Speaker DeLeo Hosts State Democatic Committee Meeting: Members Convene at the WHS Cafeteria

In an unprecedented event in Winthrop political annals, Speaker of the House Robert A. DeLeo hosted a meeting of the State Democratic Committee April 11 at the Winthrop High School cafeteria.

More than 200 State Committee members packed the room for their regular business meeting. In a piece of important business on the agenda, the Committee selected the DCU Center in Worcester for the site of the State Democratic Convention in June, 2014. The state’s constitutional officers are nominated at the convention.

In addition to DeLeo, Winthrop’s three other members of the State Committee, Valentino Capobianco, Denise LoConte, and Steven Stoddard were in attendance. Capobianco helped the Speaker organize the meeting.

John Walsh, chair of the Democratic Party, led the meeting. Clare Kelly, executive director, also sat at the head table.

State Treasurer Steve Grossman, Auditor Suzanne Bump, Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian, State Sens. Katherine Clark and Barry Finegold, State Rep. Hank Naughton were in attendance.

Angela Cristiani, political director at the Boston Teachers Union, was also in attendance.

Two announced candidates for lieutenant governor in 2014, Steve Kerrigan and Mike Lake, also attended the meeting.

Walsh introduced DeLeo at the meeting.

“Bob DeLeo grew up here in Winthrop, graduated from Boston Latin School, Northeastern University, and Suffolk University Law School,” said Walsh. “He has been the leader of our House of Representatives during a period that makes every Democrat proud,” said Walsh. “During his tenure and based on his leadership, Massachusetts students are No. 1 in the nation in their performance We are No. 1 in the nation on access to health care, energy conversation, clean energy policy, and the services we provide to our veterans and their families.”

DeLeo welcomed members to “my hometown, the town of Winthrop. It’s great to have you here.”

DeLeo told the gathering that he is committed to working hard to keep the U.S. Senate seat, previously held by Secretary of State John Kerry and currently held by interim Senator Mo Cowan, in the Democratic column. DeLeo earlier endorsed Congressman Edward J. Markey for the Democratic nomination in the Senate primary election that will be held April 30.