Breaking: Dan Webster withdraws from 6th Plymouth race MassGOP Executive Committee to fill vacancy

What the hell...? (0.00 / 0)

What happened?

---

by: swami7774 @ Mon Sep 10, 2012 at 21:28:04 PM UTC

Let's see now... (0.00 / 0)

-law license suspended for lack of cooperation with the Board of Bar Overseers
-defaulting on lawsuit against him brought by Rockland Trust
-OCPF sanctions for faulty record keeping

If he'd been a good soldier, he'd have stepped aside for Ms. Barry.

But he seems to have chosen the worst possible way to leave.

---

by: wavey @ Mon Sep 10, 2012 at 22:16:04 PM UTC

hoo boy. (0.00 / 0)

As I wasn't following his race I was unaware of all that. Wow. It's almost like he's sabotaging the GOP's chances of holding the seat.

---

by: swami7774 @ Mon Sep 10, 2012 at 22:24:47 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Karen Barry for State Representative (0.00 / 0)

The Executive Committee of the Massachusetts Republican Party unanimously voted to replace Rep. Webster with Karen Barry.  Barry had unsuccessfully, but very strongly, ran against Webster as a write-in candidate during the primary this past Thursday.

---

by: BNCordeiro @ Mon Sep 10, 2012 at 22:44:06 PM UTC

A breaking story but... (5.00 / 2)

A breaking story for sure, but too much is left unsaid in this post.  The reader would greatly benefit from a brief background paragraph, even if it reflected poorly on our party or officials.

jackgately.com

---

by: Jack Gately @ Mon Sep 10, 2012 at 22:46:33 PM UTC

Yes, Indeed (0.00 / 0)

Too many questions left unanswered which may impact Ms. Barry's campaign as the focus remains on what is unsaid leaving people to question her about this rather than focus on her campaign.

How about:

1) Why now and not before the primary when Rep Webster was pronouncing his desire and intention to run and win?

2) What changed between the primary and today to lead to the withdrawal?

3) Or better yet, when did you decide to withdraw as the reports indicate that the paper work was filed this morning meaning a decision was likely made before today?

Too much left unsaid to feel comfortable about what is going on.

---

by: ConsEph @ Mon Sep 10, 2012 at 23:57:07 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

??? (0.00 / 0)

Was there some benefit to doing this after the primary?

---
"That it ceased to exist, I'll grant you, but whether or not it failed cannot be definitively said." - Metropolitan (1990)

---

by: Patrick @ Mon Sep 10, 2012 at 23:40:14 PM UTC

Karen can win in the Fall (5.00 / 3)

This is good news for the district.  Karen Barry has been working for state and local candidates for the past ten years.  She has revitalized the Plymouth County GOP organization.  She's a long-time resident of the district who knows the needs of the people who live and work there.  She came perilously close to knocking off a 10 year incumbent with a write-in campaign, a testament to her skill as a campaigner.  

Rep. Webster must have seen, belatedly, the writing on the wall.  He could not win in November.

---

by: Bravehaht @ Mon Sep 10, 2012 at 23:51:23 PM UTC

He must be nearsighted (0.00 / 0)

if he couldn't see the writing.

---

by: wavey @ Mon Sep 10, 2012 at 23:55:35 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

ah... he is. (5.00 / 1)

In fact, he's probably legally blind...

...are you?

"Don't let me get away with it. Check me out. Don't be the sucker generation." -Ronald Reagan

www.inBrockton.com

---

by: BrocktonDave @ Tue Sep 11, 2012 at 15:38:17 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Excellent post. (0.00 / 0)

---

by: Rob Cunningham @ Tue Sep 11, 2012 at 00:37:46 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Good luck, Karen! (5.00 / 1)

Whatever the reason for Mr. Webster's resignation, he served that district well for many years and deserves respect and best wishes after what must have been a painful decision. But stepping down was the right thing to do.

And now voters have a great candidate to support in Karen Barry, one of the most loyal and energetic Republicans in the state, and a terrific person.

I disagree with the good folks here who've commented that questions need to be answered before we can focus on Karen's campaign - Mr. Webster will deal with his business now as a private citizen.

Our focus needs to be on the future - and on how to help Karen beat a formidable opponent, one who literally owned a district newspaper and who is a (D) during a year when there is likely to be high turnout for Pres. Obama. Webster only beat him by 500 votes - very close:

       Dem Republican
         Cutler Webster
Duxbury       2,634   2,433
Halifax        654   725
Hanson        2,180 2,112
Pembroke 3,324 4,026
Total        8,792 9,296

Read more: http://www.patriotledger.com/y...

We'll need to really get our ground game going if we're going to send both Scott Brown back to Washington and Karen to Beacon Hill!    

Any man who afflicts the human race with ideas must be prepared to see them misunderstood. - H. L. Mencken

---

by: MiracleGirl @ Tue Sep 11, 2012 at 00:40:51 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Dan Webster Released the Following Statement (0.00 / 0)

IA Statement from State Representative Daniel Webster
September 10th, 2012 - 6:57pm

For the past 16 years I have served in elected office, first as a Hanson Selectman and the past decade as State Representative.

I am proud of the work I have done on matters like pension reform, EBT card changes, education funding and money to build district schools.

I am proud to say that I have carried the issues of the people I have represented with passion and persistence. I have been a staunch supporter of nurses and of public safety, and most of all the hard-working taxpayers and small business owners that fuel our local economy.

I am humbled by the continuous support I have received from the people of Hanson, Duxbury, Pembroke and Halifax. Last week, this district voted once again to bestow upon me the Republican nomination so I can continue to fight for the people and issues we care about.

Today, I submitted the required paperwork to withdraw my name from nomination for re-election.

I cannot continue to serve as a full-time legislator while tending to the needs of my family and my business.

This was a very difficult decision because I have tremendous affection and concern for the people of this district. While I believe I have served them honorably and well, I must focus now on those things most important in my life, my family and the business which supports those I love.

I have been honored to receive countless volunteer hours, funds and votes over these past 16 years. Helping thousands of people has been the most gratifying - and a desire to help people is why I originally chose to serve.

As I focus on those closest to me, I look forward to the time when my personal commitments afford me the time and energy to re-engage in the public discourse as fully as I have these past many years.

For now, I will serve out this term and pass the Republican nomination to primary runner-up Karen Barry, who will honorably represent this district as both a strong, principled conservative, but also as a compassionate and vigorous advocate. She is the kind of honorable and dedicated person this district deserves.

I have been humbled and honored time and again these past 16 years. In January, I will leave behind my time as an advocate for my constituents so I can spend more time being an advocate for my clients and my family.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you.

This per www.959watd.com.

---

by: Rob Cunningham @ Tue Sep 11, 2012 at 00:31:37 AM UTC

Helpful addition (0.00 / 0)

helpful addition, thanks Rob.

jackgately.com

---

by: Jack Gately @ Tue Sep 11, 2012 at 01:02:59 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Too Bad (0.00 / 0)

It was rather cool to have a guy named Dan Webster in the delegation. But if what has been said here is true he obviously makes Todd Akin look like George Washington.

Edward Wagner

---

by: Edward59 @ Wed Sep 12, 2012 at 07:04:05 AM UTC