NOTES BETWEEN PRINTED EDITIONS
by Lonnie Brennan
We lost Iron Mike Farquhar two years ago, but somewhere in heaven the soldier is showing a little happy smile, noting that long-term useless Massachusetts National Committeeman Ron Kaufman lost his second matchup against Brad Wyatt.
Last cycle, Brad got edged out by two votes. This cycle, the numbers reversed, and after decades of overseeing the decline of the Republican Party in Massachusetts, Ron got kicked to the curb. It’s believed Kaufman first started serving the Party in 1988. During his time, the Party has shriveled to just 8.38% of registered voters in the state, has lost all state-wide offices, the member of the House can share a handful pizzas and have leftovers, and the remaining members of the senate(4) could fit in a phone booth. Failing to help Mass. in any visible way, Kaufman held on, his main role seen as a money man and money broker – a D.C. lobbyist with deep ties to the deep corners of D.C. politics.
Ron’s nominating speech came from former state rep and current Taunton Mayor Shaunna O’Connell. But the newly-elected committee member couldn’t muster the votes to save Kaufman.
Mike Farquar rallied against Kaufman for many years on his 13-year RabidRepublicanBlog where “iron Mike” exposed countless MassGOP follies. Mike dubbed Kaufman “chocolate pants” in almost all of his postings, noting a late night incident that hit the local press involving Kaufman’s 1993 police report stating how Kaufman had been stopped for drunk driving. A Boston newspaper noted the “police report revealed that Kaufman had chocolate smeared on his pants.” No further details were released, and the incident appeared broomed….
Kaufman remains a big-money player at the national level, for now…. Kaufman is best known locally for “handing out trinkets” to state committee members – various gifts at various meetings.
Crocker the Democrat Enabler Elevated to Vice Chair
In other voting during the marathon meeting, Judy Crocker was elevated to Vice Chair. Crocker was exposed last year (see related stories) for supporting Democrats by following an “unwritten rule” to not openly endorse nor openly support Republican candidates against sitting elected Democrats. Crocker argued (live on radio!) that there is a lot Republicans can do to “work behind the scenes and support” candidates, without coming out and endorsing or showing any public support for Republicans. She stated that endorsements really mean nothing anyway, citing her husband’s loss in his state representative race, despite being endorsed by former Democrat-Enabling liberal Governor Charlie Baker.
10-APPOINTMENT MEMBERS PLAN SCUTTLED
MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale faced heavy headwinds everywhere she turned regarding an ill-fated post-election plan to add 10 new appointed (non-elected) full-voting members to the 80-member board.
In an e-mail sent the evening before Saturday’s marathon session, Carnevale announced that she was withdrawing the proposed bylaw change to add the new members provision. She thanked all involved for their thoughts and noted it was not ready at this time, as presented.
Massachusetts Republican Leadership
- Massachusetts has not had a Republican member of the U.S. Senate since 2013 (Scott Brown).
- Massachusetts has not had a Republican representative in Congress since 1997 (Peter Blute and Peter Torkildsen).
- Massachusetts has not had a Republican Treasurer since 1999 (Joe Malone)
- Massachusetts has not had a Republican Attorney General since 1969 (Elliot Richardson)
- Massachusetts Republicans lost control of the Senate in 1958.
- Massachusetts Republicans lost control of the House in 1954.
- Massachusetts has not had a Republican Secretary of the Commonwealth since 1949 (Frederic W. Cook).
- Massachusetts has not had a Republican Auditor since 1931 (Alonzo B. Cook)
- FEBRUARY 2024: 415,438 Republicans (8.38% of registered Mass. voters) are enrolled in the Republican Party in Massachusetts. The highest rate of enrollment is in Barnstable County (Cape Cod and Islands) (11.95%), and the lowest in Suffolk County (Boston) 4.36%.
- APRIL 2024: Of the 40-memers Mass. Senate, Republicans hold four seats.
- APRIL 2024 Of the 160-member House of Representatives, Republicans hold 23 seats.
Partial Listing of MassGOP Recent Chairs
2023 – Amy Carnevale
2019 – 2023 James Lyons
2013 -2019 Kirsten Hughes
Nov 2011 – Jan 2012 – Jeanne Kangas (interim)
2009 – 2011 – Jennifer A. Nassour
2007 – 2009 – Peter G. Torkilden
2003 – 2007 Darrel W. Crate
2002 – Jean Inman (interim)
2001 – 2002 – Kerry Healey
1998 – 2001 – Brian M. Cresta
1997 – 1998 – Jean Inman
1992 – 1997 – Jim Rappaport
1990 -1992 – Leon Lombardi
1990 – 1987 – Ray Shamie
1980 – 1987 – Andrew Natsios
1976 – 1980 Gordon M. Nelson
1975 – 1976 – John W. Sears
