May 26 2026

LOCATION: 401 Bridge Street, Salem, MA

Members Present: Ward 5 Secretary/State party member Tyler Carlton-Kelley*, Julie Curtis*, Jim Thompson*, Arthur Powell*, Ward 5 Councilor and SDCC Vice Chair Lydia King, City Councilor and Ward 4 Chair Jason Sydoriak, Mickey, Buddy Edinger, Karen Kahn, Pat Gorenba, Alex Brumfield, Lois Sargent, Michael Cusick, David Bettencourt, SDCC Vice Chair Schuyler Ward, Di Yates

Guests: Partners in Democracy

Recorder: Di Yates

* denotes State Committee Members

Call to order at 6pm

Chair Opening – Skylar opened the meeting by introducing the guest speakers with Partners in Democracy

Approval of Previous Minutes from April 2026: Approved

Treasurer: Michael Cusick. Annual dues are $20 and can be paid by check to SDCC and mailed to Michael Cusick 19 Putnam St Salem or through Act BLueSDCC Donate 

Guest Presentations Partners in Democracy: Stacy, John, and David

3 Ballot Questions that Voters will see this November 2026:

1. Election Day Voter Registration

2. Expanding Public Records

Law currently covers cities and towns but does not cover the Legislature and Governor. Becomes important for transparency.

Legislature concerned about constitute privacy (correspondence)

Passing this would open information for citizens to see the same information as the Auditor is asking for

Law can dismiss information requests if not made in good faith

3. All Party Primaries

All party primaries allow all candidates to participate with the top 2 candidates for each office to advance on the ballot. 

Increases competition and higher voter turnout

Natural segue to RCV

Business Meeting

- State Democratic Convention is this weekend starting Friday evening, May 29 through Saturday, May 30, 2026. If any delegates need a ride, please contact Skylar

- No new ward members to vote in

- June 8 2026 at 9.30am is the HAWC Walk. Salem Dems will be walking. Please register to support HAWC at https://hawc.salsalabs.org/

- Signatures are being gathered for the ballot for Rent Control/Stabilization. Signing sheets are available at the meeting or find Lydia King.

- There are two bills at the House of Representatives::

1. Medicare for All: if this passes, for 2027, tax payers, 11.3 million saved post taxes

2. Ranked Choice Voting (RCV): Later in June, the Salem City Council will have a call to action to discuss RCV in relation to municipal elections

- Salem High School has a fund raiser for their track program on June 13 2026, all ages are welcome

- Next meeting, June 22, 2026 at 6.30pm, Senator Joan Lovely will be the guest speaker

MOTION to adjourn made at 7:30pm

Seconded: by everyone

Discussion: none

Outcome: Adjourned

Minutes courtesy of Diane Yates Co-Secretary