About Our Committee
The Republican voice of Mattapoisett — small, active, and working for the families and taxpayers of our town.
Who We Are
We are the Mattapoisett Republican Town Committee — the official, elected body of the Republican Party in the Town of Mattapoisett. Our members come from every walk of life: varied careers, backgrounds, faiths, and ages, united in a shared commitment to the Constitution and to electing Republican candidates for local, county, state, and national office. Re-formed in 2022 after years of dormancy, we are a small committee with an outsized job: seven in ten Mattapoisett voters belong to no party, and they are who we talk to.
A Place of Resting That Never Rested
The name is Wampanoag for “a place of resting”, and for a century this harbor did anything but. Settled in 1750 and set off from Rochester as its own town in 1857, Mattapoisett built ships — some four hundred of them between 1740 and the 1870s, whalers mostly, supplying the fleets of the whole East Coast. One of them was the Acushnet, the ship Herman Melville sailed on before he wrote Moby-Dick. The last, the Wanderer, launched in 1878, just as oil from Pennsylvania ended the trade.
The people who built those ships did not wait for permission, and they governed themselves the same way: by open town meeting, neighbors deciding the town’s business face to face. Mattapoisett still does. Self-government isn’t an abstraction here; it’s the family business. We carry that inheritance forward — the belief that power belongs to the people, not the government.
Our Mission & Vision
The mission of the Mattapoisett Republican Town Committee is to support the work of the Republican Party, at all levels of government, and to promote the principles of freedom, equality, and justice as intended by the founders of the Constitution of the United States. In doing so, we advocate for:
- The maintenance of our role as leader of the free world and a strong sense of pride in our country and our heritage;
- One government, “of, by, and for the people,” that minimizes its intervention in the lives of its citizens by promoting individual responsibility, initiative, volunteerism, and entrepreneurship, together with corporate responsibility;
- Recognition of the need for good character and integrity, and the strengthening and defense of the institution of family.
Our vision is to be seen as protectors and advocates of freedom, equality, and justice; allies to our citizenry who enhance the potential and dignity of each individual; defenders of our country and our heritage; and advocates of the family and of sound character and integrity — the party that invites the community to discuss issues, share ideas, express concerns, and arrive at solutions.
Core Beliefs — The Republican Oath
I believe that the proper function of government is to do for the people those things that have to be done but cannot be done, or cannot be done as well, by individuals — and that the most effective government is government closest to the people.
I believe that good government is based on the individual, and that each person’s ability, dignity, freedom, and responsibility must be honored and recognized.
I believe that free enterprise and the encouragement of individual initiative and incentive have given this nation an economic system second to none.
I believe that sound money policy should be our goal.
I believe in equal rights, equal justice, and equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, creed, age, sex, national origin, or disability.
I believe we must retain those principles worth retaining, yet always be receptive to new ideas with an outlook broad enough to accommodate thoughtful change and varying points of view.
I believe that Americans value and should preserve their feeling of national strength and pride, and, at the same time, share with people everywhere a desire for peace, freedom, and the extension of human rights.
Finally, I believe that the Republican Party is the best vehicle for translating these ideals into positive and successful principles of government.
What We Do
We’re not a brochure — we’re an active committee. Among the things we do:
- Provide financial support and volunteer hours to Republican candidates at the national, state, county, and local levels;
- Hold candidate nights, sign standouts, and open community discussions, and get our message in front of Mattapoisett voters;
- Hold monthly committee meetings that are open to every Republican and Independent in town;
- Recruit and support Mattapoisett residents willing to serve — on the ballot and on town boards;
- Work alongside the other committees in the Massachusetts RTC network so our towns speak with one voice;
- Keep our neighbors informed about what is happening in Town government — see Town Meetings.
Committee Leadership
The committee is led by an elected slate of volunteers who give their time to keep Mattapoisett’s Republican organization strong. The committee is registered with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance as the Mattapoisett Republican Town Committee (OCPF CPF ID 76325).
The full slate of officers will be published here shortly. In the meantime, the fastest way to reach the committee is our contact form — it goes straight to us.
Our Meetings
The committee’s next meetings — with the current date, time, and location — are always listed on our Meetings page. All Republicans and Independents are welcome — come meet the team, hear what we’re working on, and find your place in it.
Get Involved
Whether you can give an hour a month or an evening a week, there is a place for you here. Find out how to join, or reach out to the committee directly.