LEWISTON – The Maine State Democratic Committee has started work on the platform planks to be voted on at the Democratic State Convention. This year’s convention will be May 21 to 23 at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland. Delegates for it will be elected at the city and town caucuses held on Feb. 8.

Lewiston Rep. Will Walcott was elected chair of the committee. Ramona du Houx of Solon was chosen as secretary.

Walcott has written to all the county chairs seeking feedback from Maine’s 16 counties. He asked that discussions concerning the 2002 platform and the needs of the 2004 platform be presented by the cities and towns by Nov. 30. The next regular committee meeting will be Jan. 17 to start drafting the document.

Androscoggin County is represented by Ed and Sheila Desgrosseilliers of Auburn and Joan Siemann of Lewiston, who were elected by the Androscoggin Democratic Committee. Dave Adams of Auburn was elected by the state committee. Ed Desgrosseilliers also chairs the Auburn Democratic City Committee. Names of people statewide serving on the committee can be obtained by contacting Walcott at 783-4059 or Aymie Walshe at 622-6233.