A group of about ten Tufts students spoke with former Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson at a rally at the Jorge Hern??ndez Center in Boston on Tuesday night, but only because they did not get the chance to talk to the night's main attraction: Steve Grossman. Mr. Grossman, the husband of Tufts Drama Professor Barbara Grossman, is seeking the democratic nomination for the 2002 governorship of Massachusetts.
Grossman is running for governor on a platform of revitalizing the state's education system, creating more affordable housing, and increasing involvement in politics for typically underrepresented groups. Richardson, a Tufts graduate, hosted the Tuesday night event for Grossman, and attracted an estimated 150 people, many of whom were Latino.
"This was really the kick-off for the Grossman campaign, it was his first major event," said Tufts Democrats President Greg Propper, who led the Tufts contingent to Boston. "The point of the event was a conversation about the gubernatorial race and political power in the growing Latino community."
Although he has never held public office, Grossman has extensive experience in business, civic organizations, and with the Democratic Party. He served as the chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) from 1997-1998 and has held the post of chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Committee. He also served as chairman of the board of the influential American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a pro-Israel lobby group.
Grossman stepped down from his position as chair of the DNC in December of 1998. Serving for slightly less than a year, he played a major role in the Democratic victories over Republican candidates in that year's Congressional elections. He also helped reduce the DNC's $18 million debt by almost $10 million through his consistent fundraising efforts.
Grossman is the president of the multi-million dollar printing firm, MassEnvelopePlus, and the founder of Givenation.com, an Internet company that raises funds for nonprofit organizations.
The gregarious businessman said he is seeking office because it would allow him to have a significant impact on the lives of families in Massachusetts.
"Steve is an incredibly compassionate person who really honestly wants every citizen in Massachusetts to have a better life than the one they have now," Grossman's wife, Barbara, explained. On the other hand, Mrs. Grossman added, "Steve is an extremely savvy businessman. When the state Democratic Party was in desperate straits, he helped revitalize it."
One of the main elements of Grossman's platform is improving educational programs for children, young adults, and adults so that Massachusetts citizens will be able to compete in an increasingly knowledge and technology-based society. Grossman advocates child literacy programs, full-day kindergarten, universal pre-kindergarten education programs, and basic adult education programs, as well as improved higher public education. Grossman said he would encourage greater support of the state's 15 community colleges.
Grossman's campaign for the democratic nomination began several months ago, but he still has a long way to go.
"I think the biggest problem facing Steve is lots of terrific competition," said Associate Professor James Glaser, chair of Tufts' political science department. While only one other democrat, former Senator Warren Tolman, has officially announced his bid for governor, and many other high-profile candidates, such as US Representative Martin Meehan and state senate President Thomas Birmingham, are reportedly considering joining the race. But according to Glaser, Grossman has done a great job in his previous positions, and people recognize his achievements.
An ardent supporter of grassroots politics, Grossman said he was bitten by the political bug while attending a DNC caucus in 1970. The main platforms of that caucus were ending the Vietnam War and changing the face of grassroots politics.
After that day, in which Grossman heard hundreds of people speak about pertinent issues and political philosophies, he concluded, "if that's what grassroots politics is all about... changing the face of things by personal involvement... that's something to which I'm going to devote a significant part of the rest of my life."
Grossman's campaign has been run accordingly, involving groups that frequently find themselves on the margins of state-wide political campaigns. He said he is committed to bringing the Latino community - a group that comprises about a half-million people in Massachusetts - into a position of leadership. By sponsoring events such as Tuesday's conference for Latino activists and community leaders, Grossman hopes to involve the Latino community more directly in state-wide politics.
The event was a strong step in courting under-involved groups, support which he will need in the primary, according to Propper. "The only way he was gong to win was reach out to communities that aren't traditionally reached out to, like the Latino community," he said.
Another of Grossman's goals is to involve college students in the organization of political events, such as voter registration, both on their campuses and within their local communities. Grossman has spoken several times on the Tufts campus in past years.
Grossman's campaign committee is also in the process of recruiting a small number of Tufts students to work as summer interns. The committee hopes to employ at least four college interns who would gain hands-on campaign experience.
In regards to the gubernatorial race, Grossman is hopeful.
"I was the first person to announce my candidacy. I plan to be the last one standing," he said.
