Republican gubernatorial candidate Diehl connects with regionDate: 8/23/2022 WESTERN MASS. – Ahead of the Republican gubernatorial primary on Sept. 6, candidate Geoff Diehl hosted a meet-and-greet with locals at City Jake’s Café in Springfield.
Background
Diehl served in the 7th Plymouth district in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019. He also challenged incumbent Sen. Elizabeth Warren in 2018 for one of the state’s two seats, ultimately running unsuccessfully, securing 36 percent of the vote.
After announcing his gubernatorial bid last summer, Diehl began blazing the campaign trail and securing endorsements – including one from former President Donald Trump. The former Republican president endorsed Diehl in October 2021.
“[Diehl] is a true patriot, a believer in low energy costs…strong on crime, election integrity, our now under siege southern border, loves our military and has a big focus on taking care of our vets,” said Trump in his endorsement.
Among the campaign focuses featured on his website, Diehl highlights supporting economic development, promoting government accountability and defending individual liberties against government mandates.
Diehl faces off in the Republican governor primary against Chris Doughty, a business owner of the manufacturer Capstan Industries. The winner will face off against Attorney General and Democratic candidate Maura Healey in the Nov. 8 election.
City Jake’s visit
Diehl met with residents at City Jake’s Café on Aug. 17. Inside the busy confines of the local restaurant staple, Diehl addressed a gamut of his and his supporters’ concerns ahead of the upcoming primary date.
The former state representative also asserted that he and Lt. Gov. candidate Leah Cole Allen are the right fit for the state’s leadership positions.
“Leah and I are ready to take charge on Beacon Hill,” said Diehl.
The gubernatorial candidate first engaged in conversation with City Jake’s owners Ronald and Sandra Crotchetier about the unique challenges facing small business enterprises. The owners cited rising inflation rates and the growth of work-from-home participation as negative impediments to their operations.
Diehl’s campaign sentiments also registered with a personal impact for Sandra. The business owner said she never expressed interest in politics until she was mandated to take a flu shot for her nursing job. She left the position due to the mandate and became an active supporter of Diehl’s personal freedoms platform shortly after.
“I feel like we’re losing a little bit of our freedoms. Once that happens, we’ll never get them back,” said Sandra.
Diehl shared a similar story regarding his lieutenant governor running mate Allen. He said Allen initially served in a COVID-19 ward during the coronavirus pandemic’s advent. After declining the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, Allen eventually resigned from her position.
Another local ally of Diehl, Chicopee Ward 6 School Committee member Samuel Shumsky, expressed support for his gubermatorial candidacy. Shumsky said he first learned of Diehl after attending one of his events over the last year and agreeing with his stances. He soon after engaged in conversation with Diehl and became a Western Mass. advocate of the candidate.
Residents remained active throughout the meet-and-greet on the issue of personal freedoms. Diehl said that state’s entrenchment on mandate decisions, such as with the COVID-19 vaccine, inspired an exodus of residents last year.
“Fifty-five thousand [people] left Massachusetts last year…some if it was because of their freedoms,” said Diehl. Several residents and Diehl himself also levied criticisms against the Healey campaign for their opposition on the issue.
If elected to office, Diehl said he will rehire state police and other workers fired for not receiving a COVID-19 vaccination during his first day of office. On his second day, Diehl stated he would fire the people responsible for the mandates.
Ensuring statewide equity became another talking point for Diehl. The governor candidate discussed his leadership on the appeal of the state’s index gas tax when serving in the state house in 2014. He argued that the proposed tax would unproportionally impact communities like Western Mass. that require an increased reliance on driving.
“It’s an unfair burden on certain portions of the state,” said Diehl.
During the open conversation, Diehl also addressed stances on reducing taxes and supporting business owners. He also aired his optimism for Massachusetts and the county as a whole to have a “red-wave year” as several critical elections take place.
Diehl interview
Additionally, Diehl sat down with Reminder Publishing to discuss his campaign and issues pertinent to Western Mass. The gubernatorial candidate explained that his dual background as a state politician and a small business owner give him a unique perspective on state issues. Diehl empathized that these experiences give him more qualifications than his Republican competitor Doughty.
“I’m best positioned to make this run for November,” said Diehl.
Regarding the decaying status of the Springfield Courthouse, Diehl expressed his support for constructing a new building if the mold and other concerns can not be addressed. He also stressed the importance of having a state building functioning without safety concerns.
“If it can’t be fixed, we got to take immediate steps towards a replacement,” said Diehl.
The popular East-West rail concept also received support from Diehl. When asked if he would prioritize expansion or fortifying issues with the existing Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) structures, Diehl said that achieving both simultaneously remains an option.
“I think we can walk and chew gum at the same time,” said Diehl.
Diehl said that public transportation is an important item of his agenda. He expressed his desire to fix some of the MBTA’s ongoing deficiencies while making public transportation options more accessible in Western Massachusetts.
“We absolutely value the need for public transportation…we got to find ways to alleviate that situation,” said Diehl.
Diehl also discussed his plan for attracting the moderate and unenrolled voters who supported Gov. Charlie Baker over the years. With 56 percent of the state currently unenrolled in a political party, Diehl said he will appeal to voters by eschewing the standards of pushing political party agendas.
“More than ever, people are looking for leadership. I’ve always felt I have been a pragmatic voice,” said Diehl.
Readers can learn more about Geoff Diehl and his campaign at https://geoffdiehl.com/.
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