SOUTHAMPTON — For decades, George Symborski has been a mainstay in Democratic Party campaigns in western Massachusetts. Now, Symborski’s efforts have been recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Southampton Democratic Town Committee, as well as citations from the state House of Representatives and Senate.
Symborski was presented with the awards at the Democratic Town Committee’s annual fundraiser, which was held Sept. 23 at Glendale Ridge Vineyard. The awards were kept secret from Symborski until the ceremony.
“I was shocked,” he said about receiving the award. “Couldn’t say a word.”
Janet Cain, chairwoman of the Democratic Town Committee, said Symborski’s wife, Barbara, said that in 18 years she’s never seen him speechless.
Symborski, 85, had a long career at the Hampshire County Jail and House of Corrections under former sheriff Robert Garvey, and was civil defense director for three Northampton mayors. He’s currently a constable in Southampton.
The campaigns Symborski has been involved in range from Michael Dukakis’ presidential run to local contests.
Symborski grew up in Northampton and has lived in Easthampton and Southampton as well. A lifelong Democrat, he first got involved with political campaigns in his late 20s, when future Northampton mayor David Musante approached him about aiding his run for the Ward 6 City Council seat while Symborski was playing softball at Maines Field.
Musante called Symborski, an old friend, a “go-getter,” saying he was involved in all of his campaigns, including his first mayoral run in 1979.
“George was my right hand during the campaign for mayor,” he said. “A good man, I’ll tell you.”
Musante would go on to win six terms as mayor, becoming the city’s longest-serving mayor.
Symborski said his parents were both Democrats and they made sure who he voted for when he first became eligible to vote.
“I couldn’t change my mind and vote for a Republican if I had to,” Symborski said. “It’s still that way. I go in there and the Republican doesn’t have a chance.”
Symborski has lessened his involvement in political campaigns in recent years, but he still holds signs, goes to fundraisers, and puts up signs.
“This guy knows the best intersections in the county for putting signs out,” Cain said.
For his part, Symborski said putting signs at churches and funeral parlors has been his secret to success.
“That’s where you get the most exposure,” he said.
State Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, D-Northampton, said that when she goes out with Symborski, everyone knows him and people have good things to say about him.
“It’s just nice to have people like that who are such figures of the community,” she said.
State Sen. John Velis, D-Westfield, said he met Symborski for the first time when he was running for state Senate and that Symborski asked him for signs to put up. One or two days after giving the signs to Symborski, Velis said that his signs were up in prime locations in the town.
“I had the best sign locations in all of Southampton,” Velis said.
At the time, Velis asked his friend, state Rep. Dan Carey, D-Easthampton, about what happened and Carey had a simple reply: “George happened.”
“I just can’t say enough positive things about him,” Velis said.
Symborski’s daughter Laurie Syms Bramwell has continued the family tradition of being involved with politics, having worked for U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., the Democratic National Committee, and the Kennedy Institute. Her husband, meanwhile, was a longtime Capitol Hill staffer.