Norwood GOP Calls for Reform Amid Statewide Fall-Out-November 11, 1986

Local Committee Unveils Resolution Targeting ‘Club Politics’ Following Disastrous Gubernatorial Campaign; State Chairman Dismisses Action as ‘Wasting Time’

NORWOOD — Highlighting deep political fractures following the 1986 state elections, the Norwood Republican Town Committee voted 11–0 among present members on Monday night to adopt a sharp resolution demanding major reform, transparent leadership, and an end to “club politics” within the Massachusetts Republican State Committee.

The resolution—authored by a subcommittee chaired by William Pudsey—calls on state party leaders for “commitment to leadership, honest self-evaluation, rededication to party ideals and better representation.” The Norwood committee plans to distribute copies to all 80 state committee members and party headquarters in Boston, while rallying nearby local GOP committees to initiate a grassroots movement for statewide reform.

“There’s a handful of key power brokers making the decisions about who runs, and like our resolution says, it’s club politics,” said Pudsey. “Anyone who joined the Republican Party after this past election had to be nuts. We’ve got total chaos.”

State GOP Chair Andrew Natsios Clashes with Local Leaders

State GOP Chairman Andrew Natsios, speaking from his Holliston home, forcefully rejected the Norwood resolution as counterproductive. Natsios pointed out that the local committee had failed to field a Republican candidate on the local ballot or actively drive party programs:

“That town committee should spend less time writing resolutions and more time doing work for the party,” Natsios said. “Resolutions don’t win elections.”

In response to Natsios’ comments, Norwood GOP Chairman Ben Bush laughed, noting that Natsios was an outgoing chairman preparing to step down. “I can see why he would react that way, since he’s a party chairman about to resign,” Bush remarked. “It’s clear that it’s a time for a change, there’s a lot of frustrated people out there.”

Fallout From the 1986 Kariotis-Dukakis Gubernatorial Disaster

The local rebellion comes on the heels of one of the most tumultuous election cycles in Massachusetts political history. Republican gubernatorial candidate George Kariotis was selected by a “blue ribbon” committee—which included Natsios and former Governor John Volpe—after two previous primary candidates collapsed in scandal:

• Gregory S. Hyatt: Withdrew after acknowledging he accepted funds from a reputed mobster and admitting over 1,000 nomination signatures were forged.
• Rep. Royall H. Switzler: Withdrew after admitting he falsified his military service record on campaign materials.

Kariotis subsequently lost to incumbent Governor Michael S. Dukakis by the second-largest landslide in state history. Addressing how discredited candidates slipped through vetting, Natsios stated, “We asked them the correct questions, but they didn’t answer them correctly.” Natsios defended his record by highlighting new candidate-screening task forces, open convention caucuses, and delegate reward systems, warning that overzealous vetting could degenerate into a “witch hunt.”

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger