Is Mayoral Race a Precursor to Gaffney Challenging McGovern?
Monday, June 01, 2015
As GoLocalWorcester reported last week, Gaffney is being supported by several individuals who have backed Republican candidates across Massachusetts - including Carl Copeland, Mass Fiscal Alliance’s Political Director and Senator Ryan Fattman’s campaign manager.
Dr. David Schaeffer, Political Science professor at the College of the Holy Cross, believes that Gaffney has his sight set on higher political office: Massachusetts 2nd District Congressional Seat, now occupied by Congressman James McGovern.
"The likeliest reason for it is a report that (Congressman) Jim McGovern, who has close ties with Petty, is worried about Gaffney's candidacy for mayor. Gaffney, unusual for a Worcester city council member, is not a registered Democrat, and hence, in McGovern's eyes, a potential threat to his control over the City and his Congressional seat," said Dr. Schaeffer.
"Whether or not Gaffney himself would choose, if elected mayor, to challenge McGovern for the seat by running as a Republican, even McGovern's loss of direct influence over the mayoral office might signal a weakening of his power and an invitation for a serious Republican candidate like Lew Evangelidis to run against him," said Schaeffer. "For this reason, I can well understand McGovern's wanting to help Petty raise more money from outside the city, as well as Gaffney's doing so, either seeing it as essential to mounting a serious challenge to the McGovern machine or as a defense against Petty's outside funding.”
Gaffney’s Run Similar to Fattman’s
If Gaffney wins re-election, it will be his second two -year term on the City Council. Following re-election, Gaffney may be poised to go after McGovern’s job.
State senator Ryan Fattman had a similar run to office. Following two terms in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Fattman ran for senate last year and defeated long-time incumbent Richard Moore.
Fattman was strongly supported by Copeland and other members of Mass Fiscal Alliance including Executive Director Paul Craney and former finance committee chairman John Esler. Republican State Committee Chair Member Chanel Prunier also supported Fattman and the Republican cause in the Commonwealth.
Gaffney, who has raised $10,000 in campaign contributions in the past five months, has received donations from all of these individuals.
Gaffney announced his candidacy for mayor back in February. He kicked off his campaign in March with an event at O’Connor’s Restaurant in Worcester. The event was hosted by State Representative Kate Campanale and Fattman's wife, Worcester County Register of Probate Stephanie Fattman - both of whom were backed by the same group of people in last year's election.
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