Delegates from each of the SouthCoast’s major Republican committees convened Wednesday, March 5, 2008 to elect a new State Committeewoman to represent them at the State Committee of the Massachusetts Republican Party.  Jill-Marie Ussach, a New Bedford Republican Party activist and New Bedford School Committee member, was elected unanimously by the several dozen of Republican community activists and leaders present. 

In an address to those assembled to congratulate her, Mrs. Ussach described a vision for a more fully-unified SouthCoast Republican Party that will share information and resources in a more efficient and open manner.  Mrs. Ussach stressed her long record of service to the City of New Bedford and to the local Republican Party as motivation for accepting this challenge.  Mrs. Ussach traced her involvement with New Bedford Republican politics since being a ‘Nixonette’ in 1964.  Mrs. Ussach noted that she fully expects the year 2008 to be a hard-fought, up-hill battle for Republicans in all levels of the political arena, but considers herself lucky to be able to help generate more enthusiasm and activism at the grassroots level.  Mrs. Ussach will succeed the post long held by current City Solicitor, Irene B. Schall, and outgoing incumbent, Marcy Haaland of Fairhaven. 

In her capacity, Mrs. Ussach will be responsible for coordinating grassroots GOP leadership and membership growth and retention in each of the Republican committees of her 2nd Bristol/Plymouth State Senatorial District:  New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven and Mattapoisett.  State Committee members are charged with the responsibility for stewarding GOP candidates and causes and gathering resources for campaigns and candidate support.

The March 5th caucus to elect Mrs. Ussach was moderated by Chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party, the Honorable Peter Torkildsen, with assistance from current State Committeeman Brock N. Cordeiro of Dartmouth.  Mr. Cordeiro noted that he will be thrilled to work alongside Mrs. Ussach in their political partnership representing the SouthCoast. Mr. Cordeiro has served as State Committeeman since his ratification in March, 2007. 

New Bedford Republican Party chairman, Nathan Pierce, described his enthusiasm for Mrs. Ussach, exclaiming that “Jill is the sort of up-and-coming star GOP activist who has set the precedent for building our Party by no-bull politics, aggressive campaigning, strong grassroots coordination, as well as voter identification and management of resources.”  Mr. Pierce noted that Mrs. Ussach’s election to the New Bedford School Committee this past Spring served as an indication of the viability of the local GOP and its ability to remain competitive in both municipal and regional contests. 

Mrs. Ussach will be ratified as a the State Committeewoman of the 2nd Bristol/Plymouth district at the quarterly meeting of the Massachusetts Republican State Committee on Monday, March 10, 2008.

For more information about SouthCoast Republican activities, or membership in the New Bedford Republican Party or Dartmouth Republican Town Committee, please visit the district website:  www.semassgop.com or inquire with State Committeeman, Brock N. Cordeiro (bncordeiro@comcast.net).