Maybe its just me, but there certainly seems to be a whole lot more activity in this year's State Committee races. More contested seats, more incumbents facing challenges and each seat appears to have at least one candidate.
This is good for the party as races can bring more interest and more people to work on those campaigns to work on future campaigns.
I have noticed, in recent days, that the amount of mail from candidates has increased. Whether it be from the candidates or there supporters, the last couple of days my mailbox has greeted me with no less than 2 mailers on the State Committee election. However, I have also received a couple of pieces of mail asking me to vote for people who are not even in my district.
This brings a question to mind that I would like to pose to RMG:
Yesterday, we moved 2 steps forward in rebuilding our Republican Party in this state.
There will be much Monday morning Quarterbacking on what occurred and what could have been done differently... but at the end of the day...
There are 3 Important Lessons...
#1) It simply came down to who had the best Get Out The Vote Effort. The Dems easily won. We must learn from this.
#2) The best way to win higher offices is to earn the local offices first, earn trust and respect from your communities... and then run for higher office. This has been our strategy in Southern Worcester County and it worked flawlessly. (Kevin Kuros Selectman, Ryan Fattman Selectman, Jen Caisse Selectman, Durant ; Selectman, Lew - State Rep) It works.
#3) We must give financially - RIGHT NOW - as much as it hurts - to all of the winning and losing campaigns one more time.
Words are wonderful enouragement to fallen campaigns and candidates, the money is what is needed now.
They must pay off all expenses... there are costs associated with closing down campaigns and a candidate is most likely to try again... and keep their campaign committee alive... if they have some money in the account.
Make a donation right now - To Jim McKenna, to Tom Keyes, to Jeff Perry, to Jamison Tomasek and all the wonderful State Rep and State Senate Candidates across the state.
Help them put this loss in the history books and position them to run in the Spring Town Elections and then again in 2 years.
Despite what you may think... we did very well yesterday... and we are one step closer to our goal of a representative government in Massachusetts.
This is just one battle in the war... we must go on.
There are so many people coming out of the wood-works at all levels of government to run for office this year that it's tough for us to keep track. If you are running for elective office any time this year please let us know by filling out the form below.
I'm delighted to introduce Red Mass Group readers to Imagine Election, a new website for Massachusetts voters and candidates.
The site provides customized ballots based on a user's address, like Project Vote Smart. Unlike Project Vote Smart:
Candidates can create and edit their own profiles
Users (like you!) can post reviews of candidates
The site includes races that are specific to MA like governor's councillor
The site provides specific polling place information
The site makes it easy for average voters to get real information about candidates' experience and issue positions. That will help voters look beyond name recognition and party status - and that would be great news for Republicans.
I'm Summer, the site's founder. I can't wait to hear what you all think!
The Massachusetts Federation of Young Republicans PAC has just cut checks to seven legislative candidates. These seven candidates do not have primaries, as it is against our charter to as an organization endorse in primaries. We are actively raising money and plan to give to more candidates in the near future. The candidates that have recently received $250.00 checks from our organization are:
Susan Pope, running for State Rep.
Steven Levy, running for State Senate seat.
Santino "Sonny" Parente, running for State Rep.
Arthur Vigeant, running for State Rep
Ron Chernisky running for State Rep.
Kevin Kuros, running for State Rep.
Bill Scibella, running for State Rep.
These recent disbursements plus the $100 each we gave to the three recent candidates in special elections, and $250 we gave to Steve Levy earlier this year brings us to $2300 in donations this cycle. I'd like to thank Governor Cellucci for hosting a fundraiser in Boston for us earlier last month which allowed us to contribute to these candidates.
GOP Norfolk County Commissioner candidate Tom Gorman, left, discusses Massachusetts politics with Jon W. Rockwood.
Dover - Residents elected to the Dover Republican Town Committee on the presidential primary ballot met Wednesday, March 12, at the Spring Lane home of Carl and Marylou Edwards to convene their new term and plan for the upcoming elections. The guests included a number of candidates and party officials.
With two viable candidates for the U.S. Senate, the Massachusetts GOP is in the midst of a busy year. In addition, many candidates are positioning themselves for local races. Dedham's Tom Gorman is running an active campaign for Norfolk County Commissioner with a pledge to reform and greatly limit county government; improving services while reducing costs and increasing accountability to the local towns.
Walpole Attorney Jon W. Rockwood, a Harvard graduate and former manager at the National Security Agency, is contemplating a run for state Senate, seeking the seat formerly held by Jo Ann Sprague.
The committee elected Carl N. Edwards as its chairman; Mark A. Sarro as vice chairman and treasurer; and Henry G. Levinson as finance chairman.
For further information, call 774-200-0201.
Congratulations to all the winners in yesterday's Republican primaries - for President, for Republican State Committee, and for Republican Town and Ward Committee.
Starting today at 10:00 a.m., nomination papers are available at the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office in Boston, Fall River, and Springfield. Within a few days, they will be available at major city and town clerks/ election division offices.
To run for office, you will need the following number of signatures:
150 - State Representative
300 - State Senate
2000 - U.S. Congress
10,000 - U.S. Senate
You should collect at least DOUBLE the minimum number you need to ensure you end up with enough certified signatures.
(Good luck Dave. Your district needs some change. - promoted by EaBo Clipper)
Announcing Run for State Republican Committee Man for 2nd Plymouth and Bristol District of David Heidke
In the past 6 months since I returned from active duty, I have seen some positive and exciting changes in the Massachusetts Republican Party. I have seen a change in focus to concentrate on grassroots campaigns that will allow good Republican candidates cut their teeth at the local level. Massachusetts Republicans will work to build the farm team so we can regain some of our previous successes at the state level.
Keyes told syndicated radio host Janet Parshall he's "unmoved" by the lack of moral courage shown by the other candidates, among whom he sees no standout who articulates the "key kernel of truth that must, with courage, be presented to our people."
Keyes will be participating in the Values Voter Debate which happens this Monday. Giuliani, Romney, McCain, and Thompson all had scheduling conflicts and will unfortunately not be attending the debate. Romney in particular will be too busy participating in an "Ask Mitt Anything" session on his website.
It seems somewhat clear from Keyes' own website what his purpose in the race really is: to dog Ron Paul mercilessly. I expect the debates to go something like this from now on:
Ron Paul will say what he's been saying in past debates.
Alan Keyes will then be allowed to follow up directly after. He will wax poetic about the nature of freedom, speak a bit about universal truths, and also fit in a few references to the Declaration of Independence. Then he'll tie that all into some point about the necessity of fighting Islamofascism in Iraq, Iran, Syria, North Korea, and 15th Century Spain (seriously, he will mention 15th Century Spain).
Rudy McRomney et al, will get a chance to chime in on both Ron Paul and Alan Keyes and say something to the effect that Ron Paul is crazy and wrong, and Alan Keyes is articulate and makes some great and interesting points (and perhaps that Alan actually has given them "a lot to think about and consider").
According to today's Lowell Sun (8-10-07), Haverhill native Michael Feltz has decided to toss his hat into the MA-05 race as an Independent. The 25 year old loan consolidator for New Hampshire-based Student Loan Solutions has until September 4, 2007 (the date of the primary), to submit his nomination papers & at least 2,000 valid signatures from registered voters in order to secure his place on the ballot for the general election. He joins Lowell native Patrick Murphy & Boxboro resident Kurt Hayes as one of three Independents who, along with the candidates from the Democrat, Republican & Constitution parties, hope to win the MA-05 seat. Man, this race is getting crowded!
According to the Lowell Sun (6-23-07), Boxborough businessman Kurt Hayes will be running as an unenrolled candidate for the MA-05 race. Although he's listed as a candidate on Wikipedia, the Sun reporter was unable to reach Hayes for an interview. Based on what was up on Hayes' website, the Sun reports that Hayes "opposes a path to citizenship for the country's estimated 12 million illegal immigrants" & supports the current US posture in Iraq with the long term goal of having American troops "play more of a support role to Iraq security forces & pursue diplomacy with neighboring countries". Obviously Hayes needs to get the requesite signatures to get on the ballot before anyone can take him seriously. He's running on his own with no political party to help him out. If he makes the cut, it'll be interesting to hear what he has to say about other issues & to see where his head's at from an ideological point of view (since the other unenrolled candidate in the race is liberal).
(I already pointed this out here [http://www.redmassgroup.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=295], but it is worth repeating. - promoted by Cool Cal)
At last! A Democrat is so disgusted with US Senator John Kerry that he has decided to run against the state's junior senator in next year's Democrat primary. Ed O'Reilly's odds of winning are slim but if he turns out to be a decent candidate who wages a competent campaign which wins over the hearts & wallets of the liberal activists, he could really unnerve the Democrat establishment. We Republicans of course have no use for Kerry but lately the impression from Democrat friends whose political judgement I trust is that activists still fume at Kerry for blowing the 2004 Presidential Election - an election said activists feel Kerry should have won. Add to that his gaffe regarding the education level of our troops, his abysmal record regarding simple constituent services, & his aloof (if not arrogant) temperment & you have an incumbent who could be VERY vulnerable to a primary challenge from a liberal true believer. O'Reilly's website is http://www.edoreilly... so check it out. If the man is as entertaining in person as he is in his streaming videos, Kerry may have something to worry about in next year's election no matter how much ketchup money he has at his disposal.
According to the Lowell Sun, Independent Patrick Murphy has decided to run for the Fifth Congressional District. Check out http://www.lowellsun... for more details.
If Murphy succeeds in getting his name on the ballot, the race may have four candidates running in the general election (Constitution, Democrat, Republican & now an Independent). From what I've read thus far, Murphy is positioning himself to be well to the left on most (if not all) issues.
Although he has some roots in Lowell, Murphy lacks money & a seasoned political organization. Only time will tell if his idealism will have any marginal impact on the race. Comments?
Pastor Kevin Thompson of the Massachusetts Constitution Party has decided to toss his hat into the ring and run for the open seat in the Fifth Congressional District. His official campaign website is www.thompson07.com & it's already up & running.
A quick perusal of "The Issues" webpage indicates that Thompson will be THE most conservative voice on social issues in the race. He opposes abortion & gay marriage. He's also a fierce defender of the Second Amendment and a firm believer in securing America's borders.
The interesting wrinkle in his candidacy (where he finds common cause with Democrats) is his opposition to the Iraq War ("an illegal invasion based on faulty intelligence"), the Patriot Act, and what he calls "a NAFTA superhighway". Hardcore conservatives will love his call to abolish the income tax ("along with the IRS") & to add a Balanced Budget Amendment to the US Constitution.
Thompson's first challenge will be getting the requesite signatures to place his name on the ballot. Should he succeed, he could pose an interesting challenge to GOP candidate Jim Ogonowski. If social conservatives and economic libertarians feel dissatisfied with aspects of the O-Man's candidacy, said conservatives could find in Thompson THEIR candidate for THEIR issues.
The winner of the Democrat primary will probably count on his/her party to be unified as said primary winner advances towards the general election. Given the possibility of Thompson siphoning off a marginal amount of conservative voters in the general election, should the GOP be sanguine about his candidacy - or nervous? Comments please.
