Date: 1/28/2016
There's an important election March 1, but not the one you think, Every four years, the same day as the presidential primary, voters are also asked to select their choice for their party’s State Committee people to represent their district and town. It’s a little understood election that has a very large impact on the political landscape.
A primary job of the State Committee people is to act as the “management” of the party, coordinating efforts between the executive staff and the local level town committees. Their job is to work with local town committees to grow the party and ensure the town committees are active and engaged. It is also the State Committee members who decide on the party platform – the philosophical stance the party takes on issues.
In the Republican party, members are elected during the state Republican Presidential Primary, March 1. State Committee districts are based on the 40 State Senate Districts and each district elects a committeeman and a committeewoman for a total of 80 members.
This year, an unprecedented 50-plus State Committee seats are being contested in the GOP statewide. Voters will be asked to choose candidates who best represent their vision for the party for the next four years. I encourage voters to take the time to learn about candidate plans to grow local town committees and the party.
There will also be a very clear choice between “conservative” and “moderate” candidates and it will be the voters’ ballots on March 1 that will dictate the management and political philosophies of the Massachusetts GOP for the next 4 years, including during Gov. Baker's anticipated re-election campaign in 2018.
For Republican voters, this is their chance to make their voices heard about the future of the GOP in Massachusetts. Typically, many voters leave the choices for state committee blank because they don't fully understand the importance of these races. I encourage everyone to make their voice heard at the ballot box in this critical election.
Bob Grove
Wilbraham
