EASTHAMPTON – The Easthampton Republican City Committee has been reestablished with a mission to promote conservative values and boost local GOP candidates.
The committee plans to meet the last Saturday of each month at the Public Safety Complex on Payson Avenue. Over a dozen people attended the inaugural meeting last month, according to chairwoman Alexandria Moynihan.
State Sen. Donald F. Humason Jr., R-Westfield, will be the guest speaker at the next committee meeting from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.
The committee tapered off after the 2012 Presidential election after several members experienced health issues. But now, Moynihan said the committee is going strong with values of fiscal conservatism and responsibility.
“I think the biggest thing that we have seen and I see is the change in morality … truly the fiscal concerns that we have,” she said. “We’re spinning out of control, we need to pull back.”
Treasurer Ray Pontbriant said he hopes those who are looking for a change from politics as usual join the committee.
Right now, there are about 40 people on the committee’s mailing list, and Moynihan said she has been reaching out to others, especially those in the business community to help bolster the local GOP base.
People who are registered Republicans or unenrolled are invited to attend the committee’s meetings.
“We’re open-minded,” Moynihan said. “We want to hear your concerns and your passions.”
Moynihan and Pontbriant said they hope to start fundraising for local Republican politicians.
“If we can get the membership to come up we can start building up funds, we can start supporting local candidates,” Pontbriant said. “Probably get a Republican to run for mayor, who knows?”
Chris Lindahl can be reached at clindahl@gazettenet.com.