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Brown gives Villamaino endorsement

Date: 7/27/2010

July 28, 2010

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

NEWS ANALYSIS

HAMPDEN -- In his fight against Longmeadow attorney Marie Angelides to win the Republican nomination for state representative as well as defeat incumbent Brian Ashe, East Longmeadow Selectman Enrico "Jack" Villamaino brought out the big guns Friday night: an endorsement by Sen. Scott Brown.
Sen. Scott Brown (left) gave his endorsement to his friend East Longmeadow Selectman Enrico "Jack" Villamaino on Friday night. Villamaino is running for the state representative seat currently held by Brian Ashe.

Speaking to Reminder Publications at the fundraising event prior to Brown's arrival, Villamaino explained how he had secured the endorsement.

"I'm just lucky. I knew Clark Kent before he was Superman," he quipped.

He explained that he first met Brown in 2004 when Villamaino was an aide to former State Sen. Brian Lees and Brown had just entered the State Senate. The two men became friends.

In his remarks, Brown said, "Jack will be a terrific state representative."

The nod from one of the most prominent Republican senators won't change the focus of his campaign, though. Villamaino said he would still be advocating for more local aid and for greater fiscal responsibility.



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The gathering was more than just a fundraiser for Villamaino; it was a meeting place of local Republican officials as well as many of the local Republican candidates.

Among those present were State Sen. and candidate for Lt. Governor Richard Tisei; Tom Wesley and Jay Fleitman both of whom are running against Congressman Richard Neal; Robert Magovern of Agawam seeking the state senate seat currently occupied by Stephen Buoniconti; Springfield businessman Tom McCarthy, who is running against State Sen. Gale Candaras; and Joshua Carpenter who is challenging State Rep. Angelo Puppolo.

State Sen. Michael Knapik and State Rep. Donald Humason Jr. were also at the event.

James Goodhines, candidate for district attorney, was also present. When asked what a Democrat was doing at the event, he said that not only was he was a friend of Villamaino, but since there are no Republican candidates for district attorney he saw the fundraiser as an opportunity to meet some potential supporters.

A former Democrat, McCarthy, who owns Gateway Hardware, is making his second run at elected office, having challenged former State Rep. Paul Caron about 15 years ago.

He is not only a business owner in Springfield, but also a resident and he said, "I really don't like what's happening to Springfield a lot."

He sees middle class families leaving the city and among the reasons for their departure he believes is "the policies of Gale and her comrades." He attributes entitlement programs as being part of the "wasting away of Springfield."

Paraphrasing Thomas Jefferson, McCarthy said, "If the individual takes care of himself, the community will be okay."

He said that while debates or forums have yet to be set up, he would be happy to discuss the issues with Candaras.



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Brown was delayed due to weather and traffic on the Massachusetts Turnpike and his political rock star status was confirmed with the enthusiastic reception.

Noting that some of his campaign events on the road to the Senate would have just filled a fraction of the space at the Hampden Country Club, Brown said the number of attendees "was overwhelming for him to see."

"It's a good harbinger for things to come," he added.

Electing Republicans such as Villamaino to the Legislature is important because "we need to give [a Republican] governor the foot soldiers to sustain a veto," Brown explained.

Villamaino in his remarks made another comic book reference and said that being introduced by Brown is like "Superman introducing Jimmy Olsen."

Noting the grassroots nature of his campaign, Villamaino said he had visited 13,000 of the 17,000 households in the district so far. He said his experience during the last four years as an East Longmeadow selectman he has practiced fiscal responsibility and help to create balanced budgets at the local level.

He added he is not seeing "that kind of responsibility at the state level."