Robert May: Candidate Profile 13th Essex District

PEABODY, MA — Robert May is looking to stand out as a "conservative Republican" in a field of five vying to represent the 13th Essex District.

The 59-year-old general manager of Techsource Thermal Solutions, Inc., who has never held public office, is a father of four who received his mechanical engineering degree from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell and his Master's of Business Administration degree from Northeastern University.

The 13th Essex district includes Danvers, Middleton and Peabody with May running as a Republican against Democrat Sally Kerans, Independent William Bates, Independent Jason Guida and Independent Christopher Keohane for the open seat.

The general election is Nov. 3.

Campaign website

may4rep.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

To be the first conservative Republican representing this district in over 40 years.

How would you rate the state's response to the coronavirus pandemic on a letter-grade scale (A, B, C, D or F), and how would you explain that rating?

C - — The state shutdown was meant to "flatten the curve," but went much further than that. It was too extreme and too slow to reopen. Because "the cure has been worse than the disease," hundreds of small businesses have been forced to close their doors forever — resulting in the state having the highest unemployment rate at one point this summer.

Is Chapter 40B, the state's affordable housing law, working, and if not what would you change?

I believe a thorough review of this 50+-year-old program is long overdue. The program is working in the sense that it has indeed created affordable housing, but has not reached the (arbitrary) 10 percent goal established in 1969. I would assemble a cross-functional team to assess the program given today's economic, environmental, and demographic realities and make changes accordingly.

What steps, if any, should the state take toward police reform?

"Continuous Improvement" is a manufacturing concept I taught as a consultant that I believe can be applied in many other situations, including this one. Although we already have some of the most highly regarded law enforcement professionals in the country, I believe the state should create a task force to apply continuous improvement principles to police reform. The group should include representatives from all stakeholders, including the community, lawmakers, and our LEO community.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

Support Law Enforcement
Support the Second Amendment
Oppose Common Core and Support School Choice
Oppose the Transportation Climate Initiative tax
Fiscally Conservative
Support Transparency on Beacon Hill
Oppose turning Massachusetts into a Sanctuary State and Issuing Licenses to Undocumented Immigrants

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

In addition to being the only candidate with a background in both STEM and business, I am the only candidate in this race to sign the Taxpayer Protection Pledge — a written commitment to oppose any and all tax increases.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Starting and building a successful business almost 20 years ago with just a telephone, PC, internet connection, and list of contacts, I had to rely almost every life experience (education or work) to be successful.

Some examples: As a mechanical engineer I used critical thinking and analysis to study and solve problems, a graduate degree in business obviously helped in all the financial aspects of the company, and as a consultant I held training seminars and presentations in topics such as negotiation, accounting, contracts, business law, and purchasing for hundreds of attendees.

Also as a consultant, I audited the procurement practices for the Federal Transit Administration.

My experience in both government contracting and the private sector make me uniquely qualified to meet the challenges facing the state due to the current pandemic.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

My first professional job was as a buyer in a manufacturing plant in Woburn. During training, my boss once told me, "just spend the money as though it were your own and you'll do fine." I never forgot that simple advice and it's helped me throughout my career. It's advice that I intend to bring to Beacon Hill as a fiscal conservative if I am honored to represent the 13th Essex District.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am a first-time candidate looking to begin the process of ending one-party rule in Massachusetts. After more than 40 years of liberal Democratic representation, I decided now was the time to run for office.

Please visit the campaign website for more information and how you can get involved!

(Scott Souza is a Patch Field Editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)