The eXplanatory FILES

Here in Salem, where the weird is normal, the Republican Party continues to manifest in the paranormal political world of Salem and Salem State College. The Republican Party continues to be the only political party organized at Salem State, making it a haven for conservatives in a district with Democratic Party representation in the Massachusetts and in the U.S. legislatures. This kind of complacency from the Democrats is only an advantage for the Republican Party in 2002. With arrival of stronger candidates like Mitt Romney for governor, Kerry Murphy Healey (from Beverly, the next town over) for Lt. Governor, and Mark Smith (who has a brother that graduated from Salem State, and other family that attend here) for the 6th Congressional District, and with Brian Lees, a current Republican state senator who graduated from Salem State College, on our side, the witch hunt against conservatives is over. A dialogue between conservatives, liberals, and all middle of the road people, can and will happen with a balance between all political parties in the legislature and at the local level. With that goal we will follow our hearts on the endless voyage of political involvement, individualism, friendship and freedom.

In the early 1990’s the Salem State CR’s played a crucial role in the election of then former state representative Bruce Tarr from Gloucester and his current position as state senator. We also hit the campaign trail for Governor Weld, Cellucci and Swift. During Matt Lebretton’s term as SSCR president, the Salem State CR’s proved to be most effective in the election of congressman Peter Torkildson. By providing a number of college students to volunteer for Torkildson, the Salem State CR’s provided the north shore with Republican representation.

During the 2000 election the Salem State CR’s helped in a number of ways. We put up hundreds of Bush/ Cheney signs in New Hampshire where we won that crucial state by only a couple of thousand votes. We also helped Frank Arrington with his campaign for state representative in Danvers by knocking on doors, and holding signs.

In 2001 SSCR President Rob Willington decided to rent Salem Beer Works to rally behind our newly elected president Bush while protesting Bill Clinton as he spoke at our school that night. Along with our rally, the local and ever so vocal Jay Severin joined our party to broadcast his Boston radio show live with us in Salem! It was a great night, especially when the ex-president drove past our rally while we were holding posters showing him waiving with a message that read “crime wave!”

In 2002, the Salem State College Republicans stand proud of its heritage and look to create more memories for the movement. With a new body of underclassmen, we hope to make an impact on the political landscape on the north shore. Although Tip O’Neal was a democrat, we understand that “All politics is local” and thus we will focus on the local races so that we can one day change our congressional delegation.