LDTC to honor new state rep and White House aide

Date: 3/23/2009

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



LONGMEADOW -- This year, the Longmeadow Democratic Town Committee (LDTC) will be honoring young Democrats serving in high ranking positions at the committee's annual Democrats of the Year Award Brunch.

State Rep. Brian Ashe will be honored as LDTC's 2009 Democrat of the Year, and the LDTC Member Achievement Award will be given to Eric Lesser, Special Assistant for the Senior Advisor to the President.

According to Candy Glazer, chair of the LDTC, it was easy deciding which Democrats to honor this year.

"Brian is the first Democrat to represent the 2nd Hampden District in over 35 years," Glazer said. "I'm sure he's going to do a good job of that [and right now he's doing] the Herculean double duty of serving as a representative and as a member of the Select Board."

Lesser, a 2003 graduate of Longmeadow High School and a 2007 graduate of Harvard, joined the LDTC while he was still in high school, according to Glazer.

"He served as a page for Congressman [Richard] Neal, he was the president of the Harvard College Democrats and served as the ground logistics coordinator for [President] Barack Obama on his campaign," Glazer noted.

According to the New York Daily News, Lesser caught the attention of then-Sen. Obama last May, when Lesser started a dance party in the rear of the campaign plane.

"Eric Lesser may be running a Fortune 500 company one day, but for the next few months, we are lucky to have such a smart and committed young man as part of our team," Obama told the New York Daily News last year.

"He's a bright, great kid," Glazer added.

In addition to honoring Ashe and Lesser, the LDTC's brunch will feature Lt. Gov. Tim Murray as the keynote speaker, who will present the latest news and updates direct from "The Statehouse to the White House."

"Having someone from the Statehouse at this brunch is important," Glazer said.

The LDTC will also be honoring Cal Conniff, a member of the committee for more than 20 years, with the LDTC Chair Award.

"We're honoring three really great people," Glazer stated.

The brunch is taking place March 29 at 10 a.m. at Twin Hills Country Club, 700 Wolf Swamp Rd. Tickets for the brunch are $25 each. Reservations are required by March 27, and checks should be sent to the LDTC, 68 Knollwood Circle, Longmeadow, MA 01106.

The LDTC has been honoring outstanding Democrats with the award brunch since 1988.

For more information, e-mail longmeadowdemocrats@gmail.com or call 567-9303.