Cape & Islands News

Gubernatorial contenders Mihos and Baker speak at GOP Roundup in Chatham

Republicans gather Sunday, many confident 2010 is their year

   Charlie Baker, Republican candidate for governor (far right) and Rep. Jeff Perry (second from right) chat with other party members at the GOP Roundup in Chatham Sunday. All photos courtesy of Samantha Pearsall.

By Samantha Pearsall

As the first speaker of several prominent Republican pols at Sunday afternoon’s GOP Roundup, Charlie Baker of Swampscott really set the tone. “It’s great to be in a room full of people who did the right thing in 2006 and didn’t vote for Deval Patrick,” the Republican candidate for governor said.

The event was sponsored by the Lower Cape Republican Council who provided a nice spread of hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, music and a silent auction. The public was invited and tickets cost $30. The guests mingled and were able to meet and chat with former and current politicians, such as Rep. Jeff Perry, Rep. Vinny Demacedo, and State Senator JoAnn Sprague. Baker and Christy Mihos, the two Republican candidates for governor, both arrived rather fashionably late but both did make it a point to talk with the people before speaking.

Getting the lay of the land

“I’m here to listen, mostly listen,” said former County Commissioner Mary LeClair, “It’s good to listen and hear what both candidates have to say because the season has just begun,” she said of the 2010 race for the governor’s seat.

Republican candidates for the governor's office in 2010, Christy Mihos (left) and Charlie Baker (right) meet up at the Wayside Inn in Chatham Sunday.

Other conservative Cape Codders felt the same, as roughly 65 people were in attendance at the event at the Wayside Inn in Chatham. Robert and Elaine Williams of Brewster said they’re on the fence; it’s too early to take a position so they came to listen to both Mihos and Baker speak about their goals if voted into office. Another attendee said it’s a perfect opportunity to meet the candidates personally and hear their positions.

Don Howell of Harwich organized this year’s Roundup. “We aren’t just one big happy family,” he said of the Republican Party, “the Upper Cape is different than the Lower Cape so it’s good to get different people down here because then you’re not just preaching to the same choir.”

The candidates on Cape Wind

A major Cape issue, Cape Wind, was not a major topic of discussion for either candidate. Mihos is the vice chairman for the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound, a local organization opposing the Cape Wind project. He has been a long-time foe of the country’s very first offshore wind farm. He said, “I stand on principal. It’s just a private industrial plant in the middle of Nantucket Sound. I don’t see how it will ever be financed; the economics just don’t prove out. My mind will never change, but at some point you must accept what the people decide and you just have to live with it.”

Baker, former CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare, tiptoed around the topic and refused to outright state whether he supported or opposed the Cape Wind project. He said a decision will already be finalized at the federal level before he enters office, if elected governor, therefore “the state doesn’t really matter at this point.” He added that he will be putting together a comprehensive energy plan this fall.

“The State of Massachusetts is heading in the wrong direction and Beacon Hill needs a turnaround.” - Charlie Baker

Baker began his campaign efforts about 40 days ago because, he said, “The State of Massachusetts is heading in the wrong direction and Beacon Hill needs a turnaround.” Baker touched on troubled business in the Commonwealth saying Red Sox fans are spread around the country not because of Red Sox Nation but because all these people had once lived and Massachusetts and have since left the state. “We need to learn how to hold on to the young people,” he said, “because they are this state’s future.”

Baker, a tight-lipped campaign?

Samantha Pearsall asks Charlie Baker where he stands on the proposed Cape Wind project among other things.

He sought Cape Republicans' support and when it came time for questions, no one seemed encouraged to speak up. That type of public forum, however, would have been the best opportunity for discussion because on Baker’s campaign website there is no contact information available or press pages as one may assume. Some Cape Codders question whether Baker is hoping to raise donations while avoiding the public’s questions and dealing with the media.

Mihos learns from his experiences, shares ideas

“You learn by your experiences,” Mihos of Yarmouth began. He ran in the last governor’s race in 2006 as an Independent but said he’s always been a proud Republican, some consider him a progressive Republican. “You cannot win by telling the truth,” he said. “I could see the recession coming 6 months before when people were coming in [to Christy’s Markets] and buying lottery tickets hoping to win big.” No one would hear the truth.

Now he explained he’s out to prove you can get elected by telling the people the truth. A 3% sales tax rollback is one of his goals if elected. Installing slot machines at race tracks could raise nearly $5 million annually he says. He would also like to consider partnering with New Hampshire and Maryland to legalize professional and amateur sports betting and work it through the state lottery system. According to Mihos, Massachusetts has one of the highest lottery sales per capita and this money would be filtered back through as local aid. He also suggests downsizing the state by “lightening administrative overhead and cutting out the fat.” Mihos plans to cut 8,300 state jobs that cost taxpayers $600 million each year.

“2010 is our year, I truly, truly believe this.” - Rep. Brad Hill of Ipswich

It’s going to be a long 14 months, Mihos laughed. “But I like my 3 to 1 odds. I’m the classic outsider. If you want a classic insider, vote for one of the others,” he said as he looks to his opponent across the room.

State Senator Scott Brown to vie for Kennedy's seat

There was confusion last week whether or not Mihos was dropping the governor’s race for the senatorial race, but he’s sticking with his original goal for pursuing Governor Patrick’s seat for 2010. However, Rep. Perry did announce that Republican State Senator Scott Brown will be looking to fill Ted Kennedy’s seat in Washington and needs 10,000 signatures by October 31st. Perry said he is challenging the Cape to provide the majority of those signatures.

All speakers touched on the idea that “government is changing; people are waking up.” Rep. Brad Hill of Ipswich said proudly, “2010 is our year, I truly, truly believe this.”

   Christy Mihos speaks with a group of GOP gentlemen.

   Mary LeClaire (left, standing)  makes her way through the group at the Wayside Inn in Chatham.

   Representative Jeff Perry addresses the crowd as Cynthia Stead (far right) and others listen.