| A Note from the Editor Oh my God, I�m running for State Committee! I am proud to make my announcement in this newsletter and to our committee that I have decided to run for Republican State Committeeman of the First Essex and Middlesex district. As many of you know I have been involved in the Republican Party for quite a while. From my start as Massachusetts State Chairman and National Vice-Chair of the College Republicans, it�s been a long journey. There was the heartbreak as a NH and MA youth coordinator for President George Herbert Walker Bush in �92 and now the pride I feel watching his son lead a Reaganesque revolution. I have worked on many a campaign from leading a convoy of volunteers for Bruce Tarr when he was first running for Senate to managing a GOTV phone bank for Brad Jones� special election when I worked at the State Party. It is so inspiring to see how far those Republican leaders have come. There are many challenges that lie ahead. As a Romney Reform Team Captain I hope to work closely with our legislative candidates so our terrific incumbents like Brad Hill can have more than a handful of GOP colleagues. Speaking of Brad, he and I have been working our hearts out trying to increase communication between committees by attending events and using technology tools like www.EssexClub.org. It�s great to see the following that has built up around the website as Brad promotes the site to the point where the Boston Globe did an article on it as a sign of the revitalization of the party. We�re all trying to build an Esprit De Corps because 1) We all need to participate in the mission of building the Party 2) It�s more fun to do it with others than alone and 3) The more fun we have, the harder we�ll work. The harder we work, the more we�ll win. I think we have that formula down in Ipswich. My most enjoyable politicking is when I am with our Town Committee. I love just holding our signs, where titles don�t matter, but hot coffee does . . . where a shared laugh warms us on a cold fall day. Throughout my years in politics I have built some lasting friendships. Sometimes we are on the same side, sometimes on opposite. Whether we agree or disagree there is always the mutual respect and admiration that transcends politics when friendship emerges victorious over self-interest and close-mindedness. In the world of politics this is special. When I went to collect my signatures to get on the ballot I was so flattered by the show of support you all showed me and it reminded me why I am running for State Committee in the first place. I feel like I have been adopted into a big, happy family that happens to get a lot done. Hopefully we can bring that friendship, respect, optimism, work ethic and success throughout the district. Thank you all. -John Racho |
 |
 |
 |