Republican Leaders Gather in Franklin to Celebrate Lincoln’s Legacy on His Birthday

On the evening of  **February 12th—Abraham Lincoln’s birthday—** over 100 Republicans and Independents from across Massachusetts gathered at La Cantina Winery in Franklin for a successful Lincoln Dinner, celebrating the life and legacy of America’s 16th president.

The event brought together local Republican Town Committees (RTCs), state committee members, and elected officials, emphasizing Lincoln’s principles of unity, freedom, and opportunity. The evening featured Sheriff Lew Evangelidis of Worcester County as the keynote speaker, along with remarks from Republican leaders highlighting Lincoln’s impact and the importance of grassroots activism.

"This dinner is not just about history—it’s about continuing Lincoln’s work by standing for liberty, personal responsibility, and a government that truly represents the people," Dashe Videira, Franklin Republican Town Committee Chair.

Republican Leaders Gather in Franklin

A Strong Showing of Republican Leadership

Representatives from nine RTCs attended the event, including:

• Bellingham
• Foxboro
• Franklin
• Medway
• Milford
• Needham
• Wrentham
• Sandwich
• Barnstable

In addition to the RTCs, several state committee members and elected officials were in attendance:

State Committee Members

• Amanda Peterson, State Committee Woman (Norfolk, Worcester & Middlesex District) & Secretary of the State Party
• Leanne Harris, Committee Woman (Middlesex & Norfolk District)
• Ryan Chamberland, State Committee Man (Worcester & Hampden District)

Elected Officials

• Michael Chaisson (1st Bristol District)
• Marcus Vaughn (9th Norfolk District)
• Mike Soter (8th Worcester District)
• Steven Xiarhos (5th Barnstable District)

A Night of Celebration & Momentum

The Lincoln Dinner was a testament to the strength and unity of Massachusetts Republicans, with engaged discussions on how to continue fighting for the values Lincoln stood for.

The evening’s success would not have been possible without the dedication of the Republican Town Committees, State Committee members, musicians, and local community members, who helped create a meaningful and impactful gathering.

As attendees left, the message was clear: Lincoln’s legacy is alive and well, and Massachusetts Republicans are ready to carry his vision forward.

Medway Democratic Town Committee has resource pages for November 2024 election

Among the key resources available to prepare to cast an informed ballot for the November 2024 election are the following:

State Representative Debate - this page includes the listing of question text asked of each of the candidates in addition to the video links for the Medway channel video as well as the Franklin TV video link -> 

https://medwaydemocrats.org/2024/10/11/2024-state-rep-debate/

Also of interest is their MA Ballot questions page ->   https://medwaydemocrats.org/2024/10/11/2024-ballot-questions/

which includes a forum for pros and cons of the five ballot questions ->    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQFtYwyZNKE

Home page for Medway Town Democratic Committee ->    https://medwaydemocrats.org/

Medway Democratic Town Committee has resource pages for November 2024 election

Franklin TV has the 10th Norfolk Candidate Debate - Oct 8 video for replay (video)

State Representative Jeff Roy met his challenger Charles Bailey in a debate on Tuesday October 8, 2024 at the Medway Middle School. The debate was arranged and hosted jointly by the Republican and Democratic Town Committee of both Medway and Franklin.

The debate was live streamed by Medway to their cable subscribers as well as to Facebook. Franklin likewise broadcast to their cable subscribers and to YouTube.

After a brief delay to allow for a technical issue to be resolved as well as the Medway Fire Chief to allow additional participants, as the room capacity had been met, the debate began and lasted just over an hour.

The video replay can be found here -> https://www.youtube.com/live/Mw0u4rgg1rI?si=_qvFcdvOovhPHRIH&t=1105

My notes taken during the debate and capture din one PDF thread via Twitter ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VtwlvEhZsEQzWDT0kARiMZ6EfbEg3ILl/view?usp=drive_link 

10th Norfolk District (Franklin and Medway) Candidate Debate - Oct 8, 2024 at 7 PM

The 10th Norfolk District Candidate Debate is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct 8, 2024 at 7:00 PM. 

The candidates:

• Jeffrey Roy, Democratic Candidate
• Charles Bailey, Republican Candidate

DATE = OCTOBER 8, 2024

TIME = 7:00PM (DOORS OPEN 6:45)

LOCATION = Medway Middle School, Presentation Room, Door 7

The debate will be broadcast live on Medway Cable and Franklin TV, as well as Medway Facebook and Franklin YouTube, both with captions. All four platforms will have replays available.

The event is jointly sponsored by the

• Medway Republican Town Committee
• Medway Democratic Town Committee
• Franklin Republican Town Committee
• Franklin Democratic Town Committee

Download a copy of the flyer to share ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-j_p8NKYu3k9tEdulafdaVv7NlHheB2p/view?usp=drive_link

10th Norfolk District (Franklin and Medway) Candidate Debate  - Oct 8, 2024 at 7 PM

CommonWealth Magazine Beacon Hill Recap: Healey files for shelter & school lunch programs; MA GOP changes leadership

"Healey seeks funding for shelters, school meals"

"REVIVING DEBATE on an issue that lawmakers left untouched at the end of last session, Gov. Maura Healey on Monday filed a $282 million spending bill she said is necessary to manage a surge in demand for emergency shelter and prevent the free school meals program from running out of money.

Healey called on top House and Senate Democrats to make quick work of her new supplemental budget bill, which would steer $85 million toward an emergency shelter “crisis,” allocate $130 million to keep expanded nutrition assistance in place for a few more months, and appropriate $65 million to ensure a universal school meals program remains afloat through the end of the academic year.

Her bill (H 47) targets the same growing shelter strain, fueled in part by an influx of migrant arrivals to Massachusetts, that prompted Gov. Charlie Baker to unsuccessfully seek $130 million in November."

Continue reading the article in CommonWealth Magazine ->

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/state-government/healey-seeks-funding-for-shelters-school-meals/

"Carnevale wins state GOP chair post by 3 votes"

"AMY CARNEVALE of Marblehead won a second-ballot victory Tuesday night to become chair of the Massachusetts Republican arty, edging incumbent Jim Lyons by a margin of 37-34.

Carnevale’s victory gives her control of a party that took a drubbing in November and faces a long road back to both financial and political relevance in Massachusetts. She is hopeful that Republicans who deserted the party under Lyons will now return with financial and political support. She said many have promised to do so."

Continue reading the article in CommonWealth Magazine ->

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/politics/carnevale-wins-state-gop-chair-post-by-3-votes/

"House panel votes 2-1 to seat Kassner over Mirra"

"THE TWO DEMOCRATS on a three-member special House committee concluded that the chamber should officially seat Kristin Kassner, a Hamilton Democrat who topped five-term Republican Rep. Lenny Mirra by a single vote in a contested recount.

Reps. Michael Day of Stoneham and Daniel Ryan of Charlestown submitted a majority report to the House clerk’s office recommending Kassner be declared “the properly elected and qualified Representative for the Second Essex District,” a move that would allow her to join the House nearly a month after the two-year term began and would spell the end of Mirra’s decade-long tenure."

Continue reading the article in CommonWealth Magazine ->

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/politics/house-panel-votes-2-1-to-seat-kassner-over-mirra/

The golden dome of the State House. (Photo by Andy Metzger)

Frank Presents: 044 - Rachel Plukas & Alan Earls (audio)

In this episode, Frank Falvey sits down with Franklin Democratic Town Committee Chair Rachel Plukas and Republican Town Committee Chair Alan Earls to discuss the committees, the members, how they work and the work they do in their respective committees.

Audio file -> https://frank-falvey.captivate.fm/episode/044-frank-presents-rachel-plukas-alan-earls

Frank Presents:  Rachel Plukas & Alan Earls (audio)