Saugus man proud to be an elector

SAUGUS – For just one day, James DiTullio can be referred to as the “Honorable” James DiTullio.But the 33-year-old Saugus resident said he won?t be making anyone call him that as he heads to the State House today to cast his ballot as one of Massachusetts? 11 electors in the Electoral College.?We?re pretty normal people,” said DiTullio. “Electors are your neighbors, your small businessmen, lawyers, doctors ? your elector could be anyone. My understanding is Saugus, I don?t think, has ever had an elector. They certainly haven?t had one in my lifetime.”DiTullio is also the youngest person to serve as an elector in the last 20 years.While the election is more than a month old, DiTullio will be joining his 10 fellow electors today in a ceremony to cast their votes for President Barack Obama?s second term.DiTullio was elected over the summer by the Democratic State Committee after being “active in Democratic politics” for more than 20 years.?I worked on Steve Angelo?s re-election campaign in middle school,” said DiTullio. “I grew up in a Democratic household ? I was interested in what he was doing and called him up ? Little did I know that conversation would spark 20-plus years in the trenches working for Democrats.”DiTullio also had a connection to the presidential ticket, having worked as a legal fellow for Vice President Joe Biden when he was still a senator. DiTullio said that was likely a contributing factor in him being elected an elector.?It?s really more of a personal pitch to each member as to why you?ve earned this office and why you would want represent them well,” said DiTullio. “These contests tend to be a little bit of a beauty pageant. There are not a lot of issues. Technically, you are a federal office holder for a single day. It?s a constitutional office. When you do it once you?re not allowed to do it again. This for me is my one shot at it and I?m glad I?m getting a shot at it.”DiTullio graduated from Saugus High School in 1997. He attended Yale University and went to University of Cambridge in England. After college he got his law degree at the University of Virginia.He was working in a private practice before taking his current job as the chief legal counsel for the Massachusetts Secretary of Education.DiTullio said he considers serving as an elector a “privilege” because he?ll be taking part in a “historic occasion.”?You hold an office that goes all the way back to the very first presidential election with George Washington and John Adams,” said DiTullio. “To be part of this important American tradition is very appealing. It connects you to every other presidential election in history. It?s your vote and you?re representing every other person in Massachusetts that came out and voted on Nov. 6 for Obama and Biden.”While he?s been active in politics for most of his life, DiTullio said he doesn?t have plans to run for office anytime soon.?Part of me will always see politics as a hobby and an extracurricular interest,” said DiTullio. “I think when I was younger I thought for sure I would run for office but, as time goes by, I?ve realized public service comes in many forms. And holding political office is one form among many. If there was the right opportunity at the right time and I thought I could offer something no one else could, I would certainly run for office. But if the goal is to serve the public, you can do that in many ways.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].