OPINION |Chris McCarthy: Local Republican Running for Treasurer

State Representative Keiko Orrall of Lakeville has announced she is running for the office of State Treasurer of Massachusetts.

It is great to see a serious candidate from southeastern Massachusetts running for statewide office. The region needs to offer candidates for statewide office if it is going to be taken seriously in the corridors of political power. It isn't enough to have a powerful legislative delegation - the individual voters must also be respected by politicians across the state.

Rep. Orrall is a formidable candidate for any office in Massachusetts. She is a graduate of Smith College and a former public school teacher. She won a race for the legislature in a district that then included the city of New Bedford.

The last Republican to represent New Bedford in the legislature was Joseph Saulnier. He left the legislature in 1970 and passed away in 1993. His son Ralph was a combat Marine in the Korean War and served in the New Bedford city council. Keiko Orrall turned back 40 years of Democrat party domination when she was elected in her district.

A married mother of 2 children, Rep. Orrall is highly respected by her colleagues. In addition to previously serving on the Lakeville Finance committee, she is an elected member of Massachusetts State Republican Committee. The members of the state GOP elected her as the female member of Republican National Committee a few years ago.

She serves alongside uber political powerbroker Ron Kaufman in the two-person GOP delegation from the Bay State. She first earned the respect of serious people like Ron Kaufman, Charlie Baker, and Karen Polito otherwise she wouldn't have been elected to the top of the Republican Party.

Orrall has the energy and charisma to win a statewide election. She has a difficult race against incumbent Deb Goldberg, but every Republican has a difficult race in Massachusetts.

In addition to her personal abilities, Representative Orrall also has a strong ally in Charlie Baker, the most popular governor in America and that might be just the edge she needs to do what some say can't be done.

Editor's Note: Chris McCarthy is the host of The Chris McCarthy Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 10 a.m.-Noon. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.