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Republican adviser Winslow eyes run for House seat

Issue March 2010 By Evin Luongo

Daniel B. Winslow, longtime legal adviser to the Republican Party, will run for the House seat that Rep. Richard Ross intends to vacate - the 9th Norfolk District, which includes the towns of Norfolk, Wrentham, Plainville, Millis, Walpole and Medfield. Ross plans to run for the seat left open by newly elected U.S. Sen. Scott Brown.

In addition to his role as partner at Duane Morris LLP's Boston office, Winslow has served as chief legal counsel to both the Mitt Romney and Scott Brown campaigns. Winslow's interest and involvement in politics stems from his belief that "if decent, honest and hard-working people don't get involved in government, then government won't be decent, honest and hard-working."

Winslow feels strongly that people - and especially lawyers - have a civic obligation to become involved in order to try and make a difference with new ideas: "We cannot allow our state government to devolve to the lowest common denominator of talent and motive," he explains.

Winslow has had a history of reform, both locally and statewide. As Norfolk town moderator, he has encouraged more direct democracy at town meetings. Winslow has also drafted new civil procedures across the state and helped introduce electronic monitoring for nonviolent offenders as a Wrentham District Court judge. He says the most important thing is "to keep trying and not settle for business as usual."

If elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Winslow has prioritized his objectives at both the local and state levels. At the district level, his goal is to: (1) reduce state spending and lower tax burdens, (2) encourage private sector job growth and (3) give town governments the fiscal tools and resources to improve local core services, such as education, public safety and infrastructure.

At the state level, Winslow hopes to highlight the importance of how an effective legal system is a critical component of economic competitiveness and recovery. "If litigation works, we don't need too much reliance on regulation and red tape, which stifles innovation and entrepreneurial effort," he said.

If his bid for the House is successful, Winslow said he plans to engage in the same practices that have contributed to his becoming an accomplished attorney, judge and town moderator.

"I will do the same thing as I have always done. I will work hard, make an effort to listen and learn, and I will demonstrate a willingness to risk failure. This is the year when the winds of change are at the backs of outsiders for elected office," he says. "We cannot continue to tolerate Massachusetts having the lowest rate of election competition in the nation."