Harris-Walz Signs

We are sold out! Thank you to all who purchased Harris-Walz signs from us. To buy them locally, please contact the Hopkinton DTC or Ashland DTC.

Holliston Housing Community Event

Join the movement for smart growth in Holliston! 

State Representative James Arena-DeRosa and the Holliston Democratic Town Committee are sponsoring a forum on housing. The community event will take place on Wednesday, September 18th, from 7-9pm, in person at Holliston Town Hall and virtually on Zoom.

In January 2021, Massachusetts passed the MBTA Communities Law. At this forum, we will discuss how the law benefits Holliston residents, including first-time homeowners, renters, businesses, people looking to downsize, and seniors. We'll share thoughts and ideas about how Holliston can balance its residents' needs to achieve smart growth in the future.

The event will be moderated by State Representative James Arena De-Rosa. James was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 2022. Representing the towns of Holliston, Hopkinton, Sherborn, and Millis, Rep. Arena-DeRosa now channels a lifetime of public service knowledge into advocating for his communities while addressing pressing issues such as climate change, reproductive rights, veteran's services, supporting public education, worker’s rights, healthcare, and expanding affordable housing.

Speakers include:

Jesse Kanson-Benanav - Jesse is the Executive Director of Abundant Housing, MA. He has over 15 years of experience in real estate development, public policy, and community engagement. Prior to joining Abundant Housing MA, he served as the senior project manager at B’nai B’rith Housing New England where he managed affordable housing work including the design, permitting, financing, and construction of new developments. In 2019, he was awarded the Housing Rising Star Award from Metro Housing.

Hayley Fetrow - Hayley is an experienced professional specializing in the restructuring and management of public housing authorities. Hayley provides executive leadership serving as a contracted Executive Director or CFO. Results-driven, Hayley also provides consulting services on a task-order basis to assist in negotiating through various HUD audits of federal program compliance.

Bryan Clancy - Bryan is a member of the Real Estate Finance Association of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board, a member of NAIOP Massachusetts, and a past Director of the 495 Corridor Partnership. He has also been a guest lecturer at various colleges and universities including Boston University, Babson College, Harvard Business School, and MIT.

This hybrid event will be held at Holliston Town Hall, 2nd floor Wednesday, September 18, 7-9pm. Attendance is free. Registration will close on Tuesday, September 17 at 8pm. 

Register here for in-person attendance. 

 

Register here to attend on Zoom. 

Contact Maria Constantinides with any questions.

2024 Town Elections

 

Vote in Holliston Town Elections!

Town elections will take place May 21 from 7 AM to 8 PM at Holliston High School. There will be no early in-person voting, and the application deadline to vote by mail is May 14. Learn more on the Town Clerk's web page. 

The Holliston Democratic Town Committee is endorsing three candidates for local office.

Planning Board: Karen Apuzzo-Langton (D)

Karen is an experienced Planning Board member with 7 years of service and has lived in Holliston for 22 years. She has a keen understanding of Holliston's bylaws and a firm handle on the complexities of this office. In her work on the Board, Karen balances the town's need for economic growth with the quality of life of residents and the protection of our green space. She prides herself on her research-based approach and her ability to consider all parties' interests. Her approach can be summed up in two words: smart growth. Karen is running against James Read (U) for a single seat.

School Committee: Hilary Bresnahan (D)

Hilary currently serves as Coordinator of Testing and Research for Taunton Public Schools. She previously served as a leadership consultant and data specialist at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education and as a project manager for Harvard University's Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University. She has lived in Holliston for 20 years and has two children in the Holliston Public Schools, where she is an active volunteer. Hilary focuses on placing the needs of teachers and students first. She sees our greatest challenges as improving the quality of special education while balancing cost, identifying and implementing high-quality curricula, and finding creative solutions for our tight school budget without over-burdening our taxpayers. Hilary is running against Francis Ogura (U), Joseph Paru (R), and Alon Yaari (U) for three seats.

Housing Authority: Maria Constantinides (D)

Maria has been a resident of Holliston for over 10 years. She believes that housing is a right, and that empowering more people to own and rent in Holliston benefits us all. In her role at the Housing Authority, she will support state and local efforts to provide housing opportunities for the elderly and working families. She is committed to seeking creative solutions to affordable housing development in our town, which faces the dual challenges of tight funding and scarce buildable land. As a manager for over forty years at a non-profit, her communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills will be invaluable. Maria is running unopposed.

The Holliston Democratic Town Committee is proud to endorse all Democrats running. There are two candidates running for one Select Board seat--Tracey McSherry (U) and Damon Dimmick (R). 

Be sure to watch all candidate profiles on Just Thinking, with Mary Greendale. And watch the Diverse Holliston Website for their candidate questionnaires. 

Affordable Housing in Holliston

Holliston Housing Production Plan & Survey

Holliston is in the process of updating its housing production plan. This effort is central to ensuring better and more affordable housing for all. Please visit the Town of Holliston's website to complete the survey. Plan to attend the forum on March 26, from 6-8 PM in the Holliston High School Library.

This information sheet produced by Diverse Holliston provides some excellent background information:

Info Sheet: Holliston Housing Production Plan

Please also save the date for an informational event on affordable housing scheduled for May 23, featuring Eric Shupin, Chief of Policy at the Executive Office of Housing & Livable Communities. Stay tuned for details.

 

2024 Democratic Town Caucus

Holliston Democratic Town Committee (HDTC) members are hosting the 2024 Democratic Town Caucus to select delegates to attend the Massachusetts Democratic State Convention. The caucus will convene at 10:30 AM, Saturday, March 16, at Holliston Town Hall. All Democrats registered to vote in Holliston are invited to participate and are encouraged to run for convention delegate. The convention will take place June 1 at the DCU Center in Worcester.

The caucus is open to the public and press, but only Holliston's registered and pre-registered Democrats are eligible to run and vote. Pre-registered Democrats must be at least 16 years old on the caucus date. Same-day registration is allowed. Those running as a delegate or alternate should be present at the caucus to be elected. However, if there are not enough candidates present to fill all delegate and alternate positions, two-thirds of those present and voting may move to have a candidate's name placed in nomination despite the candidate's absence, provided that the candidate has notified the Chair of their interest in running. 

Holliston Democrats will vote to elect 10 delegates and 4 alternates to represent Holliston at the convention. Those not selected as a delegate or an alternate, and who meet the qualifications, can apply separately to be an add-on delegate in the following categories: youth, minority, disabled, LGBTQ+, or ask about being a convention volunteer. Access the 2024 Call to Convention here: https://massdems.org/massdems-convention.

Registration will open at 10:00 AM. The caucus will begin at 10:30 AM. The caucus doors will close at 10:45 AM. Everyone waiting in line to register at 10:45 AM will be admitted to the caucus. Anyone admitted after 10:45 AM will be designated as a guest and will not be able to run for delegate or to vote.

While not required, if you plan to run for a delegate or alternate seat, please fill out this form: https://bit.ly/HDTC-Caucus. This will help volunteers plan ahead for an efficient caucus.

2024 Tri-Town Blue Fundraiser

Local Dems Unite and Party!

We're thrilled to share the success of last weekend's fundraiser for Ashland, Hopkinton, and Holliston's Democratic Town Committees! The event was a blast, filled with laughter, camaraderie, and a strong sense of community. Packed to the brim, the hall echoed with the positive energy of everyone involved.

Thanks to the support of ticket purchasers and attendees, coupled with the generosity of sponsors Rep. James Arena-DeRosa, Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis, and Sen. President Karen Spilka, we had a great time and reinforced our war chest moving into one of the most consequential elections of our time. 

Special gratitude goes out to those who played pivotal roles, including Amy and David, chairs of Hopkinton and Ashland DTCs, whose collaborative spirit has strengthened our working relationship. Heartfelt thanks extend to our dedicated volunteers, including Lynn, Brett, Maria, Pat, Laura, Joan, Rich, and Lee, whose efforts in various roles contributed to the event's success.

A big shout-out to Kim from the Marconi Event Center and our wonderful entertainer, Jimmy Tingle. As we head into 2024, let's carry this energy forward. With key events on the horizon, including the our local caucus, Spring event on affordable housing, and Holliston's 300th Anniversary, we're gearing up for an exciting year. Your help is invaluable, and we invite you to join us on this journey. Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on upcoming events and opportunities to get involved. 

Together, let's make 2024 a year of shared enthusiasm, optimism, and fun!