Written By Joyce Mandell
*This blog has been revised as of 05.12.25
Without the sustained and superb professional technical assistance provided to the Yes for Gloucester campaign by Abundant Housing Massachusetts, it is highly unlikely that we would have beaten back the repeal of our family-friendly zoning ordinance…. Jack Clarke, chairperson, Yes for Gloucester
Do you have some time today to talk?” Jack asked the Monday after our big referendum win in Gloucester. Three days earlier, on April 24th, over three months of intense work paid off in a stunning and decisive victory for Yes for Gloucester: 3668 Gloucester residents voted to keep the 3A-compliant zoning approved unanimously by the city council in October 2024. That’s over 60% of the 6099 votes cast; only 2431 residents opposed the zoning ordinance.
“I always have time to talk to you, Jack,” I answered.
A truly humble and gracious leader, Jack Clarke was contacting the people, including me, who played a role in the Yes for Gloucester campaign; it was important to him to thank everyone. In our Zoom meeting, Jack named each of AHMA’s contributions to the campaign: recruiting more than 25 volunteers for phone banking, texting, and canvassing; collaborating on shaping the field strategy; partially funding a volunteer recruiter to get more Gloucester residents to volunteer; and organizing and coordinating weekly phone banks, text banks, and canvasses. AHMA’s extensive efforts in the field resulted in volunteers knocking on over 3,500 doors, making 1,200 calls, and sending more than 12,000 texts to Gloucester voters, a key factor in the stunning win.
Jack laughed as we spoke. “Remember when you spoke with me that first month? You gave it to me straight when you said that if we did not get more volunteers out canvassing and phoning, we would be in trouble!”
We were lucky that AHMA and Housing for All Gloucester member Deanna Fay was able to find Chris Sicuranza, a seasoned campaign person with unending energy who took on the role of volunteer recruiter. He motivated and inspired almost everyone he met to go out and knock on doors.
Deanna, Chris, Peter Dolan, and I met every Monday morning at 9 am to plan the next week’s field strategy. Where would we canvass on Saturday? Where would be the best place to meet? Should we set up a text bank for the people who signed the petition at Market Basket? How could we get more people to come to the phone bank on Thursday?
We plotted. We planned. We laughed. We supported each other. Outside of our weekly Monday hour meeting, we texted, emailed, or called each other almost daily. In short, in focusing on a common cause, we became comrades and a micro-community.
“Maybe that is a secret ingredient to a winning campaign,” I theorized to Jack. “Building the kinds of bonds of friendship that connect you to others who are dedicated to the same goal.”
But in so many ways, we could not have done any of it without Jack. Jack had been a calm and measured leader during the whole campaign. He always reminded us to stick to our positive and correct messaging and not to engage in arguments or confrontations with the opposition. His style reminded me of the former first lady Michelle Obama’s aphorism: “When they go low, we go high.” Jack was humble and always thanked and gave credit to others.
In thanking him, I asked, “Looking back on what we did, what advice would you give, Jack, for putting together a winning campaign?”
Jack did not hesitate. I think he had pondered that question as he reflected on the Yes for Gloucester win. He said:
- Be disciplined
- Stay on message
- Work hard
- Be kind
- Have fun!
Jack offers sound and good advice for grassroots movements. I doff my hat to all the Gloucester volunteers who pulled off this stunning win! I will miss those Monday morning meetings but know that the connections we built will last far beyond this campaign.