MassLive.com: Republican candidates dwindle in Massachusetts races

Pathetic... (0.00 / 0)

12 State Senate Candidates
Town Moderator Jon W. Rockwood (R-Walpole) for Bristol and Norfolk
State Senator Bruce E. Tarr (R-Gloucester) for First Essex and Middlesex
Alexander J. Sherman (R-Springfield) for First Hampden and Hampshire
State Senator Michael Knapik (R-Westfield) for Second Hampden and Hampshire
Keith McCormic (R-Greenfield) for Hampshire and Franklin
Sandra B. Martinez (R-Chelmsford) for Third Middlesex
Fmr. State Rep. Brion Cangiamila (R-Billerica) for Fourth Middlesex
State Senator Richard R. Tisei (R-Wakefield) for Middlesex and Essex
City Councilor Steve Levy (R-Marlborough) for Middlesex and Worcester
State Senator Scott P. Brown (R-Wrentham) for Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex
State Senator Robert L. Hedlund (R-Weymouth) for Plymouth and Norfolk
Selectman John Lebeaux (R-Shrewsbury) for Second Worcester

42 State House Races (I know of 41)
Nate Nickerson (R-??) for Third Barnstable
Selectman Don Howell (R-Harwich) for Fourth Barnstable
State Rep. Jeffrey D. Perry (R-Sandwich) for Fifth Barnstable
State Rep. Fred J. Barrows (R-Mansfield) for First Bristol
City Councilor George Ross (R-Attleboro) for Second Bristol
C.J. Ferry (R-Fall River) for Seventh Bristol
State Rep. Elizabeth A. Poirier (R-North Attleborough) for Fourteenth Bristol
State Rep. Bradford Hill (R-Ipswich) for Fourth Essex
John Blaisdell (R-Marblehead) for Eighth Essex
Selectman Lawrence Brennan (R-Georgetown) for Eighteenth Essex
Robert Parks (R-Athol) for Second Franklin
State Rep. Todd M. Smola (R-Palmer) for First Hampden
Selectman William Scibelli (R-Longmeadow) for Second Hampden
State Rep. Donald F. Humason, Jr. (R-Westfield) for Fourth Hampden
George J. Vazquez (R-Springfield) for Tenth Hampden
Board of Assessors Member Richard J. Howell (R-Wilbraham) for Twelfth Hampden
State Rep. Robert S. Hargraves (R-Groton) for First Middlesex
School Committeeman Paul J. Avella (R-Littleton) for Second Middlesex
Selectman Sonny Parente (R-Hudson) for Third Middlesex
City Councilor Arthur Vigeant (R-Marlborough) for Fourth Middlesex
Fmr. Lt. Governor Chief of Staff Dan Haley (R-Holliston) for Eighth Middlesex
Fmr. State Rep. Susan Pope (R-Wayland) for Thirteenth Middlesex
State Rep. Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) for Twentieth Middlesex
Selectman Brian O'Connor (R-Winchester) for Thirty-First Middlesex
Kurt Hayes (R-Boxborough) for Thirty-Seventh Middlesex
Carlton Alan Chambers (R-Weymouth) and Robert Montgomery Thomas (R-Weymouth) for Fourth Norfolk
State Rep. Richard J. Ross (R-Wrentham) for Ninth Norfolk
RTC GOP Chairman Doug Obey (R-Westwood) for Eleventh Norfolk
State Rep. Vinny M. deMacedo (R-Plymouth) for First Plymouth
State Rep. Susan Williams Gifford (R-Wareham) for Second Plymouth
Dan Mullarkey (R-???) for Fourth Plymouth
State Rep. Daniel K. Webster (R-Pembroke) for Sixth Plymouth
RTC Chairman Lawrence Novak (R-Brockton) for Ninth Plymouth
Benjamin Flynn (R-???) for Third Suffolk
State Rep. Lewis Evangelidis (R-Holden) for First Worcester
Fmr. School Committeeman Stephen Comtois II (R-Brookfield) for Fifth Worcester
Selectman Ronald Chernisky (R-Southbridge) for Sixth Worcester
State Rep. Paul K. Frost (R-Auburn) for Seventh Worcester
Selectman Kevin J. Kuros (R-Uxbridge) for Eighth Worcester
State Rep. George N. Peterson, Jr. (R-Grafton) for Ninth Worcester
State Rep. Karyn E. Polito (R-Shrewsbury) for Eleventh Worcester

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by: MerrimackMan @ Tue May 27, 2008 at 12:43:20 PM CDT

Sherman and Cangiamila failed to make the ballot, from what I've heard... (0.00 / 0)

Most candidates did make it, however, and we have a particularly strong slate this year. Great job putting that together, MerrimackMan! Thanks.

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by: republicanvoices @ Tue May 27, 2008 at 13:24:52 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

FAILED?? (0.00 / 0)

As in, didn't turn in signatures, or failed to obtain 300 certified signatures from what they did turn in?

Cangamilia couldn't have been trying very hard, for a veteran.

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by: wavemaker @ Tue May 27, 2008 at 14:43:05 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

It's the recruitment that is worse than pathetic (0.00 / 0)

Of the 12 St. Senate candidates...5 are imcumbents and if the rumors are true about Sherman and Cangiamila, then the Republicans will be contesting 5 of the 35 State Senate seats!  Wow, and from the looks of it, Levy is your best shot at picking up one seat, when you need what...another 4 to even have minority power in the Senate?

And in the House, 16 of the 41 are incumbents, leaving 199 Dems without a Republican opponent and be held accountable to the people in their Districts!

How the *&^@# can reformed minded people (and I think people here would concede that we--I and many of you--at least have that in common) can expect any reform if the opposition party is lousy at it's most basic job: Offering up opposition!

And please, nobody post the lame comment I've read around here before about focusing on "quality contests" as opposed to recruiting a warm body to any seat.  It looks like you've got a couple of good candidates (Pope, Vigeant and Haley) in the House and may pick up a seat (although isn't Haley defending an R seat), but there is also a chance that you have a net lose in seats in November--you never know.

You folks have got to take a page from Howard Dean and the Lefty Blogosphere who waged a "50 state" campaign to recruit ANYBODY to challenge a Republican who had safe seats and were always unopposed.  As Terry McAuliffe has been saying lately, "you can't catch a fumble if your not in the game" and in 2006 it paid off, who safe Republicans like Jeb Bradley getting knocked off and other safe R seats using limited natioanal resources to fight of nobodies.  So in the next five months if Sal and Deval start to really stink up the place, you folks will not have a chance to capitialize on that.  

The Republican party is so beyond pathetic that someone like ME--who wants a reform/liberal agenda--is giving them advice because it's in the interest of good government to have a strong and healthy opposition party.  (And note that I even gave V3PN a 5 on his comments about changing your damn message.  Finding warm bodies like I suggest and them have them spew stupid talking points ain't going to cut it either.)

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by: Festus Garvey @ Tue May 27, 2008 at 17:18:07 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

The 2nd Worcester and 3rd Middlesex are also very winnable Senate seats: (0.00 / 0)

For Reps, we have a number of seats within our grasp.  

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by: republicanvoices @ Tue May 27, 2008 at 17:44:29 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Oh, and there's also Jon Rockwood challenging Timilty for State Senate in what used to be JoAnn Sprague's seat! Very good district... (0.00 / 0)

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by: republicanvoices @ Tue May 27, 2008 at 17:45:24 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Thanks for the 5 Festus..... (0.00 / 0)

Also, I agree completely that everyone gains if there is strong opposition.  If the Democrats are allowed to run wild and unchallenged then what has government gained.  The best ideas are forged in a hot furnace, not grown unchecked like weeds.

I would also add that Paul Avella is a good bet as he is running in Geoff Hall's district and Hall is retiring.

Thanks Festus.

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by: Vote3rdpartynow @ Tue May 27, 2008 at 19:25:24 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I would suggest (0.00 / 0)

That you would have more quality people, non-lawyers, if the pay of the state legislature were a little more than it is.

Lawyers are the only ones who can afford to get paid $50,000 a year and pay for a campaign.

How many legistators aren't lawyers?

Maybe if it were a part time job, and some businessmen could keep their day job, more people would run.  Or if the pay were more (but that is a real hard sell).

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

www.inBrockton.com

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by: BrocktonDave @ Tue May 27, 2008 at 19:43:44 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Dave Dave Dave, (0.00 / 0)

Are you buying into the whole "full time job" baloney?

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by: wavemaker @ Wed May 28, 2008 at 06:27:32 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

LOL! (0.00 / 0)

From the looks of the job description, and the level of work it should require...  I would put it as a full time job.

If it isn't and I could have kept my full time job, I would have run!  But I can't take a pay cut that big.  I can't just find money on the street you know.

When I take a job I want to do it right, and not just enhance my legal practice.

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

www.inBrockton.com

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by: BrocktonDave @ Wed May 28, 2008 at 09:14:42 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

It doesn't necessarily (0.00 / 0)

enhance your legal practice. It can, for some -- if they've got an ofice in the city. And if you're like Sal DiMasi and you have no conscience, you can make a fortune representing drunk drivers in front of the judges whose salaries you control and get a bunch of guilty people back out on the road again!! That's easy money.

Or you could be like Tom Finneran, and as the Chairman of the Banking Committee, do loan closings for the people whose industry you control.

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by: wavemaker @ Wed May 28, 2008 at 10:29:56 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Nate Nickerson decided to withdraw. So just Perry and Howell on Cape as of now. (0.00 / 0)

Yr. Obedient Servant, Peter Porcupine, Republican

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by: Peter Porcupine @ Tue May 27, 2008 at 12:58:53 PM CDT

for now..... (0.00 / 0)

Yr. Obedient Servant, Peter Porcupine, Republican

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by: Peter Porcupine @ Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:15:34 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

My thoughts..... (5.00 / 2)

Since I know a lot more about business than I do politics - I always have to think of these things in a business sense instead of a political sense.

If the Massachusetts State Republican party were a business then it would be known for:

1.) Multiple failed product introductions - How many candidates have run for office and failed over the last 10 years?  Low batting average for product introduction translates to not understanding the market place demands or the consumer demands.

2.) The products that did sell in the past are not selling as well today.  Under Romney the GOP fielded more candidates than ever and actually lost a seat.  Party membership is dropping every year and is now about 12% of voters only.  Consumer confidance is low and voters (customers) don't associate the GOP with problem resolution.  The GOP doesn't fill needs.  There has been a demand change and a change in demand - meaning fewer people join the party for traditional reasons and fewer believe the party has the ability to solve the problems.

3.) The product is not causing any excitement or market noise.  The GOP is boring and has no sex appeal or sizzle.  Where are the brand champions?

I bet that if you studied the marketplace over the years there are consumer packaged goods that underwent the same problems and yet were able to be turned around.  I remember baking soda when it was used as a cooking item - today it freshens the back of your refrigerator.  When the idea was introduced to use baking soda as an air freshener the sales went through the roof.  I also remember when potato chips came in two kinds - regular and with ridges.  Today, potato chips come in about 25 flavors and several formats (packages).  My point is that somebody or something came along and changed the entire paradigm of those products.  That is what needs to happen to the GOP in Massachusetts.

That is what makes me crazy about members of the GOP that think if they just knock on more doors and ring more phones at dinner time the party will come back.  The party isn't coming back until a paradigm change has occurred in how people think.  The GOP must think outside the box.

Now this is not to say that the Democrats have found that paradigm change - because they haven't.  They are suffering a lot of the same ills that the GOP is - dropping membership, little faith among followers, etc.  The Democrats just happen to have a lot of inventory to work through in their elected officials.

The GOP needs some product innovation - new technology, new packaging, new size and price, new product attributes discovered that fill new needs.  Something, anything.  Not just more of the same old tired GOP.

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by: Vote3rdpartynow @ Tue May 27, 2008 at 15:43:24 PM CDT

The other day (0.00 / 0)

The other day one of the Ogo shills pointed out that the U.S. House races in Mass. weren't that important, and that the state party was concentrating more on the state legislature.

That doesn't appear to be the case.

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by: marktmcl @ Tue May 27, 2008 at 17:20:01 PM CDT