Ryan Fattman: 13 to Watch in Central Mass in 2013

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Tuesday, January 01, 2013

GoLocalWorcester Editors

Ryan Fattman Twitter photo

Sutton Republican Ryan Fattman defeated four-term Democratic incumbent Jennifer Callahan to become State Representative for the 18th Worcester District in 2010, and his victory was seen as a major upset in Central Mass politics.

Now, Fattman, 28, is back for a second term on Beacon Hill after his successful bid for reelection last November, and several observers have pointed to him as an example of what the MassGOP of the next generation will look like.

The Republican has built up a reputation for his boots on the ground approach to campaigning, having knocked on over 7,000 in his initial run for State Rep. and another 8,000 in 2012. That kind of personal contact with voters is all but essential for a Republican running on conservative principles in a heavily Democratic state.

And in a region where Democrats outspent Republicans nearly 8-to-1 in State Rep. and Senate races during the 2012 election cycle, Fattman has been able to build up strong support, not only in the ballot box but in the bank account as well. Pre-election reports filed with the state's Office of Campaign and Political Finance showed Fattman with over $60,000 in his war chest two weeks prior to Election Day.

Fattman, who, at 21, became the youngest Selectman in Sutton history back in 2006, got his political career off to an early start, and his successes in the half-dozen years since then indicate he is on a definite upward trajectory. Where it will stop--State Senate, the Governor's Office--remains to be seen, so keep an eye on this sophomore State Rep. during the next legislative session.