Joe Selvaggi
Joe Selvaggi was a 2012 Republican candidate who sought election to the U.S. House to represent the 8th Congressional District of Massachusetts.
Selvaggi was defeated by Democratic incumbent Stephen Lynch on November 6, 2012.[1]
Biography
Selvaggi earned his undergraduate degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and founded Plaster Fun Time, Inc. He received his Master's in Public Administration at Harvard's Kennedy School. Selvaggi served in the US Navy during the first Gulf War.[2]
Career
- Small Business Owner, Plaster Fun Time
- Executive, Software Industry
- Served, United States Navy[3]
Campaign themes
2012
On his campaign website, Selvaggi listed ten issues. They were:[4]
- Debt
Excerpt: "We need leaders in both parties with the courage, insights and resolve to confront the powerful interests and bureaucratic torpor that prevent solutions. If we care about our children's future, we must create a plan for reducing the debt."
- Deficit
Excerpt: "Though the various political parties may differ in approach, I believe we are united in a strong desire not to burden the children of tomorrow with the government services we mandate today."
- Foreign Policy
Excerpt: " As a veteran of the first Gulf War and a frequent traveler abroad, I understand the cost of war and have come to better understand our great nation in an international context. I will work to make America the leader in diplomacy and insist that our allies remain strongly united against extremist states."
- Taxes
Excerpt: "I believe that most Americans are willing to be taxed if they believe the system is fair. Our complex tax code is a tangled mess of special breaks for those with the resources to lobby for special consideration. I will work to simplify the tax code and close the loopholes that allow special interests to evade their obligations. America is built on equality. We want and deserve leaders who will not play favorites."
- Energy
Excerpt: "Issues of energy affect everything. They touch economic growth, domestic security, the environment, national debt, foreign wars, diplomacy, and much more. We have gone too long without an energy policy. I will work to pursue every possible safe source of domestic energy and encourage research into renewable technology, with the goal of strategic energy independence. I believe America can and should be a net energy exporter."
- Jobs
Excerpt: "As a business owner, I understand the obstacles to job growth: health care costs, energy costs, a complex tax system, and limited access to financing. We need leadership in congress that moves past the empty political rhetoric of job creation to address its real challenges. I will approach job creation not as a talking point, but as the achievable goal I know it to be."
- Healthcare
Excerpt: "We all agree that access and cost are the challenges we face with health care reform. I believe that if we solve the cost of health care, the access to the system will be cured. Unfortunately, the Affordable Care Act is anything but affordable. We need a leader with the courage to reform the insurance system in a way that allows the market to provide an offering for everyone."
- Education
Excerpt: "All around us we see exciting innovation in education—innovation that is often slow to be adopted. I will confront those entrenched groups that prevent a full embracing of this innovation by making the implementation of best practices a condition of federal funding. I have dedicated most of my professional life to children, and I believe every child deserves the best possible education."
- Environment
Excerpt: "At the core of my call to public service is a belief that we owe our children a viable future—and environmental preservation is the most fundamental component of that. Clean air and water are non-negotiable rights of every citizen. I will work to ensure that legislation, along with technology being developed here in Massachusetts, will make environmental responsibility the highest priority."
- Child Welfare
Excerpt: "America is founded on the principle of equal opportunity. I believe ensuring the welfare of children is at the core of fulfilling this promise. Their health and education must be highly prioritized and fully funded, ensuring that they reach adulthood healthy, educated, and free from the crushing debt of past generations. I will provide the leadership to achieve this."[4]
Elections
2012
Selvaggi ran in the 2012 election for the U.S. House to represent Massachusetts' 8th District. He defeated Matias "Matt" Temperley in the September 6, 2012, Republican primary.[5]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |  Stephen Lynch Incumbent |
71% | 263,999 | |
| Republican | Joe Selvaggi | 22.1% | 82,242 | |
| N/A | All Others | 0.2% | 570 | |
| N/A | Blank Votes | 6.7% | 24,883 | |
| Total Votes | 371,694 | |||
| Source: Massachusetts Secretary of State "Return of Votes" | ||||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Joe Selvaggi |
59.4% | 5,956 |
| Matias Temperley | 40.6% | 4,074 |
| Total Votes | 10,030 | |
Endorsements
Selvaggi received endorsements from the organizations and individuals below for the 2012 election.[6]
- Boston Globe
- Joe Malone, former State Treasurer
Campaign finance summary
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Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Selvaggi is a long-time resident of the 8th District and is married.[7]
See also
- Massachusetts' 8th Congressional District
- Massachusetts' 8th Congressional District elections, 2012
- United States House of Representatives
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Politico, "2012 Election Map, Massachusetts"
- ↑ Joe Selvaggi for Congress, "About" June 26, 2012
- ↑ Selvaggi's Vote Smart Profile, Biography
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Joe Selvaggi for Congress, "Where Joe Stands" August 16, 2012
- ↑ Associated Press, "Massachusetts Primary Results," accessed September 6, 2012
- ↑ Selvaggi's Campaign Website, News
- ↑ Selvaggi's Campaign Website, Biography
