Joshua Norman-Real Republican Reformer

Last month, I, Joshua Gary Norman, signed the Massachusetts Republican Assembly’s Real Republican Reformer pledge reiterating my commitment to reforming the Massachusetts Republican Party from within by promoting conservative principles and reform-oriented grassroots conservative practices. Although I think I had deserved the Assembly’s full-endorsement instead of being co-recommended with one of my opponents, I am happy to accept the co-recommendation, because it’s always nice to be thought of.

I signed the pledge because it helps reinforce my efforts over the last three years to improve the Republican Party, and in particular the local Republican committees, though I agree with MARA-1 Member and State Committee Woman Deborah Martell that the pledge could have been stronger. The pledge highlighted the following three important conservative principles and seven grassroots conservative practices, some of which I had touched upon in my January column in the Newton TAB, which I had submitted to the Editor a day before I found out about the pledge.

1. Immigration Enforcement- I supported Mark Fisher’s gubernatorial campaign in 2014 because he said it best when he said that “Under a Fisher administration, illegal immigration will be made illegal once again”. Furthermore, I’m a member of NumbersUSA’s Action Buffett. NumbersUSA not only opposes illegal immigration, but goes further in seeking to reform (by reduction) the amount of legal immigration toward traditional levels that would allow present and future generations of Americans to enjoy a stabilizing U.S. population and a high degree of individual liberty, mobility, environmental quality, worker fairness and fiscal responsibility.

2. Second Amendment-I believe the right to keep and bear arms is a natural, G-d-given right that is codified by the Constitution. I opposed the 2014 DeLeo gun control bill, Obama’s 2016 pen and phone gun control measures and I demonstrated this value in action by supporting Mark Fisher and David DeCoste in their 2014 primaries when they ran against pro-gun control opponents.

3. 2014 MassGOP Conservative Platform-I was happy that the 2014 MassGOP Platform finally covered the social issues. As an adoptee, I think I am living proof that every instance of abortion is tragic. If my birth mother had aborted me, I would not have been here to help three conservative Republicans win their elections by 26, 49 and 94 votes respectively. I also give MARA Vice President and State Committee Man Mark Bergeron a lot of credit for voting against the platform because he felt the compromise language was too weak and because he wanted a stronger platform.

4. Rebuilding the Republican Grassroots-A common refrain I heard on the campaign trail was that I was the first Republican candidate that had personally asked for their vote. I will work to rebuild and strengthen the local RTCs/RCCs and Ward Committees, and get them working to help Republican candidates and causes win at the ballot box, as well as fighting against burdensome override tax increases.

5. Recruiting Candidates for Local Office-I read about the Fattman-Green regression, which showed that for every district seat we leave uncontested, it costs the top of the ticket an average of 1,500 votes. At the request of MARA-5’s President in 2014, I put together a list of all the GOP Candidates running for district office that year and identified that Scott Brown won 94 State Rep districts and 29 State Senate districts in 2010, which exceeds our current legislative caucus of 34 reps and 5 senators. This shows where the Republican Party should be targeting to potentially increase its legislative membership. I promised to pull papers for State Rep, Senate or Governor’s Council if I am not able to recruit candidates to run for these seats.

6. Reforming the Organizational Chartering Process-I am amazed and bewildered that the MassGOP threatened Celeste Wilson of Massachusetts Federation of Republican Women with a $1,000 fine or jail time, causing the MFRW to deactivate itself. My late grandmother Sarah Stein was a member of Hadassah (The Women’s Zionist Organization of America) and I will happily restore their charter, in my grandmother’s memory.

7. Using My Position as State Committee Man to Raise Funds for local Republican candidates and causes-Charlie Baker endorsed one of my opponents, who as an appointed state employee cannot raise funds for candidates and causes pursuant to Chapter 55, Section 13 of the Massachusetts General Laws.

8. Demanding Transparency and Fairness in the Election of Delegates to the National & State Conventions and Party Officials-I was the only candidate for First Middlesex & Norfolk State Committee Man to attend the September 2015 State Committee meeting with 50 other behind-the-ropes grassroots activists in the hopes that our State Committee members would keep the delegate caucuses. I viewed the effort to take away the delegate caucuses as a power grab in response to the 2012 Liberty Delegates defeating the Romney Slate at the local caucuses. As a former Fisher delegate who had his delegate credentials challenged by Baker delegates to the 2014 MassGOP State Convention, it was a very personal issue to me.

9. An Independent Voice-I have always been an independent voice as an activist, which explains why I have support from so many people of differing views and backgrounds. I will not compromise my reputation for a government sinecure containing a moderately comfortable salary and a very loud job title.

10. Serving the Interests of All Republicans-If the Massachusetts Republican Party wants to increase its voter share from less than 11% and become electorally relevant again, it needs to serve the interests of all Republicans, not just one marquee, well-funded candidate running for a prestigious statewide office.

I would appreciate it if you please vote for me, Joshua Gary Norman, to serve as your next Republican State Committee Man on Tuesday March 1st, Super Tuesday, same day as the Presidential Primary. I ask for your vote because I’m a principled conservative Republican, I have the strongest track record of helping Republican candidates and causes, I have the best ideas to rebuild and revitalize the Republican Party and I have been a consistent advocate for reforming the party from within in order to strengthen it over the last three years.