On seeking seniors’ votes: An open letter to one council candidate from another
Mr. Jefferson Smith,
Although I am a City Council candidate myself, I write to you as an alarmed lifelong Cantabrigian. On Tuesday you put out a short press release inviting people to join you for a “meet and greet” at the senior center in Central Square that you described as an “opportunity to further engage our seniors.”
As a political strategy, I understand: You want to build rapport with some of the most influential voters in the city. Unfortunately, for some candidates buttering up the senior population for votes is a part of the game. For others, however, caring for the needs of our senior citizens actually stems from a genuine place in their priorities.
Here are my two issues with publicizing an (at the time) upcoming appearance at the senior center:
In the past, how often did you create opportunities to engage our elders before you entered the race for City Council? I read your platform and I was hoping to find language related to senior living; I did not. Why all of a sudden publicize your care for their needs now with less than two months remaining until Election Day?
I would have let this go by had I not seen the most distasteful part in my opinion: “The event is open to the press.” Really? Why do cameras and reporters need to be on the scene to validate you playing nice with seniors?
It feels as though you are taking advantage of a vulnerable population to help you gain some ground. Myself and other concerned neighbors are slightly offended by this approach. My campaign run has been huge a blessing for me to simply have the opportunity to relish my Cambridge roots in a very welcoming and encouraging community, one that gave so much to me while growing up. It has been an absolute pleasure to run into and hang out with other influential leaders in our city that are connecting with people as often as I am, election year or non-election year – Marc McGovern and Dennis Benzan, to name a couple. It’s who we are.
I admit that I do not have the deepest political experience; my approach is very community based – it’s what I’m passionate about, and it’s an element I hope to bring to the City Council. That being said, I do speak for myself when I say that requesting the presence of the press to validate your ability to connect with people, at the expense of our seniors, is concerning.
I’d like to share with you an interesting read by a fellow candidate, Gary Mello, in Cambridge Day.
Sincerely,
Luis Vasquez, candidate for City Council
Luis, Jefferson and Gary:
As someone who has served for many years, run many campaigns and held events at senior housing, I would like to chime in.
Although I agree with much of what Luis said (I have never and would never invite the press to an event with seniors, or any other “meet and greet” I hold.), I think I can offer a slightly different view based on my experience.
I am only speaking for myself, but doing an event at senior housing is not unlike doing a “coffee” at someone’s home. You invite people to meet you, you bring food and drink and you talk. Senior housing is where many seniors live, the same as when I go to a house on Pearl Street or Pleasant St.
I never ask for donations from seniors, whether I am doing an event or not, so I never raise money at these events.
As far as “pandering” to seniors, I have to tell you, the toughest, most direct questions I get are from seniors. These are not frail people who vote for me because I bring them a snack. They are informed, they are not afraid to share their feelings and they make up their own minds based on what a candidate says, not what food they bring.
I was very surprised, however, that Jefferson did an event at the Senior Center. The Senior Center has always been off limits to politics. When I go to meet my mother there after her yoga classes, I take my pin off, I never pass out literature or do any campaigning. I don’t know who gave Jefferson the permission to hold an event there, but they should not have. This is a municipal building that should be free of campaigning, that was a mistake in my view.
Luis makes another great point about when do candidates pay attention to seniors (or other groups). For some of us, me, Luis and Dennis, for example, we have dedicated our lives to this community. When we run for office its not about “loving the game of politics” or wanting to improve a resume. Its about Cambridge. Its about our community. Its about our roots. I engage with seniors all the time, whether its on the street, at their homes or for that matter, in my home where I live with my elderly grandmother and great-aunt.
So, in short, I don’t think doing an event at senior housing is wrong, just don’t invite the press, don’t ask for money and don’t make it the only time you engage with our senior residents. My advice to candidates is: If it doesn’t feel right, don’t do it. Use common sense. I know Jefferson, he’s a good guy who cares, I have to believe on some level he felt uncomfortable with inviting the press and using seniors in that way, listen to those feelings and do the right thing. Don’t get so caught up in the campaign that you lose your integrity.
I hope that we can turn the conversation to how do we help our seniors afford to stay in Cambridge, how do we ensure that they have the services and supports they need, how do we expand early childhood education, build family friendly affordable housing, keep our community safe, clean and livable and ensure that Cambridge continues to be an incredible place to live.
Marc McGovern
Candidate for City Council
Louis,
I don’t think nitpicking other candidates and how they solicit votes is going to be a winning strategy. You’re a likable candidate, but young and seemingly focused on fighting for the entitled “community” that would have our children aspire to low income housing just to stay in Cambridge.
You all need the senior vote, ironically posting on this site probably isn’t going to garner much of that. I also wouldn’t discredit the senior population, they are wise, and can see through a door to door saleman’s BS better than you or I; bet on it.
And who the heck is “Jefferson Smith” anyway? I didn’t really know until you pointed me in his direction. However considering he is a young whipper snapper as well you two would be better off at coalescing consensus among your demographic instead of trying to create a rift, because if you’re counting on anyone under sixty pushing you above the incumbents or people like Benzan, Hoffman, or McGovern… you’re both already, statistically speaking, in big trouble.