CLT UPDATE
Thursday, September 22, 2011
CLT’s 2½ PAC Candidate Wins Special Election!
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Republican Keiko Orrall of Lakeville won
Tuesday's special election to replace former state Rep. Stephen R.
Canessa, a New Bedford Democrat.
Orrall, a first-time candidate for state office
who described herself as a taxpayer advocate, beat Democrat Roger
Brunelle Jr. of Middleboro, a union painter and labor activist. She
captured 2,125 votes to Brunelle's 1,761. She carried every
community in the district except New Bedford....
Orrall, a former member of the Lakeville Finance
Committee, campaigned on limited government and pledged not to take
a pension or travel stipend if elected.
She argued in favor of cutting taxes and
regulations to help spur the economy. She said she wants to fix
inefficient programs, reform the state pension system and test
recipients of government assistance for drugs.
The New Bedford Standard-Times
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Orrall grabs state rep seat
Republican Keiko Orrall’s special election
triumph over Democrat Roger Brunelle Jr. shifts control of the 12th
Bristol House seat to the GOP.
Orrall, who got more than 54 percent of the vote
Tuesday ...
She is the latest Republican from Southeastern
Massachusetts to win a seat in the House. Last November, Republicans
Shaunna O’Connell of Taunton, Steven Howitt of Seekonk and Angelo
D’Emilia of Bridgewater won election to seats that had been held by
Democrats.
The Taunton Daily Gazette
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Keiko Orrall elected to Canessa's Massachusetts House seat
A former teacher who said she’s tired of
conservatives’ views being “squashed” in Massachusetts dealt a
surprising ballot-box blow to Democrats on Tuesday night, becoming
the first Republican to win a traditionally blue Bristol County
state representative seat in more than 30 years.
“Isn’t that so weird?” newly elected state Rep.
Keiko Orrall told the Herald. “I’m a Republican representative from
New Bedford.”
The Boston Herald
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Ex-teacher unseats Dem in Bristol County
Now make no mistake, Rep. elect Keiko Orrall,
a Republican from Lakeville, has the chops to make it on Beacon
Hill. A former public school teacher and graduate of Smith
College, she served on Lakeville’s finance committee and led a
campaign against a Proposition 2½ override in that community.
She certainly had the resume.
But there’s no denying that in a “normal”
year — normal for Massachusetts anyway — the Republican newcomer
would have had little chance of storming this particular castle.
The 12th Bristol district hasn’t had a GOP rep for more than 30
years.
Orrall’s Democratic opponent, Roger Brunelle
Jr., had the backing of nearly every labor union under the sun.
And this was a special election, where the labor machinery is
key for turnout....
The GOP managed to nearly double its ranks in
the House in 2010, and that was when the former House speaker
was simply awaiting trial. Now that DiMasi has been convicted
and a Republican has won an open seat in a special election, you
can be darn sure those House Democrats who supported his
speakership — even amid reports of possible corruption — are
wishing they had that vote back.
A Boston Herald editorial
Thursday, September 22, 2011
‘DiMasi effect’ at work
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Chip Faulkner's
Report
Keiko Orrall, a Lakeville Republican, won the
special election for State Representative in the 12th Bristol
District on September 20th. Orrall won in Taunton, Freetown,
Lakeville and Middleboro, losing only a section of New Bedford. She
ended up with almost 55% of the vote in a district that has been
held by a Democrat for at least the last 25 years.
Keiko Orrall was endorsed by CLT’s 2½ PAC which
also donated $300 to her campaign. Orrall ran on a strong
pro-taxpayer platform. The
Taxpayers Protection Pledge was proudly taken by the candidate.
The Pledge asks candidates to “oppose and vote against any and all
efforts to increase taxes.” She also wore a name tag throughout the
race which, under her name, simply said “taxpayer.”
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Francis "Chip" Faulkner
Associate Director, CLT
Director, CLT's 2½ PAC |
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The New Bedford Standard-Times
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Orrall grabs state rep seat
By Brian Boyd
Republican Keiko Orrall of Lakeville won Tuesday's special election
to replace former state Rep. Stephen R. Canessa, a New Bedford
Democrat.
Orrall, a first-time candidate for state office who described
herself as a taxpayer advocate, beat Democrat Roger Brunelle Jr. of
Middleboro, a union painter and labor activist. She captured 2,125
votes to Brunelle's 1,761. She carried every community in the
district except New Bedford.
"We are very excited," said Orrall, who was celebrating her victory
with supporters at the Lakeville Country Club. "We ran a very good
campaign and we had the right message. I think it's a victory for
the people, and I will work hard all of the cities and towns."
Canessa resigned in June to take a position as legislative liaison
for Southcoast Health System. The 12th Bristol District includes
parts of Freetown, Lakeville, Middleboro, New Bedford and Taunton.
Orrall, a 44-year-old secretary and former teacher who currently
home-schools her children, easily won her home town, carrying
Lakeville, 962-341. Nearly 30 percent of registered voters turned
out in Lakeville. She also beat Brunelle in his home town.
He carried the New Bedford portion of the district, but it wasn't
enough to overcome his deficit in other communities. Only 11.2
percent of registered voters in the city portion showed up to the
polls.
"We spent a lot of time going door to door, meeting people and
talking with people," Orrall said. "I think when people talk to me,
they know I'm authentic and they know I'm trying to do the right
thing and I'm trying to be an honest voice for the people."
Brunelle said he was disappointed but felt he ran a good campaign,
emphasizing jobs and the economy.
"I thought my message would resonate," he said. "I thought the
voters would come out but obviously they chose someone else and I
wish her well."
Orrall, a former member of the Lakeville Finance Committee,
campaigned on limited government and pledged not to take a pension
or travel stipend if elected.
She argued in favor of cutting taxes and regulations to help spur
the economy. She said she wants to fix inefficient programs, reform
the state pension system and test recipients of government
assistance for drugs.
Brunelle campaigned as a champion of the working class and
emphasized job creation. He supported bringing casinos to the state
and expanding commuter rail to New Bedford and Fall River.
Voters who supported Orrall said she would bring a change to the
status quo on Beacon Hill. Some of them viewed Brunelle as too close
to unions and believed Orrall was more independent-minded.
"She is not for special interests," said Mike Murphy, a Lakeville
resident, as he left the polling location at Ted Williams Camp.
Kyle Sepersky, a Republican voter from Lakeville, said she agreed
with Orrall's positions on the issues and believes Orrall will fight
for her convictions.
"She is strong," Sepersky said. "She is not going to back down. She
will stand up for what she thinks."
Supporters of Brunelle said they preferred him on the issues and
thought he would support the working class.
The Taunton Daily Gazette
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Keiko Orrall elected to Canessa's Massachusetts House seat
By Gerry Tuoti
Republican Keiko Orrall’s special election triumph over Democrat
Roger Brunelle Jr. shifts control of the 12th Bristol House seat to
the GOP.
Orrall, who got more than 54 percent of the vote Tuesday, will
replace Stephen Canessa, a New Bedford Democrat who resigned from
the state Legislature in June to accept a job as director of
government affairs for Southcoast Health System.
“I think this is a victory for the people,” Orrall said. “I think
our message got out that we want the people to have a voice. I am
ready and able to be that voice and advocate for the people of all
five cities and towns.”
The district contains parts of Taunton, Freetown, Lakeville,
Middleboro and New Bedford.
Orrall, 44, of Lakeville, is a former member of her town’s Finance
Committee and a former educator.
She is the latest Republican from Southeastern Massachusetts to win
a seat in the House. Last November, Republicans Shaunna O’Connell of
Taunton, Steven Howitt of Seekonk and Angelo D’Emilia of Bridgewater
won election to seats that had been held by Democrats.
“I think it’s because the people are very frustrated with the way
Democratic leadership is steering the Commonwealth with more
spending and less control,” Orrall said. “The message is getting
out.”
Brunelle, 43, a Middleboro resident and industrial painter, could
not be reached for comment by press time Tuesday.
Orrall, who was celebrating at the Lakeville Country Club, said
Brunelle called Tuesday night to concede and wish her well.
Creating jobs and boosting the economy, Orrall said, are the biggest
issues facing the district.
“We have to have solutions we can implement quickly,” she said,
listing ideas such as reducing regulations, creating tax credits and
keeping taxes low.
She also vowed to work collaboratively with Democrats, who hold a
large majority in the House and Senate.
“We need to look past parties and look to common sense solutions,”
she said.
Brunelle carried New Bedford by a hefty margin, 840-348, but Orrall
defeated him in every other community. She carried Taunton 131-129,
Freetown 230-158, Lakeville 962-341 and Middleboro 454-293.
All election results are unofficial until certified by the Secretary
of the Commonwealth’s office.
The Boston Herald
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Ex-teacher unseats Dem in Bristol County
By Chris Cassidy
A former teacher who said she’s tired of conservatives’ views being
“squashed” in Massachusetts dealt a surprising ballot-box blow to
Democrats on Tuesday night, becoming the first Republican to win a
traditionally blue Bristol County state representative seat in more
than 30 years.
“Isn’t that so weird?” newly elected state Rep. Keiko Orrall told
the Herald. “I’m a Republican representative from New Bedford.”
In Tuesday night’s special election, Orrall knocked off Democrat
Roger Brunelle.
“I think people are just waking up to the fact that we . . . don’t
have enough of a balance in the State House,” Orrall said.
Orrall, who was endorsed by U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, lost blue-collar
New Bedford but gathered enough support in surrounding towns to
snatch a 9-point victory.
“I think we’re doing a better job of training our candidates and
having institutional support in our party,” GOP committeeman Brock
Cordeiro said.
Democrats argued Brunelle had a convincing message, but the party
failed to get out the vote.
“We will continue to work on making improvements to the historic
success at the grass-roots level of last fall’s election as we get
closer to 2012,” Massachusetts Democratic Party Chairman John Walsh
said in a statement.
The Boston Herald
Thursday, September 22, 2011
A Boston Herald editorial
‘DiMasi effect’ at work
Eleven days after former House Speaker Sal DiMasi got the word that
he will spend the next eight years in prison a Republican came out
of nowhere to win a special election for a vacant House seat long
held by Democrats.
Gee, anyone see a connection?
Now make no mistake, Rep. elect Keiko Orrall, a Republican from
Lakeville, has the chops to make it on Beacon Hill. A former public
school teacher and graduate of Smith College, she served on
Lakeville’s finance committee and led a campaign against a
Proposition 2½ override in that community. She certainly had the
resume.
But there’s no denying that in a “normal” year — normal for
Massachusetts anyway — the Republican newcomer would have had little
chance of storming this particular castle. The 12th Bristol district
hasn’t had a GOP rep for more than 30 years.
Orrall’s Democratic opponent, Roger Brunelle Jr., had the backing of
nearly every labor union under the sun. And this was a special
election, where the labor machinery is key for turnout.
Ah, but this hasn’t been a “normal” year, as any Democrat in the
House can tell you.
The GOP managed to nearly double its ranks in the House in 2010, and
that was when the former House speaker was simply awaiting trial.
Now that DiMasi has been convicted and a Republican has won an open
seat in a special election, you can be darn sure those House
Democrats who supported his speakership — even amid reports of
possible corruption — are wishing they had that vote back.
The fact that Republicans haven’t enjoyed anything approaching that
kind of success in recent races for the state Senate or for Congress
is a sure sign of the DiMasi effect at work.nhancements - and go for
the savings alone.
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Citizens for Limited Taxation ▪
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▪ 508-915-3665
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