FITCHBURG — Former Massachusetts State Sen. Dean Tran is raising the stakes in the Massachusetts Third Congressional District.

The first-generation American and Fitchburg Republican announced this week he’ll be challenging incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan.

“Americans and especially Massachusetts residents are being hurt by the Democrats’ failed economic policies,” Tran said, pointing to skyrocketing rates of inflation, soaring energy prices, and disruptions in consumer supply chains. ” Rep. Trahan has proved she will do whatever House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and failed President Joe Biden say.

“With me, you’ll get someone who knows firsthand the promise of this great nation, someone who will put America first, and someone who will never be Speaker Pelosi’s personal rubber stamp.”

Tran was born in Vietnam but emigrated to America after his family fled the war-torn country by boat when he was just four years old. After spending two years living in a refugee camp, Tran’s family found a temporary home in Clinton, Mass., in 1980 after receiving a sponsorship from a local Catholic priest.

The Tran family eventually settled in Fitchburg, with Dean later graduating from Brandeis University in 1997. Tran made history in 2005 when he was the first minority elected to Fitchburg City Council. He broke more barriers and became the first Vietnamese American to serve on Beacon Hill when he won a special state Senate election in 2017, running on a platform of low taxes and less government.

“Having served a third of this district in the state Senate, I’ve spoken to many people across the district who are hurting, and they all said the same thing: Congresswoman Lori Trahan is part of the problem in Washington,” Tran said. “I’m running to give the voters an alternative to the status quo, to big government and the broken promises and fiscal policies of the Washington Democrats. I will give this seat back to the people to amplify their voices, not the voices of President Biden and Speaker Pelosi.”

Tran and his wife Kerry have four children. He serves on the executive board for the Boy Scouts of America and the Mount Wachusett Community College Board of Trustees and currently manages an engineering team for Burlington-based Avid Technologies.

“My campaign is about giving the people of the Third Congressional District an alternative to the failures of the Biden administration and their enablers like Rep. Trahan,” Tran said. “Under her watch, we went from having one of the strongest economies in our nation’s history with historically low unemployment rate for minorities and women to record inflation.” 

“This seat represents some of the most diverse communities in the Commonwealth, yet has never been represented by a minority. I will change that. I am proud to be a living embodiment of the American dream and my promise to the voters is that I will fight for our district like they’ve never seen.”

To learn more about Dean’s campaign for U.S. Congress, visit his website DeanTran.com

In a letter to Republican State Committee members today, Chairman Jim Lyons wrote, “The energy level is as high as anytime in my memory. The message we can all agree on is that we must support our candidates and defeat the Radical Left. This is a fight for our freedom. I will work tirelessly to elect Republicans and I urge each and every one of you to get up off the couch and encourage your friends and family to get into the arena.”

Lyons is keen on leading Republican candidates to victory on Election Day through winning seats to municipal and legislative office. The MassGOP has been holding trainings throughout the state. Forty more are in the planning stages.

First Middlesex Republican State Committeewoman Kathy Lynch, who spoke on the panel at the first two trainings, said, “I am thrilled to see such enthusiasm in Massachusetts. That’s what happens when tyrants are in charge. People wake up and ask how they can change things for the better.”

Lynch was referring to the unbalanced situation in the Massachusetts legislature, where Democrats overwhelmingly outnumber Republicans, as well as the massive power grab through COVID “emergency powers.” Mask, vaccine, and now vaccine passport mandates are striking a nerve with freedom-loving people who see no need to succumb to coercion over a virus with a 99.97% recovery rate.

Second Suffolk and Middlesex Republican State Committeewoman Debby Dugan said, “A lopsided legislature is a danger to our Constitutional Republic. Liberty-minded people need to get involved. We need to get back to everyday citizens forming our Republic – not out-of-touch career politicians. We need to take back our nation, and it starts on the local level.”

If you want to get go to a candidate training, now is the time because people are pulling papers for municipal seats right now. Contact the Westford Republican Town Committee or the MassGOP with your interest.

“The future of America is at stake. Freedom Matters!” wrote Lyons.

At their meeting on January 27, 2022, the Massachusetts Republican State Committee, the governing body of the Massachusetts Republican Party, passed a resolution opposing all forms of vaccine- and vaccine-passport mandates.

The resolution reads:

Massachusetts Republican State Committee Resolution Opposing 
All Forms of Vaccine- and Vaccine-Passport Mandates 
to Ensure Freedom of Health Choice for Residents of the Commonwealth

WHEREAS: Our constitutional republic is deeply rooted in the guiding principles of individual liberty and freedom from tyranny; and

WHEREAS: The COVID-19 era has challenged individual liberty and freedom of choice across the United States as related to vaccine-, and vaccine-passport mandates by local, state, and federal governments; and 

WHEREAS: Governor Charlie Baker has resisted the demands of un-American legislators, unions, and far-left activists to impose such mandates that threaten freedom of choice for residents of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu recently initiated, for the first time, a vaccine passport for Boston that began on January 15, 2022. The city of Salem and the town of Brookline followed Boston’s lead and other cities and towns in Massachusetts may be considering vaccine passports. 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the State Committee of the Massachusetts Republican Party: the State Committee is united in opposition to all forms of vaccine-, and vaccine-passport mandates to ensure the rights of all residents of the Commonwealth afforded to them under our state and federal Constitutions.

Republican State Committeewoman Kathy Lynch handed in to lawmakers more than 3,000 signatures from residents statewide who are fed up with medical mandates. Lynch gathered signatures in person and online.

The petition reads:

We call on Governor Baker and all MA lawmakers to protect our health and mobility rights

• No person shall be compelled by law to acquiesce to medical treatments or procedures, collection of specimens, or sharing of personal data or medical information. 
• A person’s fundamental rights to privacy, travel, and speech afforded under the United States Constitution shall not be infringed upon to impede the making of decisions for themselves or for their dependents, including, but not limited to, health and medical care, including complementary and alternative healthcare services, education, employment, travel, and lifestyle preferences.
• No employer shall terminate the employment of an employee solely on the basis of the employee’s choice to engage or not engage with medical treatment.
• The commonwealth shall not require proof of vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of entry to the commonwealth.
• The commonwealth and all of its agencies, authorities and political subdivisions shall not require proof of vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of entry to a public building. No public or private elementary school, secondary school, high school, charter school, college, university or other post-secondary institution of higher education shall require proof of vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of enrollment, access to campus or attendance in in-person classes.
• No business shall require proof of vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of entry to the business.
• No owner, lessee, proprietor, manager, superintendent, agent or employee of any place of public accommodation, resort or amusement shall, directly or indirectly, by themselves or another, require proof of vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of entry to a place of public accommodation, resort or amusement.

The petition uses language from two health-freedom bills in the legislature: Bill SB1122 – An Act relative to bodily autonomy and family integrity filed by Senator Patrick O’Connor (R) and Bill HD4416 – An Act prohibiting COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of entry filed by State Representative Peter Durant (R). 

State Committeewoman Lynch, who may be reached at info@westfordmagop.org, said “While many in Massachusetts have no problem getting an experimental vaccination or even using a vaccine passport, tonight we showed that thousands are adamantly opposed to this intrusion. Republicans believe the strength of our nation lies with the individual and that each person’s dignity, privacy, and freedom must be honored.”

CAUCUS WILL ELECT STATE CONVENTION DELEGATES

The Westford Republican Town Committee will conduct their caucus to elect delegates to the State Convention on Monday January 31, 2022 at 7:00 PM. [Snow date is Feb. 7^th] at FUSE Restaurant, 2 Powers Rd., Westford, MA. RSVP is required as space is limited. Those interested in being nominated should contact Westford Republican Town Committee Chairwoman Kathy Lynch at info@WestfordMAGOP.org to state your intention to run as a delegate. 

The Massachusetts Republican Party will hold its Spring State Convention on Saturday, May 21st, 2022 from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM at the Mass Mutual Convention Center in Springfield MA. All Republicans and their town and city committees that have been registered as of December 31st, 2021 are eligible to be nominated as a delegate for this convention. 

The convention’s purpose is to endorse the party’s ticket for statewide office. Candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, and State Auditor will vie for the convention endorsement. To obtain the endorsement, a candidate must attain a majority vote of the delegates at the convention. This is an excellent opportunity for citizens to have a direct influence in state politics.

Delegates can only be selected by their local ward and town Republican committees in a caucus called for that purpose. Any Republican, who is interested in being considered as a delegate must attend the caucus and state their intention. They may self-nominate and, following their nomination, they should be prepared to defend their nomination by offering a two- to three-minute speech stating their case. Their local ward or town committee will then vote to elect them as a delegate, or not. In those cases where multiple persons seek to become delegates, elections will be determined by a plurality vote. No Republican can attend the convention as a voting delegate without being elected by their local ward or town Republican committee. Each such committee has been allotted delegate slots, which they must fill through this caucus process.Contact Westford Republican Town Committee Chairwoman Kathy Lynch at info@WestfordMAGOP.org if interested in being nominated as a Republican delegate to the Spring State Convention.

The Massachusetts Republican Party Executive Committee met on the eve of November 30th, and passed a resolution 12-2 against vaccine passports. The two dissenters were National State Committeeman Ron Kaufman and newly-elected Vice Chairman Jay Fleitman.

The resolution was drafted quickly because of cover news on that day from The Boston Herald and the Jeff Kuhner radio show. Anthony Ventresca put forth the resolution under New Business.

RESOLUTION AGAINST VACCINE PASSPORTS

Whereas, Vaccine Passports goes against our Traditional Republican values of Life, Liberty, and Inclusion.

Whereas, Vaccine Passports go against our Founding Principles of Live and Let Live.

Whereas, Vaccine Passports go against our Federal and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Constitutions.

Whereas, Vaccine Passports prohibit Rights of Freedom of Association and Freedom of Movement.

Whereas, Vaccine Passports are a symbol of when Big Government and Big Corporations team together, this leads to the textbook definition of Fascism which involves the COERCION of private citizens and companies to enforce government policies.    

Be it resolved, that the Massachusetts Republican State Committee vehemently opposes a Vaccine Passport, whether it is Involuntary, Voluntary, or otherwise.

Be it resolved, that once this resolution is passed, it is to be disseminated to the public forthwith via all forms of media.

Governor Baker announced, the next day, that he and Lt. Governor Karen Polito would not be seeking re-election which made health-freedom advocates explode with joy on social media.

An online petition that tells Governor Baker to Say NO to forced vaccines and passports can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/NoVaxPassports.

Let’s Go Brandon Standout In Tyngsborough Met With Enthusiastic Reception 

About 35 individuals braved both the real and the political winds this morning, assembling at the Tyngsborough Bridge, to welcome holiday shoppers en-route from Massachusetts to the Pheasant Lane Mall in New Hampshire, and to remind them, who’s responsible for the inflated prices and supply chain shortages this Christmas Season.  

The standout, which featured numerous “Let’s Go Brandon,” “Joe Must Go,” and “No to Joe Bye-Done” signs, along with American Flags and Trump banners, created quite a spectacle as the participants lined the approaches to the intersection of routes 3A and 113 in Tyngsborough for close to two hours. 
The reception was phenomenal. One standout participant noted that drivers only “flipped the bird” to her twice, during the morning, while the supportive  horn-blowing was deafening at times. Several public safety vehicles came through the intersection during the standout and acknowledged their support by blowing horns and claxon’s as well.

The Standout was jointly sponsored and organized by Republican State Committeeman Dennis Galvin and Republican State Committeewoman Kathy Lynch with financial support provided by the Westford Republican Town Committee.  However, the event was supported by members of the Chelmsford, Tyngsborough, Groton, and Pepperell Republican Town Committees as well. Republican State Committeewoman Evelyn Curley, also participated, waving the flag for two hours, in the face of a cold wind off of the Merrimack River.

This standout will be the first of several leading up to the Christmas holiday – intended to constantly remind people of the incompetence of the Biden administration, demonstrate that people are not alone in their disdain for the current administration (latest approval rating is 42%), and give them an opportunity to blow off some of their frustration with the Biden administration that was overwhelming evident today, at least in Tyngsborough.

The Massachusetts Republican State Committee passed a resolution at its September meeting calling for the removal of Joe Biden from office. Today’s actions were in furtherance of the MA GOP’s stated position.

Email info@WestfordMAGOP.org if you would like to participate in these events.

Massachusetts Republican gubernatorial candidate Geoff Diehl made an appearance last Saturday afternoon before an enthusiastic crowd of supporters at Lowell’s American Legion hall on Westford Street.  The event was hosted by John MacDonald.  Diehl condemned the Governor for forcing people to chose between their jobs and forced vaccination, and he vowed if elected that he would rehire everyone, who was let go because of their refusal to be vaccinated.           

Diehl used the forced vaccination issue as one example of broad range of policies launched by Beacon Hill progressives and Republican Governor Charlie Baker, that are stripping away freedom and prosperity from the working people of this Commonwealth.   He told everyone in the crowd that the Democrats have forfeited their claim to be the party of working people, that banner is now being carried by the Mass Republican party.   Governor Baker was called out for his failure to stand strong on basic Republican principles. Diehl portrayed the Governor as nothing more than a schill for Beacon Hill progressives.           

Restoring the economy for working men and women was strongly emphasized by Diehl.  Stopping tax increases, restoring local businesses and blocking the TCI, which Diehl said would crush the working people of Massachusetts were prominent issues on Diehl’s agenda.   He reminded everyone of how much of a turncoat Governor Baker is,  when in 2014 he praised Diehl for his efforts on repealing the gas tax and now is the number one champion for the TCI tax.           

Diehl said he was very proud of his recent endorsement by former President Donald Trump and said that both he and Trump are on the way back.  There was also a hint by event organizer MacDonald that Trump may visit the bay state in open support of Diehl.    Remarks and questions from the crowd revealed much concern about the state of the nation’s economy and national security under the administration of President Joe Biden and the Progressives in Congress.           

Diehl urged everyone to get involved with their local Republican town and ward committees because they will chose the delegates to the state convention in 2022.  He said he wanted to make a strong showing at that convention.

Nov. 2, 2021 Special press release from MassGOP State Committeewomen Caroline Colarusso (Fifth Middlesex) and Kathy Lynch (First Middlesex) Nearly a year after the November 2020 election, Democratic Secretary of State Bill Galvin says he’s troubled over the future of mail-in voting.  Galvin urged lawmakers to act now to make what was supposed to be a temporary voting process into a permanent way of voting through no-excuse, universal mail-in voting. “Galvin should be urging the legislature to follow the constitutional amendment process which requires votes in back-to-back legislative sessions followed by a vote of the people at the ballot box,” said Republican State Committeewoman Caroline Colarusso. “If the Legislature can avoid the constitutional amendment process when it comes to voting, they can ignore it when it comes to any other freedom.” Within weeks of Galvin’s push to make mail-in voting permanent, Republican members of the Joint Committee on Election Laws sent ten substantive and basic questions to Galvin in a letter dated Dec. 9, 2020.  The letter requests that Galvin answer several questions regarding mail-in voting during the November 2020 general election, including: How many ballot applications were returned to sender from the USPS? What were the reasons for the returns? Did the individuals named on the ballot applications vote? Were signatures of voters matched by city and town clerks? Were chain-of-custody procedures followed?   Galvin has ignored the request.  Meanwhile, whistleblowers have indicated that there are over 500,000 returned-to-sender ballot applications locked up inside a state archives building in Boston.  Maintenance of accurate voter rolls is a responsibility that falls squarely on Galvin’s shoulders under the 1993 National Voter Registration Act.  “Republicans in the Legislature have been trying to find out since December what happened with the thousands of returned ballot applications the state collected last year and have been stonewalled at every turn,” Massachusetts Republican Party Chairman Jim Lyons said. “Is it too much, in the state of Massachusetts, to ask for the rule of law, to follow the constitution, and adhere to election integrity?” asked Republican State Committeewoman Kathy Lynch, the chairwoman of MassGOP’s Elections Review Committee.

The Westford Republican Town Committee passed a motion at their monthly meeting on Saturday October 9th, 2021 “to recommend that residents of Westford who have concerns about the recent mask mandate, communicate their concerns in writing to the Westford Board of Health.” 

The committee asserts that “the strength of our nation lies with the individual and that each person’s dignity, freedom, ability and responsibility must be honored,” as stated on their website at https://westfordmagop.org/republican-beliefs/.

Westford Republican Town Committee Chairwoman Kathy Lynch said, “Mask and vaccine mandates are about human rights and should concern people regardless of party affiliation.”

If you have concerns about: 1) masking children as young as two years old, 2) masking athletes during strenuous activities, and 3) fining residents $300 per violation, now is the time to share your concern in writing.

At the following website, you will find contact information for the five members of the Westford Board of Health and the Acting Health Director. The link also contains excerpts from the mandate and a petition for choice in wearing masks: https://tinyurl.com/stopmasktyranny.

The town committee’s vote comes on the heels of a protest held on the Westford Common, September 30th, 2021 that yielded a total of 40 people including children who find the mask mandate unnecessary and onerous.

The mandate from the Westford Board of Health indicates that the mandate will be reviewed and discussed at each subsequent meeting. The mandate states, “If no action is taken by the BOH [Westford Board of Health] to rescind it, this regulation will remain in effect.”

Letters can be sent to the Westford Health Department, 55 Main St., Westford, MA 01886 or use the email addresses and phone numbers found at: https://tinyurl.com/stopmasktyranny.