Read the full article by Alison Kuznitz on State House News. Mark Tashjian, a Republican running to unseat Democrat Rep. Kristin Kassner in the 2nd Essex District, blasted the incumbent Tuesday for apparently bailing on a candidate forum in Ipswich.
Meanwhile, Kassner says she agreed to participate in a League of Women Voters event that her opponent declined. Tashjian, a business owner and member of the Georgetown Finance Committee, said he still intends to participate in the event hosted by the Ipswich Democrat Town Committee and Republican Town Committee on Wednesday night at Ipswich Town Hall. "Although both campaigns confirmed participation and her team produced fliers, Rep. Kassner decided she will not participate due to a scheduling conflict and she has offered no alternative dates," Tashjian said in a campaign message. "I will still be attending and it is my hope that Kristin will change her mind." Republican Town Committee Chair Dan Kelly, in a letter to the editor published by The Town Common last week, criticized Kassner for pulling out less than two weeks before the forum because of potentially "critical legislation" happening on that date -- as well as her senior campaign advisor Elizabeth Kilcoyne for raising concerns about the debate format and moderators after "having previously agreed" to the terms. "The Ipswich Republican Town Committee believes these excuses are pretextual and reveal a candidate who is purposely evading the only live forum where both candidates will appear," Kelly, who's also advising Tashjian’s campaign, wrote. The House, which for months has been holding sparsely attended informal sessions, is not scheduled to meet Wednesday. Kassner told the News Service she plans to be at the State House on Wednesday for Seafood Day. Kassner, in a statement, said "our campaign has ongoing concerns about the format and lack of impartiality of moderators. It is unfortunate our opponent declined the League of Women Voters forum, which could have given voters the opportunity to hear from both candidates in a fair, impartial setting." Kassner joined the House in February 2023, after a recount showed that she edged former five-term Republican Rep. Lenny Mirra by one vote in the 2022 election. I’m Mark Tashjian, running for State Rep to represent my neighbors in Ipswich, Rowley, Hamilton, Newbury, Topsfield, and my hometown of Georgetown.
When I learned that the Ipswich Democratic and Republican Town Committees planned to host a candidates forum at the Ipswich Town Hall Wednesday, October 16 at 7 p.m., I was excited! What a great way for my opponent Representative Kassner and me to serve our community together in bipartisan unity, giving you the opportunity to meet and evaluate your potential elected officials. Although both campaigns confirmed participation and her team produced fliers, Rep. Kassner decided she will not participate due to a scheduling conflict and she has offered no alternative dates. I will still be attending and it is my hope that Kristin will change her mind. In 2022, when Rep. Kassner ran against my friend Lenny Mirra (and won by one vote), there was no live forum – only one on Zoom. So I was pleased both candidates could appear in a room together to try to earn your votes. Like town meetings of old, where people gathered together in American camaraderie, I wish to make this race real and in person. Too much of our experience with our representatives is behind an impersonal digital screen. To date, I’ve knocked on over 5,000 doors in our towns, and it is a privilege to meet and talk with so many of you personally! Growing up, I was immensely shaped by my father’s 20 years on the school committee in Oakham, the small town in central Massachusetts where I grew up, and I knew many of our former representatives, Democrat and Republican. These politicians were true public servants: they were a constant presence in the community and really cared about our lives. They ran to serve their neighbors, not to serve their parties. I am running to continue this tradition of bi-partisan efforts to champion what is best for our community, including those with minority views who need my voice, and I aim to continue to work to bring our divided towns together. Representative Kassner – it’s still not too late to join me! Come hear the Candidates for State Representative in the 2nd Essex District speak about themselves, their reasons for running and their plans for addressing the issues they believe are most important for 2nd Essex.
Who: Mark Tashjian (R.) When: Wednesday, October 16, 7-8 PM Where: Ipswich Town Hall, Meeting Room A Today we remember the tragedy of September 11. We honor the Americans lives that were lost. We honor the police, fire fighters and other caring people who gave their lives to serve and to rescue. We honor the survivors and every American who goes on to live fearlessly despite those who wish to inflict terror.
A Primary Day Victory… Now on to November!A low turnout for the primary election didn’t stop us — we got double the required write-ins! Thank you for your vote! I accepted the nomination at the Secretary of State’s office in Boston on Wednesday, and my name will now be on the ballot in November. Now the real work begins. Stand together for our small townsSociety is a delicate balance of the work we each do to provide for ourselves and our families, and what we do together to create a greater value than what we can do on our own. So even though my competitor in this race has the entirety of the DNC and development lobby funding on her side, I believe we can achieve a great victory for our towns’ rights to choose if we stand together. This race isn’t about parties. It’s about coming together to do what is best for each town’s needs. I believe the people living in the towns of Georgetown, Hamilton, Ipswich, Newbury, Rowley and Topsfield have the vision, intelligence and foresight to decide how our families, schools and towns can improve and flourish. There is no silver bullet answer to any issue, but certainly the solutions we come up with as townspeople who see and experience the needs, bottlenecks and strengths we bring to the town table will be a better place to begin than those at Beacon Hill that are shaped by developers’ profit plans. Get involvedWe need to come together to create value and solutions for our towns, and that begins by coming together now to get someone into office at Beacon Hill who will stand for your right to do so. Here are a few ways you can get involved today.
Last week, the Small Property Owners Association’s VP, Amir Shahsavari, gave Mark Tashjian the opportunity to share my views on housing policy, including proposals from this legislative session.
Topics include: rent control, tenant right of first refusal (also known as Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act, or TOPA), tenant credit check restrictions, eviction sealing, transfer taxes, Mayor Wu's commercial tax hike proposal, and the approval for accessory dwelling units (ADUs). On Thursday, August 15th, the Georgetown Republican Town Committee is hosting a Write-in Campaign training & pizza party at American Flatbread Georgetown at 7pm, in conjunction with the Committee to Elect Mark Tashjian! Stop in for a free slice of pizza and see how you can write in a candidate on the September primary ballot! American Flatbread 258 Andover St, Georgetown, MA 01833 Aug 15 | 7pm Bring a friend and your EV ballot! Open to all towns, candidates and volunteers! Let's get a republican challenger on the ballot! |