My introduction to politicians and campaigns came at the very capable hands of Sharon M. Pollard. I had first heard about then newly elected State Senator Sharon M. Pollard in 1977 during my senior year at Saint Mary’s high School. One of my classmates gave a talk about her because she had become the first woman to represent her district and had pulled of an upset by defeating a longtime incumbent. I was nineteen years old and living in Lawrence, Massachusetts when I met her. She was twenty-eight and running for re-election as the State Senator for the Third Essex District which was comprised of Amesbury, Groveland, Haverhill, Merrimac, Methuen, Newburyport, North Andover, Salisbury and West Newbury. Lawrence bordered Methuen and her campaign headquarters was not far from where I lived.
She was warm, gracious and personable. She was down to earth and intelligent. I not only proudly campaigned for her but turned my car into a “Pollard mobile” with her green and white bumper stickers on the front and back bumpers and the back window as well as a roof rack. A little much, perhaps, but I was more than happy to show my support. I took my mother to one of Sharon’s fundraisers, a hot dog and bean supper, and Sharon went to every table and spoke with every person. She greeted everyone with a firm handshake and a smile that said, “I am happy to see you.” She even said something quite nice about me to my mother. Yes, I know, that is what politicians do, but there has always been sincerity in Sharon’s voice. I celebrated her election victory at her campaign headquarters and sipped champagne with her aunt Claire Pollard, a genuinely kind and personable woman who was a delight to be around even for a few moments. My only regret was that I could never vote for her.
When I took a Journalism class and a State and Local Government class at Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill, Massachusetts, I contacted Sharon and asked her if she would speak at those classes. She said yes! I was delighted! Of course, the college was in her district and she would be speaking to students who might be in her district, but for me, I had asked and she had agreed. She spoke on a variety of topics during the Journalism class including dealing with the press. The discussions were lively and some of the discussions were quite serious. She never checked the time, never tried to avoid a question. She would have stayed longer and continued talking long after the class ended, but she had to get back to Boston and I had to make sure she left. My journalism teacher let me write the story for the college newspaper. The story was on the front page and even though, at that time, I did not know and follow proper style and form, I received an “A” because the story was well written. That was such an easy story to write because the subject was someone I respected and admired. Everyone in the journalism class had to work on the college paper. Sharon provided me with a contact in her office named Robin because I wanted to write about what Senator Pollard was doing in the Massachusetts State Senate!
Later in the semester, Sharon spoke to my State and Local Government class. To be honest, her talk was the most we learned about the subject. Our instructor just rambled on and on and was more interested in taking us to the Grog in Newburyport than teaching us anything. Unfortunately, the students in that class were not as talkative as the journalism students so the question and answer section was quite short. We did, however, learn how a bill becomes a law in Massachusetts.
That information came in quite handy while I was at an informal get to know the candidate meeting for a mayoral candidate in my home city of Lawrence. I asked a question about a topical issue at the time: the Bessie M. Burke Memorial Hospital. The candidate tried to evade answering the question initially by stating that the way government works is complex and complicated. I responded by informing him that State Senator Sharon Pollard had recently spoken to my State and Local Government class and explained the way government works. He still evaded the question. However, my mother told me that the woman in whose home we met the candidate told her that the candidate said of me, “Watch out for her. She’s a smart one.” Ah, smart yes, and well-informed thanks to a great teacher, Sharon M. Pollard.
I remember writing to Sharon at the Statehouse to volunteer to campaign back when writing letters and/or phone calls were the main forms of communication. I received a response back in the form of a standard “Dear friend” letter explaining that since she was running unopposed that year, there would be not be much if any campaigning. However, in bold black marker, she had crossed out the “Dear friend” and written “Dear Patty” and included a small handwritten note at the bottom asking me how I was doing. That small gesture, that few moments to personalize the letter, meant a great deal to me. I also received yearly invitations to her Christmas gathering and as always she was gracious and spoke with everyone who attended. I campaigned for her one more time before she left the the State Senate and took the position of Energy Secretary in then Governor Michael Dukakis cabinet.
We lost touch after that and I moved to south Florida in 1989. My next interaction with Sharon was in 2000 when she ran for Mayor of Methuen. I was thrilled to hear she was running for office. I called her campaign headquarters and asked asked to speak with her. She was there and whoever answered the phone asked who was calling, I replied by saying it was her “Campaign headquarters in Florida!” Sharon and I spoke for a little while and I did a little campaigning for her by encouraging my family and friends in Methuen to vote for her. My sister sent me the Mayoral debate and listening to Sharon speak about the issues sparked that little flame in me that had been barely burning from lack of having people to talk with about politics. Then my sister gave me one of the best gifts: a photo of my sister with Sharon Pollard. They had both attended a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Fire department. My sister took the time to talk to Sharon and ask her to take the picture as a gift and Sharon took the time to pose with my sister. Yes, maybe that is what politicians do. But Sharon M. Pollard will always be more than just a politician doing what politicians do, she will always be someone who takes time for people not for what they can do for her, but because that’s just who she is!
Moderately liberal, liberally moderate, American flag waving Democrat! Bachelor of Arts in History with concentration in Early American History and Abraham Lincoln
Graduate student pursuing a Master of Arts Degree online in American History at Southern New Hampshire University