Nassour Re-Elected Chairman of Mass GOP

Massachusetts Republican Chairman Jennifer A. Nassour running for her second term won re-election over State Committeeman Bill McCarthy of Worcester by a substantial margin at the State Committee meeting held at the Newton Marriott Hotel on Wednesday January 6th.

State Committeeman Bill McCarthy, together with others inside and outside of the Party had called for a change in the Party's leadership and direction. McCarthy, who is incensed by the state GOP wipeout in the November election, stated on numerous occasions that she hadn't done enough to boost local candidates and focused most of the Party's resources on the gubernatorial race. Specifically all of the Republican statewide Constitutional Officers and US Representatives in Congress failed in their bids to get elected. Supporters point out that since becoming chair of the State Party, Nassour has been able to pay-off the debts that had accrued in the previous two-year cycle by instituting a sound fiscal plan while enhancing the staff and work output.

In campaigning for re-election Nassour outlined her priorities for 2011 and 2012. Namely, assisting with the re-election of Republican incumbents and recruiting more challengers to state legislative and congressional districts; conducting robust and strategic fundraising efforts that benefit all GOP candidates; changing the concept of campaign-driven GOTV efforts to a coordinated, statewide effort and building the infrastructure and recruiting the expertise to implement it; increasing the number of registered Republican voters with the aid of re-built city and town committees and allied organizations; and updating the decades-old technology and outdated equipment to allow the MRP central office to function more efficiently and productively for the benefit of the candidates.

The Republican State Committee elects a new chairman every two years during the January meeting following a presidential or gubernatorial election. There are 80 seats on the Republican State Committee, a man and woman elected every four years from the 40 state senate districts.

MCFL welcomes House wins

In an open letter, Anne Fox President of the Massachusetts Citizens for Life advised State Party chair Jennifer Nassour that most of the newly elected Republican House members are proclaimed pro-life supporters. In her November 15th letter Ms. Fox states:

Dear Ms. Nassour,

Along with the rest of the state, we at Massachusetts Citizens for Life have been looking at the election results. There are a couple of important facts to which we would like to draw your attention.

Most of the newly elected State Representatives in Massachusetts are pro-life. We are delighted by this outcome.

In addition, the huge Republican sweep across the country was accomplished by pro-life candidates. The Republican wins in Massachusetts were almost entirely reserved to those candidates who are willing to defend human life.

Looking at the data, it seems obvious that the lack of "surge" in Massachusetts is attributable to the fact that the statewide candidates were led by a man who describes himself as "To the left of Obama on social issues" and were coached by professional consultants who told them to steer clear of anything that sounded pro-life. That was bad advice.

For many election cycles now, Republicans have been winning nationally running with pro-life positions. The Republican win of note over that time in Massachusetts is Scott Brown. Senator Brown took pro-life positions on the legislative issues facing the US Senate. The factor which propelled him to victory was his promise to be the "41st vote" against pro-abortion, pro-rationing Obamacare. He was also helped by Martha Coakley's "Shannon O'Brien moment" when Ms. Coakley said that pro-life people should not be allowed to work in emergency rooms.

Keep in mind, as as of 10/13/10 the number of registered Republicans in MA has dropped to a new low of 474,798 voters, representing a mere 11.33% of all voters. If the MA GOP Leadership wants the State Republican Party to remain relevent, they must reconsider their advocacy of candidates who are "left of Obama" and adopt true Republican Principles.

We respectfully suggest that in reviewing your statewide loses, you learn from the local successful legislative races and listen to those newly elected who embraced the value of life. In setting a course for the future, the leadership of the MA GOP should embrace, and not abandon, the core principle on which it was founded - the defense of Life.

We would respectfully suggest that leaders of the party in this state meet with successful national Republicans to understand better the role of life issues. Of course, we would to meet with you locally as well.

Sincerely,
Anne Fox, President

GOP Chair on hot seat after dismal Election

State Committeeman Bill McCarthy of Worcester led an effort to oust Massachusetts Republican State Party chairwoman Jennifer Nassour claiming she misspent the party's cash - funneling $1.2 million into failed GOP candidates for Governor and Congress while ignoring other races.

GOP State Committeeman Bill McCarthy had announced that he would push for a vote to remove Nassour at the November GOP meeting in Newton. McCarthy said "I've spoken to a number of candidates who have won and they either received no help or little help."

Nassour spent $1.17 million on Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker's ads. She also spent at least $132,000 to help congressional candidates. Baker and the nine GOP Congressional candidates all lost. The GOP more than doubled its seats in the state House of Representatives from 16 to 34 - but that's still to few to influence most House votes.

The chairwoman of the state Republican Party used rulings by the party's parliamentarian, secretary and lawyer at the November 17th meeting, who said that McCarthy had not followed the procedure outlined in the By-Laws to call for a 'Special Meeting' to remove the chair, in order to stop any effort to replace Nassour prior to the required election for Party Chair at the yet to be announced January 2011 meeting.

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Changes in Voter ID Laws Needed

With the November elections over many problems and questions concerning voting procedures in Massachusetts, and in other States across the country, still remain to be addressed. One change that should be put in place now - is a requirement for Voter ID - to be presented by all who wish to excercise their right to vote.

The federal Help America Vote Act mandates that all states require identification from first-time voters who register to vote by mail and did not provide identification with their mail-in voter registration. Twenty six states have broader voter identification requirements that what HAVA requires. In these states, all voters are asked to show identification prior to voting. Eight of these states specify that voters must show a photo ID; the other eighteen states accept additional forms of identification that do not necessarily include a photo. In no state is a voter who cannot produce identification turned away from the polls - all states have some sort of recourse for voters without identification to cast a vote. However in Georgia and Indiana, voters without ID vote a provisional ballot, and must return to election officials within a few days and show a photo ID in order for their votes to be counted.

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Next Meeting of the Winchester GOP October 21st

The Winchester Republican Town Committee will hold it's next meeting in the Community Room at the Winchester Police Station 30 Mt. Vernon Street at 7:00PM on Thursday evening October 21st.

QUESTION 2: Repeal and Reform 40B

Recently groups interested in preserving Chapter 40B have begun suggesting that the proposed repeal and reforms to 40B will greatly impact seniors and low income families. This is patently false and misleading. Chapter 122B and Chapter 40R provides for various agencies and housing authorities to build and provide permanent housing for seniors, low and moderate income earners, and disabled individuals - even though the State Auditor has reported that the Legislature has not full funded them for several years.

The proposed changes would repeal an existing State law that allows a qualified organization or developer wishing to build housing the ability to circumvent local zoning laws and regulations that are often based on natural and man-made infrastructural limitations and the impact to local communities, by including government-subsidized housing that includes low and moderate income units to apply for a single comprehensive permit, thus shortening the time needed to prepare a response to such proposals. Developers can force a City or Town to allow such developments even if the local ZBA denies the comprehensive permit as unreasonable and inconsistent with local needs such as the costs related to overcoming natural limits such as topography and the ability to supply water and treat waste.

Most low and moderate income based units included as part of such developments are phased out after a 20-30 year period and revert to market pricing. The time limits are favored by developers because sooner or later when the subsidized housing units revert to market pricing the State will insist that the local community allow new development and increase the population further to meet the latest State standard.

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Dembrowski Reception at Lucia's

Supporters and interested voters from Winchester and the surrounding communities in the Seventh Congressional District are invited to attend a reception with Dr. Gerry Dembrowski which will be held at the Lucia Ristorante, 13 Mt. Vernon Street in Winchester on Tuesday October 5, 2010. The reception is scheduled to start at 7:00PM with a dinner followed with remarks by the candidate. The suggested donation levels are $100 and $250. A television advertistement titled "Is the American Dream Dead?" has been made with the hopes of raising sufficient funds to help purchase air times prior to the general election on November 2nd.

For further information or to make reservations RSVP Jessbarnes@gerry2010.com.