking the second step in a leadership transition. We took the first step eight years ago when we joined and built support for a relatively unknown, African-American gubernatorial candidate. Duval Patrick started far behind a number of more well-established and familiar names lined up to become our next governor. That decision by the Party and the electorate turned out to have been really good, both for us and for the Commonwealth. It was a clear choice to look to the future, and to transition to a new kind of political and policy leader.

Now, it is time for us to consider that second step toward the future. Do we continue to march forward with an eye to advancing a new generation of leadership or do we take a step back and return to the days of “anointing” the next in line from an older guard? It is a tough decision because we have an entire field of well-qualified candidates to be our next governor. But I have discovered in the last couple of months that we are blessed with one candidate whose support would reflect that we have our eyes on the future and on leadership for that future.

As with almost all of my fellow convention delegates at the time we were elected, we were intrigued by the field but undecided. Most of us, including me, felt pretty strongly that we wanted to see more than the two front runners – Coakley and Grossman – reach the primary stage. I still believe strongly that such an outcome from the upcomingconvention would be excellent. Let us hear from the candidates who are farther back in the polls. Let’s see how they do with “retail” politics.

Since the February caucus, however, I have had an opportunity to hear one of the candidates – Juliette Kayyem – in three entirely different settings. She is extraordinarily impressive. She reflects in her own life the steadily growing diversity of our society. The breadth and depth of her intellect, personality, and policy range is extraordinary. I have seen Kayyem field all kinds of questions, light and heavy, and without exception she has shown mastery of whatever the subject, expressed clear and well thought out opinions and policy positions, and listened carefully to what others had to say.

As hard as it may be to believe, I have yet to see her equivocate or obfuscate in order to avoid answering a difficult or controversial question. It is refreshing to say the least. Kayyem is not flawless; no one is. I am sure that the opposition, doubters, and cynics can find some policy position, idea, or initiative of hers to “disqualify” her from consideration. But I threw my litmus test out the window a long time ago. Litmus tests are for the right-wingers, not for Democrats.

So, it is time. It is time for the Undecideds to un-undecide. My vote will be for Kayyem because she has shown every indication of being that second step toward the future; of being a solid member of a new (or newer) generation of leaders. I urge my fellow delegates to once again turn their eyes to the future and to support her as well. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain from her being engaged in a well-contested primary. Whether she will end up deserving my/our vote(s) come Primary day remains to be seen. But in my view she definitely deserves a place on that ballot.