What's Inside:
- Chairman's update
- 2020 Republican Congressional candidates
- Beacon Hill campaign rundown: Q&A with MassGOP Political Director John Milligan
- Eleven MassGOP state legislative candidates to watch this fall
- Commentary on police reform, by Republican State Committeeman Dennis Galvin
- Chairman's Circle speaker series recap
- MassGOP leadership update
- Evaluating Joe Biden, by Republican State Committeeman Dr. Jay Fleitman
- MassGOP Veterans Coalition launch: A Q&A with founder John MacDonald
- Highlights of Republican activity across the Commonwealth
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Waging a legal fight for the right to compete in 2020
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Dear Friends,
The COVID-19 pandemic has made life difficult for all, and the Massachusetts Republican Party has been no exception. Over the past several months, MassGOP staff worked tirelessly to ensure positions for Republicans on the 2020 ballot, but some of the roadblocks that sprung up came not from the virus, but from the Democrats’ apparent insistence on using the emergency conditions as a means of minimizing Republican threats to their power.
Consider the situation that confronted Helen Brady.
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The vice chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party lodged a complaint with the Massachusetts Secretary of State, triggering a state Ballot Law Commission review. Incredibly, the SBLC upheld the complaint.
Once again, just like the effort to amend the signature-collecting process to align with pandemic-related safeguards, we were forced to go to court.
Once again, we won.
Here's the short version: Simply gaining access to the ballot "required the intervention of the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to stop the Democrat power brokers from thwarting democracy in the 9th Congressional District."
Fighting these legal battles just to ensure voters have a choice in November has not been cheap. It is with this in mind that a new MassGOP legal fund was created. According to reports, Joe Biden's presidential campaign has hired more than 600 lawyers, and you can bet that the radical Democrats here in Massachusetts will try to litigate away any November outcome here in Massachusetts that they don't like.
Meanwhile, there's much work to be done ahead of the election. As you'll read in this newsletter, we have a slate of reliable conservatives running for Congress, and we have identified winnable state House and Senate districts, all being contested by Republicans.
The 2020 crop of Republicans candidates will give Massachusetts voters a choice -- either Beacon Hill continues to hurl itself down a chute to socialism, or the values of freedom, independence and liberty for all, and American exceptionalism prevail.
What does it say to the future of our commonwealth when immediately following a night of violence, rioting, and looting in downtown Boston, our own Democrat attorney general cheerfully explains it away by exclaiming in remarks, "yes, America is burning -- but that's how forests grow."
Earlier this summer, the Democrat-dominated Massachusetts state Senate rammed through during the predawn hour a reform bill intended to harm police, without a single public hearing. Our own Republican State Committeeman Dennis Galvin, a retired Massachusetts State Police major, has shared his thoughts in this newsletter on the equally disastrous House version of this bill, passed late last month.
Meanwhile, the Democrats are also busy eyeing tax increases as a means of correcting the impending state budget shortfall. Increasing the ranks of Republicans in the state Legislature is needed now, more than ever.
The Democrats' current vision involves not only condemning the past, but hijacking the future.
Republicans know this, and the MassGOP stands committed to providing voters with a pro-America alternative. Candidates matter, and the party is defining itself with a blue-collar mentality. Just like in 2016, current polls do not tell the whole story. Ours is the party of jobs, energy independence, strong borders, and the rule of law. Theirs is the party that prefers to police speech instead of crime, thumbs its collective nose at patriotism, and actively encourages mob rule.
When presented with a choice, and Americans will indeed be presented with one in November, they will be choosing between two drastically different futures: one that celebrates and honors America's founding principles, and another undoubtedly ushering in an era of Big Government socialism.
I am confident that Americans will choose the former.
To victory,
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Jim Lyons
Chairman, Massachusetts Republican Party
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2020 House Congressional Candidates |
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2nd District
Tracy Lovvorn risked her career in order to fight corruption, waste, fraud and abuse within skilled nursing facilities across the country. She is responsible for the return of hundreds of millions of dollars to Medicare, and the better protecting of many of our most frail and elderly citizens. Tracy is ready to bring this same energy and fight to help end the political extremism in DC that has been tearing our country apart. This is her second bid to unseat entrenched incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern. In 2018, as a political outsider, Tracy earned 33% of the vote while being outspent 37-1. Tracy is an unwavering defender of the Constitution and also supports Congressional term limits. Learn more about Tracy by visiting her website here, following her on Twitter here, or checking in with her on Facebook here.
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4th District
Julie Hall, who served in the U.S. Air Force for more than three decades, achieving the rank of colonel, has a message for voters: “Just as I served our country for more than 30 years, I am prepared to serve the 4th Congressional District as your next United States Representative.” The former Attleboro city councilor is a staunch believer in America’s founding principles, and counts border security as one of her top priorities. Visit Julie’s website here, follow her on Facebook here, or connect with her on Twitter here.
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5th District
Stoneham Selectwoman Caroline Colarusso is someone with a genuine love for community involvement, so stepping up to offer a Republican choice for Congress should come as no surprise. Colarusso “has always given back to the community,” whether it’s serving on the Stoneham Board of Selectmen or coaching youth hockey. The mother of three has already received an endorsement from the National Federation of Independent Businesses. Visit Caroline’s website here, follow her on Twitter here, or interact with her on Facebook here.
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6th District
When John Paul Moran founded Grand Opportunity USA, he did so knowing there are more young adults who believe in the power of the individual and personal responsibility than media coverage would lead us to believe. The Billerica-based entrepreneur, author, and activist is a self-described “unconventional candidate” and “opportunity Republican.” John Paul vows to “oppose dictator economics –socialism – and foster a pro-business environment to provide economic opportunity for all.” Visit John Paul’s website here, follow him on Twitter here, or interact with him on Facebook here.
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7th District
She may be forced into running a write-in campaign, but underestimate Randolph resident Rayla Campbell at your own peril, because the Democrats have already been forced to take notice of her ability to fight and can-do attitude. Campbell fell just short of reaching the ballot signature threshold, as the COVID-19 pandemic has hit the commonwealth’s sole minority-majority district particularly hard. Yet that hasn’t stopped this mother of three from campaigning up a storm in the Boston area. Visit Rayla’s website here, connect with her on Facebook here, or follow her on Twitter here.
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9th District
Weeks into her campaign to oust an entrenched South Coast Democrat, Helen Brady is already battle-tested. Helen had to appeal to the commonwealth’s highest court just to earn her place on the ballot, after Democrats tried to have her disqualified amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Helen prevailed, and showed she’s only just begun to fight. Helen, a mother of four, is a no-nonsense Republican who is “fed up with the radical left agenda” and is more than ready to “give ‘em Helen.” She’s also the business director at the Boston Symphony Orchestra for the Boston Pops. Visit Helen’s website here, follow her on Twitter here, or interact with her on Facebook here.
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2020 Senate Congressional Candidates |
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Kevin O'Connor
Dover-based attorney Kevin O'Connor, a father of four and the son of a journalist and public school teacher, is campaigning on the platform that includes a vow to "always insist on the fair and impartial application of our Constitute and laws for all, regardless of station in life." O'Connor, who helped lead the legal fight to adjust ballot signature requirements amid the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, believes that a Congressional delegation that includes a Republican like himself can better advocate across the aisle for local issues. Visit Kevin's website here, follow him on Twitter here, or interact with her on Facebook here. |
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Dr. Shiva Ayyadurai
Dr. Shiva Ayyadurai, an Indian-American, is an MIT-educated scientist and holds the patent for the creation of email. Dr. Shiva notes that he and his parents "left the caste system of India in 1970 where we were considered low caste “Untouchables” and “Deplorables." The scientist from Belmont is a free speech absolutist who isn't shy to express what's on his mind. Visit Dr. Shiva's website here, follow him on Twitter here, or interact with her on Facebook here.
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The Massachusetts Republican Senate Primary is scheduled for Sept. 1 |
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Beacon Hill campaign rundown
After a spring spent scrambling to qualify as many Republican candidates as possible for the 2020 ballot, MassGOP Political Director John Milligan said he's feeling confident heading into primary season.
Q: Merely getting Republicans to qualify for the 2020 ballot was a challenge. Can you tell us what some of the biggest hurdles were, and how we managed to work with the Secretary of State's office to establish a workable way to safely secure ballot signatures?
JM: Obviously collecting signatures in the middle of a pandemic is not easy. The first thing we did was work with the secretary of state's office to allow us to resize the signature sheets so people could print them in their own homes. Republican State Committeeman John Miller helped us with this effort, producing PDFs for candidates up and down the ballot. The next major win came with the Supreme Judicial Court ruling allowing electronic collection of signatures. We were then able to use peer-to-peer texting, power dialer software, and emails to help our candidates make the 2020 ballot.
Q: How many Republicans are challenging Democrats in 2020?
JM: We currently have 30 Republicans challenging incumbent Democrats in the state Legislature, including three competitive GOP Primaries. At the Federal level, we have a U.S. Senate primary and GOP challengers in six out of our nine congressional districts.
Q: What do you see as our greatest strength in 2020? Our greatest weakness?
JM: Our greatest strength is that polling consistently shows conservative voters want to come out and vote on election day despite the current climate. This however is a double-edged sword. Mail in voting is here to stay and we need to make sure we can compete with the Democrats.
Q: It's daunting to knock on doors during a health pandemic. What has been the response like so far for those who are door-knocking?
JM: Chairman Lyons and I have been crisscrossing the state, meeting with candidates and spending afternoons "on the bells," as Jim would say. I have yet to experience any push back because of the virus and our candidates are receiving tremendous responses. Knocking in a mask isn't always fun, especially in the recent weather, but our candidates are getting it done.
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Eleven MassGOP candidates to watch
These 11 state Republican House candidates -- 10 upstarts and one incumbent -- is a group to watch for this fall. Each have stood out in their own way during the 2020 campaign season. Between racking up high door-knocking counts, amplifying a pro-Republican message, and finding ways to work around the new COVID-19 rules, this group stands to help usher in a new era of Republicans serving on Beacon Hill.
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Tatyana Semyrog, making her first run for state representative, is competing in the winnable 6th Plymouth House District. Tatyana, a refugee and mother of three from the former Soviety Union, is a natural workhorse who has already overcome more adversity than most of us will see in a lifetime.
Tatyana writes: "Coming to America was the greatest gift for me. The freedom this country gives is a miracle. Sadly, it’s being chipped away. I'm greatly concerned by what I'm seeing happening to our beloved country. Freedom is so easy to lose and is nearly impossible to get back, as is evident in my former homeland."
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Alec DiFruscia of Tewksbury launched his campaign last fall with his sights set on knocking off a first-termer in the 19th Middlesex District, a region that has long opposed the sort of radical left-wing leadership now popular among entrenched Beacon Hill Democrats.
Alec writes: "I’m not a career politician. I’ve worked in the private sector my whole life, so I feel the pain of endless taxes, too much regulation, and the impact of bad politics on our community. But I've always been a fighter. Now, I want to give back to the community that made me who I am. I will never vote for a tax increase, I can promise that now."
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Summer Schmaling, making her second run after a solid 2018 showing, is the chairman of the Halifax School Committee. She has knocked on more than 4,200 doors in the 12th Plymouth House District.
Summer writes: “I’ve received a great deal of support and encouragement from voters to run for State Representative. The voters tell me taxes are too high and they want transparency on how their State Representative votes in Boston - these votes affect their families, jobs, and businesses.”
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Bob May, whose “MayDay” team is responsible for amplifying a popular Republican message in his hometown of Peabody, is running for an open seat. May, a businessman, is primed to become the first Republican in more than 40 years to represent the 13th Essex House District.
Bob writes: "I see an opportunity to provide the business experience that is desperately needed on Beacon Hill. I want to apply the same common sense principles of business to the fiscal challenges facing the Commonwealth. I will be the leader you can count on to push back on the radical left-wing proposals that are gaining traction in the Legislature."
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Gardner resident Bruce Chester -- retired Army National Guard captain, Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran, teacher, author. Bruce has been making a name for himself in the 2nd Worcester House District, and counts full police funding as part of his platform.
Bruce writes: "I come from a proud family that has been a part of Central Massachusetts for generations. I've been a military leader and now I want to bring that leadership to my district. We need to not only improve the economy of the area but we must preserve the individual liberties that our military has sacrificed so much to maintain."
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Susan Smiley, running for the open 12th Worcester House District seat, has been involved in her hometown of Lancaster for years, having served on the Board of Selectmen. The Republican State Committeewoman was sworn-in last month to serve on the Lancaster Finance Committee.
Susan writes:
"Yes, I am Republican and my core principles reflect sound fiscal responsibility, understanding that we are a society of free individuals and that no one should be excluded from the opportunity to pursue their own economic success. Each individual and their contributions deserve fair and accountable government representation, with NO special treatment. I am a person who believes the rules should be the same for all and we are all equal."
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James "Chip" Harrington, of Ludlow, has been making the most of his campaign to win the open 7th Hampshire District House seat. Chip is a father of two and has carved out a rewarding career in corrections and law enforcement and currently serves on the Ludlow School Committee.
Chip writes: "My love of this region and building community with others is what I am all about. From founding the Ludlow Football Association, to spearheading the effort to create the solar farm on the former Ludlow Landfill, to successfully advocating for all-day Kindergarten in my town, I am about building community and consensus to assure our people and our families succeed."
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Retired Army combat pilot Ingrid Centurion of Sudbury, the daughter of an Argentinian father and a Puerto Rican mother, has 22 years of active service under her belt. She has a deep love for her country and is determined to bring strong Republican leadership to the 13th Middlesex House District.
Ingrid writes: "I have seen no sacrifice from the legislature like the private sector is experiencing. It is business as usual when it comes to government paychecks. As the next State Representative, I will be a forward thinking Representative -- not a go-along-to-get-along bench warmer."
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Frank Collins, a former U.S. Marine from Braintree, has helped organize rallies to "Back the Blue" in the Fifth Norfolk House District, and believes that Massachusetts men and women serving in law enforcement deserve our support, now more than ever.
Frank writes: "These brave men and women go to work everyday to keep our communities safe. As your State Representative I will always back our law enforcement and will oppose efforts to hastily 'reform' our police with a bad bill that will make our streets less safe and put our officers lives in danger."
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Evan Gendreau of Westport, currently a research assistant at the Public Policy Center at UMass-Dartmouth, may be younger than most candidates but he sees that as an advantage. He has been busy making a name for himself in the Eighth Bristol House District. A native of Fall River, Evan believes there is a growing demand on the South Coast for common sense Republican leadership.
Gendreau writes: "I am committed to listening to the concerns of people throughout the district, including teachers, law enforcement, business owners, and other members of the community. I will be a strong voice for Westport, Fall River, New Bedford, and Freetown."
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Rep. Nick Boldyga, who drew a surprise primary opponent, has proven himself to be one of the most reliable Republican voices on Beacon Hill. Rep. Boldyga deserves all of our help in 2020 as a show of our gratitude for his established conservative track record representing the 3rd Hampden House District.
Nick writes: "Representing Agawam, Granville, and Southwick has been a privilege, and I love this job. I have a proven track record of putting people before politics. I've voted against misguided police reform legislation, and am a guaranteed vote against any and all tax increases. I am very proud to represent the citizens of our district at the State House and work on the issues that are crucial to our commonwealth."
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Expect to receive additional candidate briefs ahead of the Nov.3 general election, as we continue to identify and recognize candidates whose campaign work -- win or lose -- continues to inspire us all. The full roster of candidates and links to their social media/campaign websites continues below. |
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Republicans running for state Senate seats
Electeds:
FIRST ESSEX & MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
BRUCE E. TARR - Gloucester
PLYMOUTH & NORFOLK DISTRICT
PATRICK MICHAEL O'CONNOR - Weymouth
WORCESTER & MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
DEAN A. TRAN - Fitchburg
WORCESTER & NORFOLK DISTRICT
RYAN C. FATTMAN - Sutton
Challenging Democrats:
SECOND HAMPDEN & HAMPSHIRE DISTRICT
JOHN FRANCIS CAIN - Southwick
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johncainforsenate/
NORFOLK, BRISTOL & MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
MATTHEW T. KELLY - Franklin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattKellyforSenate/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MattKellySenate
PLYMOUTH & BARNSTABLE DISTRICT
JAMES R. McMAHON, III - Bourne
WORCESTER, HAMPDEN, HAMPSHIRE & MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
STEVEN R. HALL - Sturbridge
Republicans running for state House seats
Electeds:
FIRST BARNSTABLE DISTRICT
TIMOTHY R. WHELAN - Brewster
Website: https://timwhelan.org/
SECOND BARNSTABLE DISTRICT
WILLIAM L. CROCKER, JR. - Barnstable
Website: http://www.electwillcrocker.com/
THIRD BARNSTABLE DISTRICT
DAVID T. VIEIRA - Falmouth
Website: http://www.votevieira.com/
FIRST BRISTOL DISTRICT
FRED "JAY" BARROWS - Mansfield
Website: https://votebarrows2020.com/
FOURTH BRISTOL DISTRICT
STEVEN S. HOWITT- Seekonk
TWELFTH BRISTOL DISTRICT
NORMAN J. ORRALL - Lakeville
FIRST ESSEX DISTRICT
JAMES M. KELCOURSE- Amesbury
SECOND ESSEX DISTRICT
LEONARD MIRRA - Georgetown
Website: https://lennymirra.com/
NINTH ESSEX DISTRICT
DONALD H. WONG - Saugus
FIRST HAMPDEN DISTRICT
TODD M. SMOLA - Warren
Website: http://www.reptoddsmola.org/
THIRD HAMPDEN DISTRICT
NICHOLAS A. BOLDYGA - Southwick
Website: http://nickboldyga.com/
FIRST MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
SHEILA C. HARRINGTON - Groton
Website: https://repharrington.com/
TWENTIETH MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
BRADLEY H. JONES, JR. - North Reading
Website: http://www.thecapitolviewlive.com/
TWENTY-SECOND MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
MARC T. LOMBARDO - Billerica
Website: https://www.marclombardo.com/
NINTH NORFOLK DISTRICT
SHAWN C. DOOLEY - Norfolk
Website: https://www.repdooley.com/
FIRST PLYMOUTH DISTRICT
MATHEW J. MURATORE - Plymouth
Website: https://mattmuratore.com/
SECOND PLYMOUTH DISTRICT
SUSAN WILLIAMS GIFFORD - Wareham
FIFTH PLYMOUTH DISTRICT
DAVID F. DeCOSTE - Norwell
Website: https://www.citizensfordecoste.com/
SEVENTH PLYMOUTH DISTRICT
ALYSON M. SULLIVAN - Abington
Website: http://www.repalysonsullivan.com/
EIGHTH PLYMOUTH DISTRICT
ANGELO L. D'EMILIA - Bridgewater
FIRST WORCESTER DISTRICT
KIMBERLY N. FERGUSON - Holden
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimberly.ferguson.528
FIFTH WORCESTER DISTRICT
DONALD R. BERTHIAUME - Spencer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/donnie.berthiaume.1
SIXTH WORCESTER DISTRICT
PETER J. DURANT - Spencer
Website: http://repdurant.com/
SEVENTH WORCESTER DISTRICT
PAUL K. FROST - Auburn
Website: http://www.votepaulfrost.com/
EIGHTH WORCESTER DISTRICT
MICHAEL J. SOTER - Bellingham
Website: https://www.soterrep.com/
NINTH WORCESTER DISTRICT
DAVID K. MURADIAN - Grafton
Website: https://www.davidmuradian.com/
ELEVENTH WORCESTER DISTRICT
HANNAH E. KANE - Shrewsbury
Website: http://www.rephannahkane.com/
EIGHTEENTH WORCESTER DISTRICT
JOSEPH D. McKENNA - Webster
Website: https://mckennaforrep.wixsite.com/repjoemckenna
Challenging Democrats:
FIFTH BARNSTABLE DISTRICT
THOMAS F. KEYES - Sandwich
STEVEN GEORGE XIARHOS - Barnstable
Website: http://xiarhosforrep.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xiarhosforrep
Twitter: https://twitter.com/xiarhosforrep
THIRD BRISTOL DISTRICT
KELLY A. DOONER - Taunton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElectKellyDooner/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kelly4StateRep
EIGHTH BRISTOL DISTRICT
EVAN GENDREAU - Westport
Website: https://www.evanforrep.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evanforrep/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EvanForRep
FOURTEENTH BRISTOL DISTRICT
D. MICHAEL LENNOX - North Attleboro
Website: https://www.mikelennoxforstaterep.com/
THIRTEENTH ESSEX DISTRICT
ROBERT E. MAY, JR. - Peabody
Website: https://www.may4rep.com/
EIGHTEENTH ESSEX DISTRICT
JEFFREY PETER DuFOUR - Tewksbury
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jeff4rep
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jeff4rep
SHISHAN WANG - Andover
Website: https://shishanwang.com/
FOURTH HAMPDEN DISTRICT
DAN ALLIE - Westfield
Website: https://danallie.com/
KELLY W. PEASE - Westfield
SEVENTH HAMPDEN DISTRICT
JAMES CHIP HARRINGTON - Ludlow
ELEVENTH HAMPDEN DISTRICT
PRINCE GOLPHIN, JR. - Springfield
THIRTEENTH MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
INGRID I. CENTURION - Sudbury
Website: https://www.ingrid4rep.com
NINETEENTH MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
ALEC M. DiFRUSCIA - Tewksbury
Website: https://www.alecforrep.com/
THIRTY-SEVENTH MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
CATHERINE J. CLARK - Lunenburg
Website: http://cathyclarkforstaterep.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CathyClarkforStateRepresentative
THIRD NORFOLK DISTRICT
STEPHEN F. TOUGAS - Quincy
FOURTH NORFOLK DISTRICT
PAUL J. ROTONDO - Weymouth
Website: https://www.rotondoforstaterep.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Paul-Rotondo-for-State-Rep-4th-Norfolk-District-Weymouth-Hingham-109729480766236
FIFTH NORFOLK DISTRICT
FRANK HERBERT COLLINS - Braintree
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/votefrankcollins/
THIRD PLYMOUTH DISTRICT
STEPHEN D. GILL - Scituate
FOURTH PLYMOUTH DISTRICT
CRAIG S. VALDEZ - Scituate
SIXTH PLYMOUTH DISTRICT
TATYANA MEDVEDEV SEMYROG - Duxbury
TWELFTH PLYMOUTH DISTRICT
SUMMER K. SCHMALING - Halifax
SECOND WORCESTER DISTRICT
BRUCE K. CHESTER - Gardner
Website: http://www.votebrucechester.com/
THIRD WORCESTER DISTRICT
GLENN C. FOSSA - Fitchburg
Website: http://votefossa.com/
FOURTH WORCESTER DISTRICT
THOMAS "FRANK" ARDINGER - Leominster
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThomasFrankArdinger/
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FAKE POLICE REFORM
Will Boston Become Portland or Seattle?
By Dennis Galvin
(*Editor's note -- this column was written as the Massachusetts police reform package was in the process of advancing into conference committee, where it currently remains as of Aug. 12*)
Recent legislation passed by the Massachusetts House of Representative (H4860) is an attack on the police in the commonwealth, not an effort to reform them. The legislative process was flawed from the start reflecting the most blatant political opportunism yet seen by an overwhelmingly left-wing Massachusetts state Legislature. The aim of this legislation was never to improve the accountability and quality of policing -- it was instead to restrict legitimate police action and thwart sensible and informed efforts to improve it by burying them under layers of political bureaucracy.
The political intent of this legislation became apparent in the process used to bring this bill forward. Despite the fact that police reform efforts had been pending in the legislature for years, a crisis in another state (the death of George Floyd in Minnesota) was used to trigger a feigned crisis in Massachusetts. No public hearings were called and the parties with the most at stake, most prominently the average, peace loving taxpayer, were excluded from having input.
The House bill creates the Massachusetts Police Standards and Training Commission, which will have overarching authority to establish training procedures and establish qualifications for police officer certification. It will have the authority to revoke and suspend certifications for individual police officers based on cause, prohibiting them from working temporarily or permanently in the state. These policies are not new ideas, they have been long advocated by police reformers, many of whom were current and former police officers, yet they languished for years on Beacon Hill.
Additionally, reformers strongly advocated that the Commission be staffed by trained, knowledgeable law enforcement professionals. However, politics overruled professionalism, those with police experience are banned by this bill from appointment, so those completely unfamiliar with the police service will be evaluating performance and prescribing rules for training and conduct.
Appointments will be political, made by the governor and attorney general. Neither Gov. Charlie Baker nor Attorney General Maura Healy can boast an overly impressive record of rooting out corruption. Consider their response to the State Police scandals both reacting with inaction and obfuscation.
Meanwhile, the most significant impact will be felt on the streets.
The bill will place significant restrictions on police use of force. Officers will only be allowed to use force to prevent “imminent harm”. In every case, they will be forced to justify, why de-escalation techniques either didn’t work or were inappropriate, leaving them open to a slew of legal action by opportunistic attorneys.
It also appears that police officers can no longer conduct protective “pat downs” of suspects, who may be about to commit crimes, an action previously affirmed by the US Supreme Court in Terry v. Ohio. This provision will create a “chilling effect” among officers, causing them to hesitate in situations where they would otherwise have acted to prevent a crime.
The bottom line is the House police reform bill is a product of a radical Democrat state Legislature that has taken over Massachusetts.
To leftists, the police are nothing more than props in their theater of the politically absurd. They have no interest in building a professional force capable of consistently operating in a safe, effective and constitutional manner.
Their intent is to set the police up for continual failure, and in so doing jeopardize the lives of not only conscientious police officers, but the innocent people, who depend upon them, as well.
When Antifa comes to town and riots, kicking and punching grandma and grandpa trying to get to Walgreen’s for their meds, if the police stand and watch, like they did in Portland and Seattle, the Police Reform Bill of 2020 will be the reason why.
Republican State Committeeman Dennis Galvin is a retired Massachusetts State Police major
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Chairman's Circle
Recapping 2020's lineup of guest speakers (so far)
Several times per quarter, Chairman's Circle donors are invited to participate in a series of roundtable discussions with nationally-known Republicans. The conversations have touched on topics like campaign strategies, policy reforms, and leadership initiatives. In 2020, the MassGOP has been proud to host eight such talks.
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Jan. 14, Hampshire House, Boston -- New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu
April 16, virtual, via ZOOM -- Republican National Committee Co-Chairman Tommy Hicks
April 21, virtual, via ZOOM -- Team Trump 2020 Campaign Communications Director Tim Murtaugh
May 21, virtual, via ZOOM -- former House Speaker Newt Gingrich
June 16, virtual, via ZOOM -- former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer
June 22, virtual, via ZOOM -- South Carolina U.S. Sen. Tim Scott
July 9, virtual, via ZOOM -- Trump administration advisor and former Wall Street journal editorial board member Steve Moore
July 27, 2020, virtual, via ZOOM -- Michigan U.S. Senate candidate John James
For a sample of one of our discussions, please click on the preview below to watch a special message for Massachusetts Republicans from former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. To find out how you can become a Chairman's Circle member, please contact MassGOP fundraising assistant Luan Giannone at [email protected].
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MassGOP Leadership Update
Aug. 3 election update
With the Aug. 3 meeting of the Massachusetts Republican State Committee in the books, here is the current leadership roster.
Chairman: Jim Lyons
National Committeeman: Ron Kaufman
National Committeewoman: Janet Fogarty
Vice Chairman: Tom Mountain
Treasurer: Patrick Crowley
Secretary: KathyJo Boss
Assistant Treasurer: Anthony Ventresca
Assistant Secretary: Lindsay Valanzola
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Commentary from State Committeeman Dr. Jay Fleitman
Three new video clips of Joe Biden surfaced on television news this week.
In one of them, he was talking to three interviewers when he related a recent medical encounter he had in which a nurse leaned over and whispered in his ear that if anything medically serious would happen to him, that she could breathe up through his nose and bring him back to health.
He found this to be amazing. I found this to be shocking. It is not clear what this medical encounter was about, it is not clear that it even happened, but it was clearly bizarre.
The other two clips that I also saw on television was one of a recent speech in which he clearly did not know where he was, and another in which he was answering a question about the 2020 census, and in his answer he added the qualification that it happened two or three years ago.
These are not lovable Joe Biden gaffes. I have been involved in patient care for over 40 years, and have no doubt that these are signs of significant cognitive defects. I don’t know if Joe Biden has Alzheimer’s disease, but he clearly has a degenerative neurological disorder in which dementia is a part. If Biden, who turns 78 on Nov. 20, is elected he will be the oldest president to win the office, and older than Ronald Reagan was when he left the presidency just before he turned 78. Donald Trump, who was the oldest person to assume the presidency at age 70 in 2016, turned 74 in June. This is not necessarily purely an age-related issue, but Biden appears not to be aging well. And Democrats know this.
So far the Biden campaign is one in absentia.
It is a hidden campaign, in which he has been kept mostly hidden from view, never answering questions at press conferences, and otherwise only making public statements that are funneled through his campaign team. After all, the campaign has problems with Biden statements like his recent claim that 120 million Americans have died of COVID.
The Democrat on the street knows this as well, though no one wants to name it. I have overheard several conversations in which people who clearly support the Biden campaign expressed the hope that he stays out of public, does little speaking, does not engage in any debates, and that they are sure that the Democrats will surround a prospective President Biden with a well-functioning team if he wins.
Biden, of course, cannot be replaced on the ticket. He won the nomination in the primaries, and if he were to be removed, Bernie Sanders supporters would demand that their man has the rightful claim to the candidacy.
Electing a medically precarious president has precedence.
Franklin Roosevelt ran for a fourth term in 1944, and everyone around him knew he was dying. He ran again, and the Democratic Party ran him again, even though it was clear he did not have long to live. He was sworn in in January 1945, and died in April 1945.
He selected Harry Truman as his running mate for vice president, not with the thought that he would make for a good president when Roosevelt died, but only out of consideration that he did not damage the ticket’s chance of winning. The Democrats had to win, and the well-being of the country came second. The country was lucky that Truman turned out to be a very good president.
The parallels to the Biden campaign are clear, and we are awaiting his choice for a vice presidential running mate. I hope his team is looking for someone who will be a competent chief executive to take over if Biden becomes untenable in the position. It seems that the search has other criteria.
Whoever is making this decision seems to have restricted the choice to “women of color.”
This is intended at this fractious time to ensure that minorities are included in the nation’s power structure, but it in fact excludes from consideration other available candidates of different ethnicities and gender at a time when the presidential candidate himself is likely impaired.
Maybe I am all wrong, and we will see a sharp Joe Biden in the debates. The Democratic leaning press and media often raise questions of Trump’s competency to be president. He is characterized as being narcissistic, blustery, erratic, and unintelligent or uninterested. It is impossible to be outside the White House and Trump’s personal orbit to know what if any of this is true.
So please don’t get me wrong, I’m not giving my side a pass on questionable behavior, but I am asking Democrats not to turn a blind eye to what is in plain sight about Joe Biden for president.
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The Massachusetts Republican Party is proud to announce the launch of a new coalition devoted to amplifying the voices of Republican veterans.
In the Q&A below, John MacDonald, an Air Force veteran who served during the Operation Desert Storm, answers several questions regarding the purpose of the coalition and details on its founding.
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Q: This idea of yours -- to offer Massachusetts veterans a MassGOP-backed coalition, essentially a vehicle to advocate for candidates they believe will fight to improve the policies that affect them most -- was there anything in particular that prompted you to come up with this?
A: As a veterans advocate, for years I have spoken with my fellow veterans who have expressed aggravation with politicians and often misguided policies that effect veterans benefits. “Those who don’t serve, don’t know. Sometimes those who don’t know… don’t care.” Those veterans that have served our country abroad, most often recognize the stark difference between the United States of America, its values and moral compass, versus many… many other places in the world that do not offer the same freedoms or values, which we have fought to preserve here in the United States. Veterans took an oath to protect the country and the constitution. Fighting for candidates and elected officials that believe in our state and country is a natural for veterans. Harnessing the power of our mutual bond seems like a natural fit with the MassGOP. Coming together and finding an outlet to express this I believe will be a valuable resource for the MassGOP, the commonwealth and country.
Q: You served during the first Gulf War. After you returned to civilian life, when did you start getting involved politically?
A: I have been paying attention to politics most of my life. Serving my country affirmed my belief in our country. I saw many of the failed policies of the Clinton Administration related to the military adversely affect people I served with by way of base closures and force reductions. Locally I became active, volunteering to help local city council candidates when I purchased my first home in 1998. I became politically active with national politics in the 2000 Presidential election. I had volunteered for the McCain 2000 campaign and then the George W. Bush campaign. That’s where it all began.
What are some of the greatest challenges facing veterans in 2020 and beyond?
Protecting and preserving the benefits already promised to our veterans is number one. Finding effective treatments and hopefully a cure for PTSD, while reducing veteran suicide is number 1A. Making sure the country remains committed to the constitution and remains free of socialism and communism is another high priority.
This project is in its infancy, but what do you see as crucial to getting it up and running?
Awareness of the opportunity is critical for veterans. Communication has always been one of the biggest problems for the veteran community in general. Creating this coalition is an opportunity for veterans to organize and harness their energies to protect our state and country from radical progressive Democrats. Signing up and making themselves know to the MassGOP is the key, then organizing ourselves by district and putting those resources to work will be key. Action, less talk… and fast.
Do you think American Legions and other brick-and-mortar type establishments are becoming outdated?
Veterans clubs are seeing dwindling memberships and have been for years. They have their own challenges, which they need to resolve. COVID 19 will cause many clubs to remain closed permanently. These clubs have value, but they need to find ways to remain relevant and accessible to younger veterans. The MassGOP Veterans Coalition might be able to brainstorm on this and come up with actionable ideas.
As best as you can describe -- what’s your vision for this new organization? Where do you see it five years from today?
I see the MassGOP as a broad coalition of veteran activists and a bullpen for future political candidates. Sharing information, better communication, producing veteran legislation, fighting against bad legislation and organizing veterans into a coalition will have a profound positive impact of local, state and federal elections.
What can people do to get involved? (Talk about how we are setting up a Facebook page, how people can expect a press release within the coming weeks providing links to the Facebook page and a Twitter account to follow that we’ll set up.)
They can get involved by signing up for the Veterans Coalition through the MassGOP portal here. Spreading the word to their fellow veterans will be key. I will encourage all interested veterans to share the information via social media.
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Republican activity around the Commonwealth
"Back the Blue" rallies, candidate events, and more
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On Aug. 9, the Westford Republican Town Committee held its "Back the Blue" rally to celebrate local law enforcement, an event Westford resident and Republican State Committeewoman Kathy Lynch said drew hundreds of cheering supporters.
"It's time for people to stand up for their country," Lynch wrote on Facebook. "Defend all those who take an oath to follow the Constitution!"
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The Billerica Republican Town Committee and Republican State Committeeman Anthony Ventresca helped promote and host a campaign fundraiser on Aug. 6 for Congressional candidate John Paul Moran. |
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Recently elected Massachusetts Republican Party Vice Chairman Tom Mountain reports that the MA Trump Campaign event in Wellesley was a success:
"We managed to keep our numbers under 100 at the home of MA RNC Delegate Ginny Greiman, with State Committee Members, 2020 Delegates, and even a makeshift reunion of 2016 Delegates, all joined together to support the re-election of our President. MA Trump Campaign Chair Sheriff Tom Hodgson, National Committeewoman Janet Fogarty, State Committeewomen Patricia Saint Aubin and Amy Carnevale and yours truly welcomed our Republican crowd that included Senate Candidate Kevin O’Connor, Congressional Candidates John Paul Moran, Julie Hall, Tracy Lovvron, and State Rep Candidates Ingrid Centurion and Frank Collins, along with State Committee Members Nathan Bech, Susan Huffman, Evelyn Curley, Paul Ronkaitus, and Steve Fruzzetti. All in all, a great time was had by all!"
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The East Bridgewater Republican Town Committee writes on Facebook: "We'd like to thank the residents of East Bridgewater for the out pouring of support over the last few weeks. We aren't charging for these signs, but many folks have donated to the committee to offset the cost, and we appreciate that. Money raised will go back to local Republican candidates this fall."
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The Orange Republican Town Committee recently shared Republican state Rep. candidate Ingrid Centurion's letter calling on Gov. Charlie Baker to veto police reform legislation:
Dear Governor Baker,
I am writing to encourage you to veto the Police Reform bill that is now in conference committee.
Being multicultural, I understand the anger of the minority community concerning the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer. It should have never happened. I am pleased that police officer is now being held accountable by our judicial system.
However, our Massachusetts police force did not cause the death of George Floyd. Unfortunately, they have been lumped into this anger and are being treated like they are racists just because they wear a blue uniform. That’s wrong.
While every agency is far from perfect and can use reform from time to time, the Police Reform bill goes way too far. By removing qualified immunity, the state would be penalizing good officers. The ultimate result will be massive retirements as we have seen in New York. Recruitment of new officers will be non-existent. Our public safety will be jeopardized if this bill becomes law.
As a mother of two boys and as a daughter who cares for an elderly mother, I want someone to be there when I call 911. I hope that you will veto the bill and support public safety for the Commonwealth.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Ingrid Centurion
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Got a photo or an update you'd like to share and have included in the Fall newsletter? Send an email to Massachusetts Republican Party Director of Communications Evan Lips at [email protected]
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