CLT UPDATE
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Another win for Revolution 2010
State Senator-Elect Richard Ross takes Scott Brown's seat with
62%
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Giving the state GOP another boost as November
elections approach, state Representative Richard Ross, a Wrentham
Republican, last night won the state Senate seat recently vacated by
US Senator Scott Brown.
Ross, 55, bested Needham physician Peter
Smulowitz, a political newcomer who narrowly survived a bruising
Democratic primary against state Representative Lida Harkins, a
former House majority whip.
According to unofficial results, Ross garnered
15,893 votes to Smulowitz’s 9,819, giving Ross about 62 percent of
the votes. Ross won Needham, seen as a liberal stronghold in the
12-community district, by a vote of 2,717 to 2,495, according to
unofficial results....
[Ross:] “It is a true honor to be finishing the
term of US [Senator] Scott Brown in the state Senate and I am
energized and humbled by the support I received today. My record in
the Legislature of never voting for a tax increase truly resonated
with families and businesses of the district, and I look forward to
continuing to fight for the taxpayers who themselves are working so
hard every day.’’
The Boston Globe
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Ross state Senate win boosts GOP
Wrentham candidate takes office vacated by Brown
Capitalizing on a Republican resurgence, state
Rep. Richard Ross won the state Senate seat formerly held by his
friend and political mentor Scott Brown Tuesday by an overwhelming
margin.
Ross, R-Wrentham, defeated Needham Democrat Peter
Smulowitz 15,893 votes to 9,819 in a special election for the seat
Brown resigned when he was elected to the U.S. Senate in January.
Republican Party Chairwoman Jennifer Nassour said
with Ross' victory coming just months after Brown's upset win, it
shows the GOP is on the move and the Democratic power structure is
in trouble for the fall elections.
"The Democratic machine is striking out," she
said.
She said Strike 1 was the Brown win, Strike 2 was
the Ross win and Strike 3 will come in November....
Ross said he was surprised by the margin of his
victory....
Ross said he had a good feeling about the
election, but never thought he would win in a landslide. Using a
phase popularized by Brown, Ross said he had to overcome the
"Democratic machine" to win.
"It shows people agreed with our message that
government is too big and taxes and spending are out of control," he
said.
The Attleboro Sun Chronicle
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Wrentham rep. will be new state senator
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Chip Ford's CLT
Commentary
Congratulations to the
voters of the Norfolk, Bristol & Middlesex senate district for
keeping Revolution 2010 moving forward. You have the thanks of
grateful taxpayers around the commonwealth.
The first "shot heard
'round the world" in this revolution was electing state Sen. Scott
Brown to fill legendary liberal icon Ted Kennedy's U.S. Senate seat.
We across Massachusetts and beyond all helped accomplish that. The
trend continues with the election of Brown's choice, state Rep.
Richard Ross (R-Wrentham), to fill his since-empty state senate
seat.
This result brings the
total of Republicans in the state senate back up to five, out of
forty. More work is ahead before November to help make taxpayers
safer.
Revolution 2010 is
working on it, and so far is succeeding. This wasn't just a win --
it was a blow-out!
Two elections, two wins
-- a perfect streak at least for now.
The best is yet ahead,
if we citizens, taxpayers, and voters continue to press on with
The Second American Revolution.
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Chip Ford |
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The Boston Globe
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Ross state Senate win boosts GOP
Wrentham candidate takes office vacated by Brown
By Jason Woods and Lisa Kocian
Giving the state GOP another boost as November elections approach,
state Representative Richard Ross, a Wrentham Republican, last night
won the state Senate seat recently vacated by US Senator Scott
Brown.
Ross, 55, bested Needham physician Peter Smulowitz, a political
newcomer who narrowly survived a bruising Democratic primary against
state Representative Lida Harkins, a former House majority whip.
According to unofficial results, Ross garnered 15,893 votes to
Smulowitz’s 9,819, giving Ross about 62 percent of the votes. Ross
won Needham, seen as a liberal stronghold in the 12-community
district, by a vote of 2,717 to 2,495, according to unofficial
results. Smulowitz won in the district’s precincts in Wayland,
Wellesley, and Natick.
The special election was one of what could be about 30 contests to
fill open legislative seats this year. Although the exact number
won’t be known until the filing deadline later this month, more
incumbents than usual have said they will bow out. Buoyed by so many
vacancies as well as multiple scandals among Democratic lawmakers,
Republicans see a potential to make inroads in the
Democrat-dominated state Legislature.
In the other contest yesterday, Sal DiDomenico, an Everett city
councilor, dominated a second special state Senate election,
garnering 88 percent of the votes over independent John Cesan,
according to unofficial election results.
The results in the two races won’t alter the makeup of the state
Senate, since a Democrat succeeded a Democrat and a Republican
followed a Republican. Nonetheless, coupled with Brown’s stunning
victory in the US Senate race this year, the Massachusetts
Republican Party immediately seized on Ross’s victory as a harbinger
of more wins in the fall.
“Senator Brown’s historic victory and Richard Ross’ win tonight show
that voters are seeking a return to balance in our state’s political
system,’’ Jennifer Nassour, state GOP chairwoman, said in a
statement. “The Democrat machine is striking out in Massachusetts.
Republicans are ready to put an end to one party rule on Beacon
Hill, and we are offering the commonwealth fiscally conservative and
ethically strong candidates up and down the ballot in November.’’
John Walsh, chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party,
congratulated Ross, but he also pointed out that each party won an
election last night.
Democrats will have an opponent for Ross in the fall, he said, but
asked if Smulowitz would be that candidate, Walsh said only
Smulowitz could answer that. Smulowitz did not return calls for
comment last night.
Asked about the contentious primary, Walsh said, “I’ve seen a lot of
tough primaries . . . where there were tough words and sharp elbows
and it’s possible to bring things back together following those, but
that wasn’t possible in this case. I think it played a significant
role in tonight’s results.’’
Celebrating his victory in Wrentham, Ross told supporters: “I’m so
thrilled at the towns in this district for pulling together and
electing me the way they have today. . . . On day one I promise to
bring the money back to the towns of this district.’’
Ross also issued a statement, just after Smulowitz called him to
concede.
“Tonight marks the beginning [of] a new journey for me,’’ said Ross.
“I have proudly served half of this state Senate district as a
representative for the past six years, and I look forward to the
opportunity of serving the towns in the north for the first time.
“It is a true honor to be finishing the term of US [Senator] Scott
Brown in the state Senate and I am energized and humbled by the
support I received today. My record in the Legislature of never
voting for a tax increase truly resonated with families and
businesses of the district, and I look forward to continuing to
fight for the taxpayers who themselves are working so hard every
day.’’
Smulowitz, a 34-year-old emergency room physician, angered some
voters in Needham, where he lives, when he attacked Harkins during
the primary for accepting contributions from disgraced House
speakers she served under.
Harkins, also of Needham, fought back hard, accusing her rival of
“gutter politics.’’ She declined to support him in his race against
Ross.
By contrast, Ross had A-list support from his party, including
campaign appearances by Brown. The seat was considered his to lose.
It’s the third time Ross has followed in Brown’s footsteps. Ross won
his friend’s Wrentham selectman seat when Brown was elected to the
House, and then he replaced Brown in the lower chamber six years
ago, when he won this state Senate seat.
The state Senate’s Norfolk, Bristol, and Middlesex District covers
Millis, Needham, Norfolk, North Attleborough, Plainville, Sherborn,
Wayland, and Wrentham, as well as parts of Attleboro, Franklin,
Natick, and Wellesley.
DiDomenico, who won the other race, will represent Everett, Chelsea,
and parts of Cambridge, Boston, Somerville, Revere, and Saugus in
the Middlesex, Suffolk, and Essex district. He succeeds Anthony
Galluccio, a Cambridge Democrat who resigned earlier this year after
he was jailed for failing a breath alcohol test that was part of his
probation.
DiDomenico, who served as Galluccio’s chief of staff, celebrated his
victory with family and friends at Shooters Restaurant in Everett,
but said he’s looking forward to getting to work. “I’m very, very
happy with the amount of support we received in the district,’’ he
said. “It shows the people like what they’re hearing.’’
Globe correspondent Alix Roy contributed to this report.
The Attleboro Sun Chronicle
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Wrentham rep. will be new state senator
By Jim Hand
Capitalizing on a Republican resurgence, state Rep. Richard Ross won
the state Senate seat formerly held by his friend and political
mentor Scott Brown Tuesday by an overwhelming margin.
Ross, R-Wrentham, defeated Needham Democrat Peter Smulowitz 15,893
votes to 9,819 in a special election for the seat Brown resigned
when he was elected to the U.S. Senate in January.
Republican Party Chairwoman Jennifer Nassour said with Ross' victory
coming just months after Brown's upset win, it shows the GOP is on
the move and the Democratic power structure is in trouble for the
fall elections.
"The Democratic machine is striking out," she said.
She said Strike 1 was the Brown win, Strike 2 was the Ross win and
Strike 3 will come in November.
"We are more energized and more vibrant than we ever have been
before," she screamed at the crowd celebrating Ross' win at Lake
Pearl Luciano's.
Republicans referred to Brown's victory repeatedly as a turning
point for the party and said Ross proved it was not a one-shot deal.
"It continues the upward movement for the Republican Party as we go
into November," said state Rep. George Peterson, R-Grafton, the
House assistant minority leader.
The state Republican Party left nothing to chance. It poured people,
effort and money into the campaign.
A party spokeswoman said the organization made 75,000
get-out-the-vote calls in the closing days of the campaign.
Ross said he was surprised by the margin of his victory.
A three-term legislator and funeral home director, he won every
community in the district except Natick, Wayland and Wellesley. He
even captured heavily Democratic Needham.
Ross said he had a good feeling about the election, but never
thought he would win in a landslide. Using a phase popularized by
Brown, Ross said he had to overcome the "Democratic machine" to win.
"You guys are the machine," he told the crowd at his victory party.
"You have proven that again and again."
Traditionally, a Democrat needs to carry Needham by a wide margin in
order to offset Republican votes in North Attleboro, Plainville,
Wrentham and Norfolk, but Ross got 51 percent of the vote in the
Democratic stronghold.
He attributed his victory in Needham to a bitter division among
Democrats there in the wake of Smulowitz' primary election victory
over a hometown favorite, state Rep. Lida Harkins, D-Needham.
Ross said he was also able to show traditional Democrats in the
northern end of the district "that I don't have horns coming out of
my head."
But, Ross saved his best performance for the towns that know him
best - his state representative district.
He won his hometown of Wrentham with 86 percent of the vote. He took
1,400 of the 1,800 votes cast in Norfolk. Plainville voted for him
by a 4-1 margin.
"It shows people agreed with our message that government is too big
and taxes and spending are out of control," he said.
In Smulowitz, Ross had an opponent with no ties to long-time
political activists and with no name recognition.
He came out of seemingly nowhere to win the Democratic nomination by
defeating 20-year veteran Harkins.
Smulowitz said he was upbeat despite the loss and hinted he might
run again some day.
Smulowitz, a doctor who was raised in California and is relatively
new to the district, said issues, campaign tactics and party
affiliation did not lose him the election.
He said he lost because Ross did a better job, is much better known,
and has more experience.
"I have nothing to be ashamed of. I'm proud of my campaign," he
said.
Asked if he would change anything about his campaign if he could, he
said:
"I would have won."
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