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At rally, Mihos calls for a 'Republican revolution'

Date: 10/20/2009

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



LONGMEADOW - The heavy hitters of the Republican party gathered for a rally this weekend, shaking hands, making new friends and supporting each other, even when two of them were running for the same seat.

The rally was hosted by the Massachusetts Republican Municipal Coalition at Bertucci's Restaurant, and it served as a fundraiser for local candidates, who are running for everything from School Committee in Springfield to U.S. Senate.

The biggest names at the event were the two Republicans gunning for Gov. Deval Patrick's seat, Charlie Baker and Christy Mihos. Both men talked about their experience and their goals for the Commonwealth. Baker commented that he's seen what a state turnaround looks like because he has "played in one" - the change from 1991, when taxes and unemployment were high, to 1995, during which time taxes had been cut 15 times.

"I take fiscal responsibility more seriously than anything else," the CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care stated. Baker added that the state won't get out of the economic position it's in by hoping for the best, but by planning for the worst and "making the tough decisions."

Business owner Mihos said that his first job is to get Republicans into as many public offices as possible. He pledged there will be no show horses on Beacon Hill - only diligent, hardworking representatives of the people.

"A fiscal conservative is certainly what we need in that corner office," Mihos said of the governor's position. He said one of his goals, if elected, would be to roll the sales tax in the state back to three percent, what he called "a real stimulus" for Massachusetts.

"We need a Republican revolution!" he concluded.

That revolution may already be underway, based on the number of candidates looking to oust incumbents or take over seats that have long been held by Democrats. Jay Fleitman, a physician from Northampton, and Tom Wesley, a former Navy pilot from Hopedale, both have their eyes set on Congressman Richard Neal's seat representing the Massachusetts 2nd Congressional District. Neither man has much experience politically, but they say that's what's needed to change government.

"The number one thing I'm concerned about right now is the economy and deficit spending," Fleitman said. "If we don't fix that, we'll continue to see inflation and taxes will be raised. We'll look like Japan in 20 years [if changes aren't made]."

Wesley said that it's "time to stop the madness" and "get Washington out of the way of young families."

"It's about me being a career citizen running against a career politician," Wesley told Reminder Publications. "It's frustrating to run against an incumbent because he's not in touch with the public."

There were two overall themes of the rally - that Republicans need to change their focus from state seats to local seats and build from the bottom up, and that one goal of many of the candidates was to preserve the state so that their children could enjoy the same freedoms and environments they did.

State Sen. Scott Brown, a strong believer of building from the bottom up, started as a town assessor and selectman in Wrentham and is now running for the U.S. Senate. "I'm running because I'm not happy," he said at the rally. "I'm not happy with the economy; people are hurting."

Representing the local area were State Rep. Don Humason of Westfield; John Lumbra, running for the treasurer's position in Holyoke; Michael Case, running to represent the 2nd Berkshire District; Paul Boudo, running for mayor of West Springfield; Dan Knapik, running for mayor of Westfield; and two young candidates hoping to make a change.

Joseph Flebotte, 20, hopes to join Springfield's School Committee. Currently a student at Bryant University, Flebotte said he aims to bring a conservative mind to the committee, something that's been needed for a long time. Flebotte will be hosting a fundraiser at the American Legion in Indian Orchard on Oct. 22 at 6 p.m.

Jeff Donnelly, 26, is running a write-in campaign for the Springfield mayor's seat.

"We need more new blood," Donnelly said. The East Springfield resident served as a student senator at Holyoke Community College, and noted that the biggest issue the city is facing is crime. "If we can fix that, we'll bring in more businesses, and that will bring in more people," he said. His plan to reduce crime is to put more police on the streets and focus on getting more people involved with social organizations instead of criminal organizations.

"I'll stand up for the little guy," Donnelly vowed.