Mass GOP Statement on Scott Brown’s Victory

Massachusetts Republican Party Chairman Jennifer Nassour released the following statement regarding Senator-elect Scott Brown’s (R-MA) victory this evening:

“Tonight’s historic, come-from-behind victory by Senator-elect Brown will serve as a blueprint for our Republican candidates running in Massachusetts in 2010 and beyond. His relentless focus on fiscal responsibility, lower taxes and a promise to serve as an independent voice for Bay Staters resonated with not only Republicans, but also independents and Democrats who are tired of politics as usual and one-party rule. It is my sincere hope that Senator-elect Brown will be seated immediately so that he can roll up his sleeves for Massachusetts, and work toward continuing Senator Kennedy’s legendary constituent services.”

Gingrich Slams Mass GOP

A much deserved criticism of the Massachusetts Republican Party coming from former House Speaker New Gingrich.

GOP gadfly Newt Gingrich slammed Bay State Republicans for failing to cultivate a new crop of eager and committed contenders – adding the lagging party needs candidates willing to suffer bruising losses and come back for more.

“I would hope that (the Massachusetts Republican Party) would find some people who care enough about the country’s future to go out and get started and keep doing it,” Gingrich told the Herald. “Republicans here have never been able to build the kind of grassroots strength that you need.”

MassGOP chairwoman Jennifer Nassour said the party has scoured the state for new talent.

“Our candidates for 2010 represent a Republican Party of new energy and new ideas to deliver real reforms to Massachusetts,” Nassour said.

Gingrich, who lectured at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government last night, blamed an alliance between the state’s conservative Democrats and liberals for the GOP party’s struggles.

The former U.S. House speaker called state candidates that run only once “sad,” adding, “When people see you coming and they see you’re serious – you can build a momentum over time that you sometimes can’t get in a first campaign.”

The Massachusetts GOP has recently hit a low with only 16 Republicans in the House and five in the state Senate.

At this moment, my faith in the Massachusetts Republican Party to stop the sinking ship is virtually nil. Sure, we have a golden opportunity to take back the Corner Office, but let’s be honest, it’s not the success of the Republican Party that will make that possible, it’s the failure of Governor Deval Patrick.

The Republican Party needs to do more than just talk about change…they have to start making change.

Balance: Christy Mihos

Balance. No matter what we talk about or what we do in life there has to be balance; a moderating influence. Without it, the wheels fall off, as in the case of our state government. One-party rule has given us an abuse of power and the embarrassment of the corruption we hear and read about daily.

Job 1 for my candidacy is to bring a reasonable balance back to state government by working to elect Republican Senators and Representatives to our Legislature.

For many reasons we are down to five Republicans in the Senate and sixteen in the House. 21 out of 200 is certainly not balance. In 1990, with similar one-party rule, Governor-elect Bill Weld ushered in 16 Republican Senators and 39 Republican Representatives, meaning full debate and reform was again prevalent in our state government.

Our Republican candidates need money to run good campaigns and in this election cycle, with so much at stake, it’s especially critical. All donations to the MASS GOP will be available only to Legislative Candidates. I pledge not to seek, nor accept, any MASS GOP funds for my campaign. In the past candidates at the top of the ticket took all the donations made to the MASS GOP and left nothing for anyone else. We must have people run for office who, like me, are work horses, not show horses. Without a good balance of Republican legislators, who have been well financed, are running on local issues, and are committed to bringing reform, transparency and accountability to our state government, we can never rebuild our state to what it can be.

Mass GOP Wants To Hear Your Tax, Toll Gripes

With Deval Patrick continuing to float new fees, toll hikes and taxes, the Massachusetts Republican Party is getting ready to listen to our concerns, or rather complaints.

The state GOP is planning to launch what they are calling a statewide “Hardship Listening Tour.”

Republican lawmakers plan to unveil details of the tour Thursday at the Statehouse.

The goal is to give local residents a change to vent their frustration about plans to raise tolls to as much as $2 at the Allston-Brighton and Weston booths and $7 at the tunnels.

The GOP says it’s also eager to hear from residents angry at Gov. Deval Patrick’s call for an increase of as much as 19 cents in the gas tax.

The tour is set to begin March 16.

What’s disappointing is that no matter how much people complain about new fees, taxes, toll hikes, or whatever ideas come from the majority party here, they never hold the majority party responsible for their support for these tax increases.

The Mass GOP needs to make sure people understand that its not just other peoples’ state senators and representatives that are the problem, it theirs too. Complaining about the problem is not the solution–there needs to be decisive action that follows.

Torkildsen Not Seeking Reelection

Massachusetts GOP Chairman Peter Torkildsen will not be seeking reelection, according to a press release from the Massachusetts Republican Party.

The Honorable Peter Torkildsen, Chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party, issued the following statement today:

MassGOP Chairman Peter Torkildsen said, “Today, I informed members of the Massachusetts Republican State Committee that I will not be a candidate for re-election in January when my term as Chairman concludes. I greatly appreciate the many members of the State Committee who called during the past week to let me know of their support for my running again. After thinking about it for the past week, I decided I could not commit to serving for the full two year term, and therefore it would be best to announce my intentions early, and allow others considering a candidacy to step forward.”

“During the past two years, we did accomplish some significant steps. First, every Republican last week was re-elected. Second, during the past two years, we raised over $1.5 million, even though this was the first cycle in 16 years where we did not have the benefit of the Governor’s office being occupied by a Republican. And third, we conducted over 50 campaign schools, where we taught candidates and their volunteers the basics of running a campaign, raising money, using technology, and conducting voter identification and Election Day operations.”

“I am optimistic that our Party will regain the Governor’s office and increase seats in the legislature in 2010, as long as we put recriminations behind us, and recruit, train and support our best possible candidates. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve, and I look forward to continuing to work to build two-party competition in Massachusetts,” concluded Torkildsen.

MassGOP Chairman Peter Torkildsen has a long record of public service. He served as a State Representative from January 1985 to December of 1990. He went on to serve two terms in the United States Congress as a Representative of the 6th Congressional District from January of 1993 to January of 1997. He has been the Chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party since January of 2007.

PolitckerMA.com is reporting that Daniel Winslow, veteran Republican strategist, is not interested in the chairmanship position.

Some Republican circles were speculating that Winslow, who was Mitt Romney’s chief legal counsel when he was governor, might run for the post if current chairman Peter Torkildsen did not seek re-election. But even with Torkildsen’s announcement on Wednesday that he is stepping down, Winslow told PolitickerMA.com that he isn’t interested.

“While I would relish the challenge of reinventing the Republican Party in Massachusetts, I am confident that our rising stars will step up to the task,” Winslow said. “For now, my focus is on my clients and in problem solving in public policy areas. I hope that my ideas, advice and energy can support two-party government in other ways.”