Burr dives headfirst into state senate campaign

Less than eight months after becoming the first Republican to join the race for Ted Kennedy’s U.S. Senate seat, Canton Selectman Bob Burr is at it again — this time as a candidate for state senate in the Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth District, where Milton Democrat Brian Joyce is seeking his eighth consecutive term.

Bob Burr

It’s a quick turnaround to be sure, especially considering that Burr, who made the announcement last month at a meeting of the Norfolk County Selectmen’s Association, said he had been “preoccupied with running for state senate this entire year.”

But for those who might be tempted to write off his bid for the big seat last fall as some kind of political test run, Burr has a message that he hopes will resonate all the way to the November polls: “It shouldn’t be a matter of probability of a win or loss; it should be whether you think you can do the job, and I think I can.”

Judging by the early returns of his signature drive, others seem to think so as well. In fact, as of Sunday morning, Burr had collected far more than the 300 needed to appear on the primary ballot in September — including 411 in Canton alone — thereby assuring himself of a spot alongside fellow Republican hopeful Richard Livingston of Milton.

“I’ve always said that I would serve if I had the ability to do so,” Burr told the Citizen last week, adding that he has received “great support” thus far, not only in Canton, but across the ten-town district.

And as a key member of his hometown’s executive branch for the past six years, Burr believes he is uniquely positioned in this race as the candidate who can best understand and articulate the needs and concerns of individual municipalities.

For instance, Burr said his time on the Board of Selectmen has made him aware of a fundamental and growing “disconnect” between state and local governments — between what is being requested by local officials and “what is actually getting done in the state legislature.”

He said many of the state’s statutes and laws have placed an undue burden on cities and towns, while unfunded or under-funded state mandates, such as those associated with special education, have made it nearly impossible for local communities to budget effectively.

“Overwhelmingly there’s been a disappointment from the Massachusetts Selectmen’s Association as to how slow the process has been to address fiscal concerns,” Burr said, adding that there are “very specific laws that need reform,” all of which he plans to address as the campaign unfolds.

Burr also did not get into specifics regarding his views on taxation, other than to say that the state needs to find more solutions predicated on “cost containment” as opposed to “revenue generation.”

“There seemed to be this wish that the economy would improve and that everything would be fine if we continued with the status quo,” he said. “But what we need is a proactive effort and I think that can happen.”

Claiming that the “time is now for true reform,” Burr said the people of Massachusetts, even more so now than ever before, are “looking for a government that works.”

For Burr, that means seeing a return to the two-party system, which he said is necessary for healthy debate on any particular issue. He credited his former opponent, U.S. Senator Scott Brown, for motivating not only prospective candidates, but also the general electorate toward a more balanced government.

“People want rationality in government,” he explained. “Most people in the private sector are forced to deal with reality every day.”

Fortunately, Burr said the state constitution provides a great opportunity for new people like himself to come in and share their fresh perspectives.

“The state senate is a two-year seat,” he said. “We can make changes pretty quickly in our government and that’s not found in many other nations.”

For now, Burr said he is simply enjoying the campaign process and the chance it affords to hear from constituents and to see how other towns within the district are structured.

He described it as a “great exercise in project management” and a fascinating history lesson all rolled into one.

“I think you learn a lot on the campaign trail,” said Burr, while adding that “irrespective of the outcome, I think it will make me a better selectman.”

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For information on Bob Burr’s state senate campaign, or to sign up for campaign updates, go to www.voteburr.com.

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Posted by Jay Turner on May 6 2010. Filed under News. Both comments and pings are currently closed.