EAST LONGMEADOW – The process to determine a Democratic candidate to face Gov. Charlie Baker is still the better part of a year away, but the three announced candidates seemed to all agree that Baker can be bested through a grassroots effort to turn out that vote.

That is exactly what former Newton Mayor Setti Warren, former Secretary of Administration and Finance Jay Gonzalez and activist and author Bob Massie were all at East Longmeadow High School on a beautiful Saturday afternoon to do. In front of the three men were about 100 Democratic faithful from around the area – the foot soldiers in any grassroots effort.

The hour-long debate, followed by another hour during which the candidates could speak one-on-one with audience members, was sponsored by the East Longmeadow Democratic Town Committee, the Chicopee Democratic City Committee, and Wilbraham and Ludlow Town Committee, Springfield Democratic Committee Wards 4,6 and 8 and Massachusetts Parents United.

Moderator Anthony Cignoli asked his own questions, as well as those submitted by audience members. Later the candidates asked each other questions. Through the hour, each candidate stressed his own experiences with Warren speaking about his eight years as a mayor, Gonzalez about his time serving with Gov. Deval Patrick and Massie with his history of progressive activism.

As one could imagine this early in the campaign the three men were cordial and supportive of one another. Massie, at one point, said. “This is what Democratic unity looks like.” The only bombs thrown were in the direction of Baker.

Massie noted that former Sen. Scott Brown had an approval rating of 75 percent proper to his re-election effort, which he lost to Sen. Elizabeth Warren. “Whomever wins this primary will coordinate campaigns with Elizabeth Warren [who is running for re-election]. We need to focus on this race. I’m sick of the governor playing footsie with President Trump,” Massie added.

Massie, in his opening statement after the Pledge of Allegiance, declared, “Everything that flag stands for is at risk.” He said, the economy is “upside down” and if elected he would work on transportation solutions for the entire state, Internet access for all communities and a single payer health plan.

Gonzalez accused Baker of not having accomplished very much and hasn’t even tried to out forth initiatives. He wants to work for a living wage, paid family leaves, single payer health insurance and an improved transportation system.

Warren spoke of “the biggest issue of our time: economic inequality,” something that was underscored by his experience as a mayor. He, too, spoke of implementing a single payer health plan.

When asked about one of them running against Baker who has been determined by polling as being the most popular governor in the county and having a campaign archest, none of the three flinched. All three believe that grassroots organizing and financing would overcome Baker’s strategy.

“We don’t need $30 million. We need enough for a robust grassroots campaign,” Gonzalez said.

Massie said that all three men have to find a way to speak about Baker and his record. Both Warren and Gonzalez raised concerns about Baker’s involvement in the recent referendum question on charter school and political contributions.  

When asked about the efforts the Baker Administration has made to reform and improve the Department of Children and Families, all three men said little has been done. Warren spoke of his conversations with public defenders assigned to children in the foster care system and reported they are grossly underfunded still.

Gonzalez said, “He said he was going to fix it and it’s worse.”