Students Seek Spot on Democratic State Committee

Two Harvard undergraduates will contend for seats on the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee in an election on April 14. David H. A. LeBoeuf ’13 and Will F. Poff-Webster ’14 will compete against two other college candidates for the two seats set aside for undergraduate males registered in the Democratic Party.

“Will and I have worked on the UC...and other issue-related stuff together,” LeBoeuf said. “I know that he would be a really good candidate.”

The Democratic State Committee, the state-level division of the Democratic Party, is involved in campaign efforts, determining party strategy, fundraising, and other forms of political organizing.

LeBoeuf said that his two main goals are reinforcing party values and reaching out to parts of the Democratic base that have been disengaged in recent years.

“There is a reason why we tend to have a strong base—because we have particular values: interest in social justice, clean elections, efficient government, civil rights,” LeBoeuf said. “We as a party need to be stronger on those values and push back against the challenges we are facing.”

LeBoeuf pointed to conservative pockets—including Worcester and the surrounding area in central Massachusetts—where the Democratic base can find room for improvement in party participation.

“I feel that there is no reason why these communities should be aligning with Republican interests because it comes down to issues that should actually be in their favor if they sided with the Democratic Party,” LeBoeuf said. “This is a message that I would love to bring forward, to help rebuild our base.”

As a transfer student from Clark University, LeBoeuf has been politically active for several year, serving as Ward 6 Treasurer for the Worcester Democratic City Committee in addition to volunteering for local campaigns and promoting immigrant voter turnout.

LeBoeuf was regional coordinator for the “No on 2 Campaign” during the 2010 election cycle, working in the Worcester and Boston areas to support affordable housing legislation.

NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts Executive Director Megan Amundson, who has worked extensively with LeBoeuf, cited his active role in the “No on 2 Campaign,” contacting allied organizations, working with elected officials, and reaching out to community members.

“David was an invaluable member of the campaign—his knowledge and understanding of relationships in Worcester were key to us being able to talk about affordable housing with a number of key opinion leaders in the area,” said Amundson. “David was a fearless organizer, which was one of [his] greatest qualities.”

Poff-Webster is the current vice president of the Harvard College Democrats and is also running for vice president of the College Democrats of Massachusetts, the official college branch of the Massachusetts Democratic Party.

Poff-Webster could not be reached for comment.

—Staff writer David Song can be reached at davidsong@college.harvard.edu.