Republican Lee Says He’ll Challenge Romney-July 9, 2005

In a move that has introduced a new challenger into the political landscape, Norwood Selectman Gary M. Lee officially announced his intention to run for Governor of Massachusetts. On July 08, 2005, the 49-year-old attorney, who has served for 17 years on the Norwood Board of Selectmen, declared his candidacy for the 2006 Republican primary, positioning himself as a candidate focused on the “basics” of governance. Lee argues that the state’s current leadership has allowed substantive “nuts-and-bolts” issues—specifically local aid, taxation, and economic opportunity—to be sidelined by what he characterizes as divisive social issues, such as same-sex marriage, abortion, and stem cell research.

Lee expressed frustration with Governor Mitt Romney, suggesting that the sitting governor is more preoccupied with national political ambitions than with the daily realities facing cities and towns across Massachusetts. “I’ve lived here all my life and I’ve been (a selectman) for 17 years,” Lee stated. “I’ve never seen Mitt Romney come out here.” A lifelong resident and graduate of Norwood High School, UMass-Lowell, and the New England School of Law, Lee aims to leverage his extensive local experience in his campaign. Among his cited achievements as a selectman are the successful development of housing for the elderly and maintaining one of the lowest tax rates in Norfolk County without passing a tax override during his tenure.

Though he acknowledges a lack of experience at the state level, Lee views his time as a selectman as an asset in understanding how to manage a budget and navigate the frustrations faced by municipal governments. “I’ve been in the trenches for 17 years, I know how hard it is to balance a budget,” he noted. Politically, Lee describes himself as a “Reagan Democrat” who has shifted to a nonpartisan status for his work in Norwood. While he aligns with Reagan-era fiscal conservatism—advocating for low taxes and limited government—he maintains a nuanced view on individual liberties, notably criticizing the federal Patriot Act as a threat to constitutional rights, a stance that has found him in rare alignment with the American Civil Liberties Union.

On social issues, Lee maintains a traditional conservative position, opposing gay marriage while supporting abortion rights. He emphasized the importance of local advocacy, noting that government at the state level often fails to listen to residents struggling with issues such as overdevelopment and the rising cost of living. Despite the daunting challenge of unseating an incumbent governor, Lee remains optimistic about his prospects, stating, “Anything is possible.” His candidacy has drawn varied reactions from political peers; State Senator Marian Walsh, a West Roxbury Democrat with whom Lee has collaborated on local issues, commended his effectiveness as a selectman, saying, “You want him in your corner; he’s a really good selectman for the town of Norwood.”

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