~ The Advocate Asks ~

An interview with Saugus Democratic Town Committee Chair Joseph Malone on the state of the Democratic Party in Saugus, Massachusetts and the nation

  Editor’s Note: For this week, we sat down with Saugus Democratic Town Committee Chair Joseph Malone to talk about the state of the Democratic Party in Saugus, his thoughts on Democratic presidential hopeful Kamala Harris and her chances of beating Republican Donald Trump in November. Malone, 71, has been chair of the Saugus Democratic Town Committee for 16 years. He grew up in Medford and graduated from Malden Catholic High School. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in U.S. History from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst in 1975. He has worked for close to 40 years at the state Department of Transitional Assistance (formerly the Department of Public Welfare), where he is currently a benefit eligibility representative. He has been a town resident since 1988 and has been active with the Democratic Town Committee for 33 years. He and his wife Barbara are the parents of three grown-up children: James, 34, of Worcester; Susan, 32, of Tulsa; and Julie, 31, of Lexington. All are college graduates. Malone (2007-13) and his wife (1995-2003) each served multiple terms on the Saugus School Committee. Some highlights of the interview follow.

  Q: Joe, what’s the state of the Democratic Party in Saugus, Massachusetts?

A: Other than the state rep. seat with Donald Wong [R-Saugus, of the 9th Essex House district], who has been there 14 years now, I think we’re pretty strong. As in all of Massachusetts, I think the Democratic Party is pretty strong.

With Wong, I think it’s more of a question of personality. He’s done a lot of charitable work over the years. His restaurant business has done a lot for soccer and the Little League. He’s built up a tremendous reservoir of goodwill because of the charitable works that the family has done.

Q: Are you surprised that not only in Saugus but in the other two communities [Lynn and Wakefield] that make up Wong’s district, that the Democrats couldn’t field a candidate to run against state Rep. Wong?

A: It’s a question of money. Jen Migliore was a pretty strong candidate [in 2016]. But she couldn’t do it. But it’s [the Ninth Essex House District] primarily a Saugus seat. So, I don’t think somebody from Lynn – I don’t think they would feel like they have a chance. And Wakefield, the other community, is becoming more of a Republican community. It’s primarily a Saugus seat and Wong has the money.

Q: So, Wong will have the seat for as long as he wants?

A: I don’t want to say that publicly, because we might have a Democratic candidate running against him the next time. We’d love to have a candidate running against him so we could knock him out. But, really, it’s tough to beat Wong. But we could do it in 2026, because the Democrats are strong.

Q: What’s the state of the Democratic Party in Massachusetts?

A: Oh, it’s incredibly strong. It’s probably one of the most Democratic states in the nation. There are 133 Democrats and 25 Republicans in the House and 36 Democrats and four Republicans in the Senate. The Republican Party in the state is very weak.

I think we can beat Wong next time with a strong candidate. I think Debbie Panetta [Saugus Board of Selectmen chair] would make a strong candidate if she chose to run. I don’t think Wong is unbeatable. I think Panetta could do it. I don’t believe we have anybody else in Saugus right now. Panetta would be a strong candidate.

Q: Is Trump going to take Saugus this time?

A: I don’t think so. Not this time. I think Kamala Harris will take Saugus.

Q: You can see a lot of Trump signs on Route 1 in Saugus lately, on the overpasses.

A: Yes, you do. But signs don’t vote. In a city council race, signs may get you some votes, but not in a presidential race.

Q: Let’s look ahead to November – the race for president – are you optimistic?

A: I think Kamala Harris will win. I have no doubt in my mind. As I said before, she may do better than Biden did last time.

Q: If Biden had remained, what would be your prognosis?

A: I think Joe Biden would have won. If you look at Fox News – it’s like a cheer station for Trump – there’s not much journalism going on. I think we’d still beat him [Trump] with Biden in there.

Q: Do you think it’s going to be close in November?

A: I think it will be close. But Harris will still win. I think we’re just so strong. There will be some tight races in the industrial belt we may lose. We could lose Ohio and still win the election. I’m not so sure about the House and the Senate. We could lose those. But I have a lot of confidence in Harris’ ability.

Q: What about the House and the Senate races?

A: I’m really concerned about the Senate because I think that we have 23 Senate seats up for election. And of those, we have 11 conservative Senators running. The Democrats have some vulnerable seats. We have Bob Casey in Pennsylvania and Brown in Ohio. We have Jack Rose in Nevada. We have Timmy Baldwin in Wisconsin. We have Jon Tester in Minnesota. We have Ruben Gallego in Arizona. That’s six states right there. I’m worried about the Senate. The House is an unknown. But Kamala Harris will beat Trump.

Q: So, you see the Democrats in the situation where they could have a minority in both houses, but still win the White House?

A: Yes. I think it could happen. But I think we could still win the House because Harris is such a strong candidate who will carry some of those House seats.

Q: Could you think of a presidential election where there are so few local choices?

A: In Massachusetts?

Q: Yes.

A: Yes, there’s not a lot.

Q: This ballot for the primary election in Saugus has so few choices. What’s the reason for fewer people going into politics?

A: Does [U.S. Sen.] Elizabeth Warren have a Democratic opponent? I don’t think she does. I don’t think [state Sen.] Brendan Crighton does.

Q: No, Neither one has Democratic opposition. Why the paucity of candidates running in the local election?

A: Why the paucity of candidates? People are too busy running businesses. They’d rather be making money. None of them want to go into public service because of the intense public scrutiny. And they would be giving up a lot of money. Look at Charlie Baker, after he served as governor of Massachusetts; he could make a lot more money as president of the NCAA [National Collegiate Athletic Association]. And he’s 67 now and wants to set up his family for the future.

I think that for a lot of these people, especially on the Republican side – the Yankee Republicans don’t exist anymore. And I’m sure that many of the Republicans who are left, they would rather make more money than stay in politics. It just doesn’t pay enough. People aren’t interested. It costs a lot of money to run – and then the scrutiny that you get when you are elected to office. People don’t really want to put up with that.

Q: Do you see any political trends in the town?

A: Most of the incumbents for selectmen and the School Committee get reelected.

Q: Yeah, but those races are supposed to be nonpartisan.

Q: What are the strengths and weaknesses you see in Kamala Harris?

A: She’s very energetic. She’s articulate and she brings a sense of optimism to the campaign. She comes across as a happy, good-hearted soul. She may not be, but that’s what she projects in the TV and the media. She’s better than Hiliary Clinton at that. Hillary didn’t project that optimism. Kamala comes across as very optimistic and energetic.

Q: How do you think she’s going to do in the debate with Trump?

A: I think she will more than hold her own.

Q: Anything else that you would like to share?

A: I believe Kamala Harris is going to win. She’ s a better candidate than Hillary. She’ll be a better candidate than Joe Biden. I think she will be the best Democratic candidate since President Obama because of the energy level that she projects, the attitude – positive and optimistic – a happy, fun-loving soul. But she can be serious. She’s very intelligent, very articulate.

Q: What’s going to be the defining issue in this election?

A: You have to reform the immigration system. That’s a problem for us. But as far as the economy goes, as far as the Republicans, they’re going to go after a quick buck. And they may go after Social Security, and that should be a nonstarter. And they’ll cut Medicare and Medicaid; they’ll go after health insurance, too. They just can’t seem to help themselves. I think Harris will win and we will go on to better days ahead.