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Sean Bielat
Bielat in 2010
Personal details
Born (1975-05-14) May 14, 1975 (age 49)
Sumter, South Carolina
Political partyRepublican
SpouseHope Bielat
Children2
Alma materGeorgetown University
Harvard University
University of Pennsylvania
WebsiteOfficial website
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service Marine Corps Reserve
Rank Major

Sean Bielat (born May 14, 1975) is an American businessman and Major in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. In 2010, he was the Republican candidate for United States Congress in Massachusetts's 4th congressional district, running against the incumbent, Democrat Barney Frank. Bielat ran for the seat again in 2012 against Joseph Kennedy III, but lost.

Biography[edit]

Bielat grew up in Rochester, New York and currently resides with his wife, son, and daughter in Norfolk, Massachusetts. Bielat works as an independent consultant. Previously, he held a position at Bedford, Massachusetts-based iRobot Corporation, where he directed their PackBot program, a $100 million defense robotics program.[1][2]

Education and military service[edit]

He holds a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University, a Master of Public Policy from the Kennedy School at Harvard University, and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.[2] Bielat served as an active duty Marine Corps officer for four years and has served in the Marine Reserves for seven years, achieving the rank of Major.

Political positions[edit]

Bielat believes in focusing on economic growth and fiscal responsibility, a strong national defense, and a return to Constitutional values and citizen-legislators.[2][3] Bielat opposes the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, saying "I think that the health care bill that passed is very flawed," but adding that he is, however, in favor of some sort of health care reform.[4] Bielat opposes emissions trading (sometimes referred to as cap-and-trade),[3] and is in favor of extending the Bush tax cuts, the series of tax cuts that occurred during President George W. Bush's term in office.[5]

In his candidate statement for his 2010 Congressional campaign, he criticized incumbent Barney Frank for being a "key player in America's financial collapse" and saying Frank "has promoted much of what caused the worst economic downturn in decades".[6]

Congressional campaigns[edit]

Massachusetts' 4th district is noted to lean Democratic, giving Barack Obama 63 percent of the vote in the 2008 Presidential Election and Massachusetts United States Senator John Kerry 65 percent of the vote in his 2004 Presidential Election.[7] Some consider the MA-4 seat "solidly Democratic".[8]

2010[edit]

See also: 2010 US House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts

On September 17, 2010, Bielat defeated Norfolk businessman Earl Sholley in the district's Republican primary by more than 4000 votes, with a final vote tally of 60 percent to 40 percent.[9][10][11]

In September, 2010, Bielat's campaign released internal poll numbers showing 48% of those polled favored Frank while 38% supported Bielat. The poll also noted that independent voters supported Bielat over Frank by the margin of 51% to 34%.[12] Compared to a similar poll in July conducted by OnMessage, the firm hired by the Bielat campaign, Frank's overall support dropped by four points overall and by 10 percent of independent voters.[12]

In late September, Bielat expressed some concern with the Republican leadership's Pledge to America, noting "I would have liked more of a dialogue on it – reaching out to candidates saying what issues are important, what should we be doing, that sort of thing. Because, if we are going to be going into the Congress, and trying to implement, you have to be there at the front end. So, I can't say that I honestly know enough about what is in there right now to say one way or the other whether it is a good thing."[13]

Bielat lost the election to incumbent Barney Frank, receiving 43.4% of the votes to Frank's 53.9%.

2012[edit]

See also: 2012 US House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts

On January 17, 2012 Bielat announced his intention to again run for the 4th district seat, stating "I will work once again to help bring true competition back to Massachusetts elections, and I am optimistic that voters will consider all alternatives rather than simply voting along party lines."[14]

Bielat lost to Kennedy, receiving 36% of the vote to Kennedy's 61.1%.

Personal life[edit]

Bielat is a member of the St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Brookline and of the Catholic fraternal service organization, the Knights of Columbus. He and his wife, Hope, have a son, Theo, and a daughter, Seraphina.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Viser, Matt. "Brookline Republican to challenge Frank". Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d "Meet Sean - Sean Bielat for Congress". Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  3. ^ a b Malkin, Michelle. "Boot Barney Frank: Support GOP challenger Sean Bielat". Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  4. ^ Terkel, Amanda. "Barney Frank Opponent Sean Bielat Says He Won't Be Campaigning On GOP 'Pledge To America'". Huffington Post. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  5. ^ Hand, Jim. "For Frank, Bielat, it's about taxes". Sun Chronicle. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  6. ^ "Candidate Statement: Sean Bielat". GateHouse News Service. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  7. ^ Peoples, Steve. "Could Barney Frank Be in Trouble?". Congressional Quarterly. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  8. ^ Wirzbicki, Alan. "Former Marine fighting the odds in 4th District". Boston Globe. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  9. ^ "GOP's Sean Bielat to face Barney Frank in Mass. 4th District". Associated Press. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  10. ^ "2010 Rhode Island and Massachusetts Primary Results". ABC. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  11. ^ "2010 State Primary Results". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  12. ^ a b "Sean Bielat Releases New Poll - Frank 48 Bielat 38". Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  13. ^ King, John. "Barney Frank's challenger on Pledge to America". CNN. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  14. ^ "Republican Sean Bielat to run for Barney Frank's Congressional seat again". Wicked Local. Retrieved 19 January 2012.


Category:1975 births Category:Candidates in United States elections, 2010 Category:Georgetown University alumni Category:Harvard University alumni Category:Living people Category:Massachusetts Republicans Category:People from Norfolk County, Massachusetts Category:People from Rochester, New York Category:Wharton School alumni

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