Two Republican Candidates for Senate Meet Local Voters

Two of the three Republican candidates for U.S. Senate told voters at Julio's Liquors in Westborough Monday night that enabling the dream they and their parents had and lived requires changes in Washington, D.C.

Mike Sullivan and Gabriel Gomez attended a meet and greet sponsored by the Republican town and city committees of Westborough, Marlborough, Northborough, Southborough. Residents of communities throughout the area attended the gathering, including Holliston resident Marty Lamb, who ran unsuccessfully against state Rep. Carolyn Dykema (D-Holliston) in November.

"The timing of this particular event is really important," Westborough Republican Town Committee Chairman Jim Hatherley said.

"Prior to the events of last week, it was very low key to begin with. And then, as result of the terror tragedy a week ago, the campaigns were suspended. It was very quiet.

"We have three tremendous candidates here. We need to get the voters to know them, so that they can support them and get a Republican elected in the special election in the end of June."

The special state primary election is April 30.

State Rep. Daniel Winslow (R-Norfolk), who also is running, told organizers that the budget debate at the State House prevented him from attending, Hatherley said.

Sullivan and Gomez each spoke, and then answered a few questions.

Both candidates then met with voters informally.

Sullivan said that  "I'm running because I've had the opportunity to live a dream: the dream that my parents had for our seven kids. The same dream that I have for my four children. The same dream that you have for yours, and others as well.

"And what I've seen over the last several years is that dream won't be fulfilled unless we do something significant, and we do it now."

Sullivan said that "the thing that worries me the most, and the thing that drives me, is making sure we grow the economy and the private sector. And we can't do that while our government continues to put us in debt."

He supports reducing the corporate tax rate.

"We have to make the United States more competive in this global economy. Companies having the opportunity to invest here or invest someplace else, the tax rate is so high here, and the uncertainty is so great, they're going to look for other opportunities," Sullivan said.

Gomez, meanwhile, called himself "a proud Republican (and) a fiscal conservative."

He also is a first-generation American.

"From a young age, I saw how this country embraced my parents and not only gave them an opportunity at the American dream, but gave their kids a chance at the American dream," Gomez said.

"I'm concerned that if we stay on the path we're on right now, with the fiscal situation, then not only my kids, but your kids and grandkids are not going to have the same opportunity that I had when I was young. The same opportunity that my parents came here for from Colombia, and decided not to go back."

Gomez added that "I believe that what we need in D.C. right now is somebody that has the leadership experience -- the private sector experience."