House minority leader

BOSTON -- Shortly after losing his challenge to state Rep. Brad Jones for minority leader, Rep. Lewis Evangelidis sharply criticized the GOP's caucus process and blamed Beacon Hill "insiders" for his defeat.

Evangelidis narrowly lost to Jones earlier Wednesday by a vote of nine to seven.

In a statement, Evangelidis said his efforts to defeat Jones were unfairly squashed.

"The most disappointing aspect of today's caucus was the way the process was conducted attempting to shut down all debate," the Holden Republican said. "Our caucus always laments how the majority party abuses its power and authority to serve their own particular needs, not the voters of Massachusetts. Unfortunately, that was the tact that was taken by the leader of our caucus. There was a refusal to allow the clerk of the court to come down and rule on a procedural matter of whether or not we had to adhere to the existing house rules. There was a refusal to have this election conducted by secret ballot and our current leader offered no plan when given the opportunity."

BOSTON -- The House Republican caucus re-elected state Rep. Brad Jones as minority leader on Tuesday by a narrow nine to seven vote, according to Jones' office.

"I am very anxious to get working on what I am sure will be a very challenging legislative session.  I am honored that my colleagues have entrusted me to lead them through the tough economic and fiscal times our state is facing," Jones, or North Reading, said in a statement immediately after the vote.  "There is a lot of work to be done and I am looking forward to moving the Commonwealth in the right direction by encouraging fiscal responsibility on Beacon Hill."

Jones, who has been minority leader for three terms, was challenged by state Rep. Lewis Evangelidis (R-Holden) shortly after the November election, in which the GOP caucus shrank from 19 members to 16. Evangelidis courted the members of his caucus by arguing that change was needed. But even though the caucus appeared to be evenly divided initially, Jones was able to secure nine votes fairly quickly.

Current House Minority Leader Brad Jones and challenger state Rep. Lewis Evangelidis said Tuesday that they are looking forward to the leadership vote on Wednesday, while trading subtle blows.

The House GOP caucus will vote on Wednesday on its leadership. Nine members of that 16-member caucus have publicly stated they are supporting Jones  a North Reading Republican. If that number holds, Jones will be re-elected on Wednesday.

That didn't, however, stop Evangelidis from just jabbing Jones on Tuesday.

"I am aware that nine people have openly committed to Rep. Jones," Evangelidis, of Holden, told PolitickerMA.com. "I can say, though, that more than nine have told me that there is a need for change and that I'd make a good leader."

Evangelidis would not say, however, that he has stolen votes from Jones.

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Despite current Minority Leader Brad Jones having publicly secured enough votes to retain his post, Republican state Rep. Lewis Evangelidis has no intention of ending his candidacy.

"The vote for minority leader happens every two years and is going to happen on Jan. 7," Evangelidis, of Holden, told PolitickerMA.com. "So, I find it kind of curious that people think that the election is over and it has been decided. What I am doing between now and Jan. 7 is I am talking to every member of the caucus constantly and I am calling every member of the state committee. And I have been getting good feedback that we need new leaders and voices in the State House."

Evangelidis announced in the middle of November that he was challenging Jones, of North Reading, for his post. Nine of the 16-member caucus, however, have publicly stated that they are backing Jones, giving him enough votes to stay on as minority leader.

Breaking a much speculated eight-to-eight tie, Republican state Rep. F. Jay Barrows said Monday that he will support Brad Jones' effort to retain his post as House minority leader.

With Barrows' support, Jones, of North Reading, has secured nine votes in the 16-member caucus, enough to stay on as minority leader. Jones is being challenged by Holden state Rep. Lewis Evangelidis.

"I have a lot of respect for both Rep. Jones and Rep. Evangelidis," Barrows said in a statement. "While I believe that our caucus and our state party are greatly in need of new direction, I do not believe that all new faces are the immediate answer."

Below is a letter that Republican state Rep. Lewis Evangelidis, who is challenging Brad Jones for House minority leader, sent to Republican state committee members last Friday.

Evangelidis has secured the support of four members of the Republican caucus, not including himself. Jones has secured the support of seven members, also not including himself.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

LEW EVANGELIDIS

STATE REPRESENTATIVE

1ST DISTRICT OF WORCESTER                       
 
Dear XXXXX

As an active State Republican Committee member I wanted to reach out to you and let you know I am running for Minority Leader in the House of Representatives. I very much wanted to attend your state committee meeting last Monday to introduce myself, but I felt a commitment to first speak to the Republican caucus which was scheduled to meet Wednesday before I made any public statements.    

Check out the full letter after the jump.

Republican state Rep. Donald Humason said late Sunday night that he is supporting Lewis Evangelidis in his challenge to Brad Jones for House minority leader.

Evangelidis, a Holden Republican, announced last week that he is seeking the post on the heels of the GOP caucus loss of three seats in this year's election.

"I am proud to lend my voice, my energy, and my support to Rep. Lewis Evangelidis as Republican leader of the House of Representatives," Humason, of Westfield, said in a statement. "I am optimistic about our opportunities to rebuild and renew the Republican caucus and the Republican Party in the Commonwealth."

Humason is fourth member of the caucus to announce his support of Evangelidis, not including the challenger himself. Last Friday, Jones had secured the support of eight votes in the 16-member caucus, including his own.

In a day when several members of the House GOP caucus chose sides, the current House minority leader picked up the support of Republican state Rep. Elizabeth Poirier in his fight to retain his post.

With Poirier's backing, Jones has garnered eight votes, including his own. He needs the vote of one more member of the 16-member caucus to ensure challenger Lewis Evangelidis doesn't take his post. Evangelidis has secured the backing of three members of the caucus so far.

"I am strongly supporting minority leader Brad Jones," Poirier told PolitickerMA.com. "There are many reasons, but one is he has been an excellent leader. He truly knows the responsibilities of the leader and he's carried them out to a fine detail."

Republican state Rep. Jeff Perry is supporting Lewis Evangelidis for House minority leader.

Perry, of Sandwich, is the third Republican to publicly back Evangelidis, of Holden, in his challenge of current minority leader Brad Jones. At the time of this writing, six members of the GOP caucus had lined up behind Jones. Jones and Evangelidis needs nine votes to become minority leader.

"I stand ready to do my part to reenergize the Massachusetts GOP," Perry told PolitickerMA.com. "I believe I can best do this by supporting a new leadership team. It is my belief that Lew Evangelidis offers a new energy and spirit which is needed in our party."