Hub Politics Interviews Stephanie Davis, Candidate for Mass GOP Chair

Hub Politics recently had the opportunity to interview Stephanie Davis, who is now running for chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party. The interview was conducted via email, and is part of Hub Politics’ coverage of the Mass GOP Chairman race.

HUB POLITICS: Why do you want to be chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party?

STEPHANIE DAVIS: I like to win, and feel that Republicans have a tremendous opportunity to capitalize on the fiscal and social policy “time-bombs” currently embedded in Massachusetts’ government structure. The so-called “health-care reform” bill is one example, as is the on-going expansion of Massachusetts government. I anticipate an implosion and want to play a part in it. It’s also a way, but not the only way, to fight for the type of government I believe in.

HUB POLITICS: What do you see are weaknesses with the Republican Party in Massachusetts today?

STEPHANIE DAVIS: Factionalism; intellectual blandness; disenfranchisement of our activists. Armies move on their stomachs. Social,political,and economic movements,rise or fall according to the level of engagement of their activists. A political party is no exception.

HUB POLITICS: Many speculated that Kerry Healey lost in part because there were a lot of women–and men–who weren’t comfortable with having a woman governor. Do you think that had a role to play in her loss, particularly in her attacks against Patrick?

STEPHANIE DAVIS: I do not. I think that Kerry Healey was undermined by a confluence of negative events: a hostile press, constant attacks by her three gubernatorial rivals, and a failure to emphasize her own compelling personal story of overcoming hardship.

HUB POLITICS: Kerry Healey served as the chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party, and it ultimately led the way for her being Mitt Romney’s running mate in 2002. Is being chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party a stepping-stone for you, or are you committed to rebuilding the party?

STEPHANIE DAVIS: I am not certain that she was selected to run with Romney because she was chair of the Mass GOP. However, to your larger point: I have been asked to run for public office before and have declined to do so and will continue to do so. I like the idea of working behind the scenes to implement the big picture: rebuilding for me.

HUB POLITICS: An important part of being the chair of the Party will be to raise money. How can your background in finance help the Republican Party?

STEPHANIE DAVIS: I have made and continue to make important relationships in that area that will be beneficial in terms of fundraising. That’s part and parcel of my nature and of my business. That fact notwithstanding, the party raised considerable sums of money in the recent past, with precious little to show for it. It’s not just how much you raise, but also what you do with it that matters.

HUB POLITICS: We’ve talked about the need for the Massachusetts Republican Party to be reborn or reinvigorated. If elected, what will your plan be to help the Party in that process?

STEPHANIE DAVIS: A house divided cannot stand. The first step is to unite the disparate party elements around a theme of responsive, efficient government, personal responsibility, and economic growth. The next step is to communicate, both from an intra-party level and from a public standpoint. The public agrees with the party on most of the issues so it’s not so much a conversion problem as it is a communication challenge. The public must know who we are and what we stand for,and there are forums for doing that. I also continue to recommend moving headquarters to a high-traffic, high-visibility, accessible location. My own mother wanted to volunteer for the Healey campaign but didn’t know how to find the headquarters. We want to encourage others to get involved, not discourage them. The best way to do that is to let them know we still exist and welcome them! I can’t speak to the current status of campaign schools, but I attended a session with Gerry Mazzola in the early 90’s. It produced immediate success: two of my classmates, Donna Fournier-Cuomo and Adam Mack secured seats in the Massachusetts and Maine House of Representatives, respectively. State Senator Scott Brown’s election is a model of how things can be done successfully, and a number of fine operatives emerged from that campaign. Are we tapping into our in-house resources?

HUB POLITICS: In the past two elections, efforts to increase the Republican Party’s representation on Beacon Hill have not worked, in fact, things have only gotten worse, and now we don’t even have the Corner Office. What has been the problem?

STEPHANIE DAVIS: Some of it is circumstantial: John Kerry’s presidential bid served to increase Democrat voter turnout, consequentially hurting our slate of candidates. Some of it is attributable to an obsessive fixation with the Corner Office to the virtual exclusion of all else. Another problem: failure to implement an “incumbent protection program” that would provide cover for the seat, in the event of its vacation by an incumbent. Lastly, there is a philosophical challenge: Republicans don’t look to government as the be all and end all of the human condition. Hence, we are less inclined to cling to political office. Democrats on the other hand, view government as, literally, a way of life to be held at all costs. The trick, (admittedly not an easy one), is to thread the needle: retain the seat while rotating its occupant as necessary. You can only achieve the latter if you’ve got a strong farm team.

HUB POLITICS: Grassroots organization seems to be the often repeated solution to help the Massachusetts GOP. What experience in that area can you bring to the Party?

STEPHANIE DAVIS: My institutional memory and participation in Massachusetts Republican Politics begins with the chairmanship of Ray Shamie. He took a struggling GOP and turned into an electorally successful one by articulating a clear and compelling vision of the party’s beliefs, beating the bushes for good candidates, and challenging the adversary relentlessly. As chair, my role model is Ray Shamie in the best sense of his accomplishments. Additionally, my tenure as a precinct captain of the Boston Republican City Committee in the 1990’s convinces me that this can be done. I come into contact with people from all walks of life, on a daily basis, many of whom are receptive to the Republican Party message. I am not afraid to ask them to join us in our cause. Tip O’Neil was right about one thing: all politics are local. People want and need to be asked for their support.

Hub Politics was created by Matt Margolis and Aaron Margolis on July 4, 2005.