Warren Tolman '82, candidate for the Democratic nomination for Massachusetts governor in 2002, was scheduled to speak in the Cole Assembly Room today in one of his first campaign stumps of the campaign.

"I figured this would be a big-draw event," said Ben Baum '03 who is president of the College Democrats. "He has a good chance at becoming governor."

According to Matt McKenna, Tolman's scheduler and field manager, Tolman has been excited to visit his alma mater. His objective today, and throughout the campaign, will be to heighten youth involvement in politics.

The cornerstone of Tolman's platform, however, is that of a clean election. Tolman, according to McKenna, has never accepted a campaign contribution from a lobbyist, corporation, political action committee or interest group.

Tolman also refuses to accept contributions over $100, in accordance with a bill currently being considered by the Massachusetts state legislature. "Theoretically, anyone can give and make an impact," McKenna said. "We want the vote, not the money."

Since the clean election bill has not yet been finalized by the state legislature, Tolman will not receive matching funds from the state and may have trouble competing with candidates like State Senate President Tom Birmingham and Steve Grossman, former Democratic National Committee chairman.

If chosen during the primaries, Tolman will likely run against current Governor Jane Swift, who has been the acting governor since Governor A. Paul Cellucci stepped down to become ambassador to Canada.

In 1991, Tolman entered Massachusetts politics again and successfully ran for the state House of Representatives. He remained Watertown's representative until 1994. Then, from 1995 to 1998, Tolman was elected as Watertown's State Senator.

In 1998, Tolman was a candidate for lieutenant governor on the Democratic ticket but lost in one of the state's closest elections ever.