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‘Average person' seeking elected office
Blasey files to challenge Kullen
Friday, Oct. 16, 2009
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Mike Blasey admits he's not your average politician.
In fact, that's what the blue-collar mechanic hopes voters will find appealing about his first foray into politics.
A history buff who has followed politics for more than a decade, Blasey said he "basically kind of had it with the way things are running" — at the local, state and national levels.
So, the 36-year-old Republican decided to take matters into his own hands and is running for the state legislative seat currently held by Del. Sue Kullen.
"There are not enough people who are honest, not enough people willing to stand behind what they say," said Blasey of Prince Frederick. "I think it's time for an average person to represent other average people."
The "every-man" approach is not novel, but it is also a difficult road for first-time candidates who need to build their name ID, raise money and develop their platform. Blasey, who was born and raised in Beltsville, is banking on traditional grass-roots campaigning like attending civic meetings, holiday parades and other community events, as well as knocking on doors throughout the district.
"Everybody feels you have to be a lawyer to be in there and I don't think that's the way it was meant to be," Blasey said of serving in elected office. "It's supposed to be of the people, by the people, [for the people]."
Even if he wins the GOP nomination — so far he is the only candidate to have filed — Kullen (D-Calvert) will not be a pushover.
Since being appointed to fill a vacancy in 2004 as a virtual unknown, Kullen has developed a reputation as a stout grass-roots campaigner and is particularly vocal on health care policy and the environment in Annapolis. Republicans targeted her for defeat in 2006, but she easily defeated then-Calvert County Commissioners' President David F. Hale, who was better financed and was perhaps more well known than Kullen.
But Blasey, who declined to criticize Kullen's record, isn't fazed by that or the historical odds against defeating an incumbent.
He plans to reach out to the conservative base of the GOP that he believes stayed home in 2006 because they were dissatisfied with Sen. John McCain as the party's presidential candidate.
He also hopes to appeal to independents and moderate Democrats — Blasey calls them "old-school Democrats" — who share his political values.
He also hopes to cash in on the federal health care reform backlash, which has spurred modern-day tea parties and prompted average constituents to become more politically engaged. Although Blasey is running for the state legislature, he believes some of that dissension will trickle down the ballot and benefit Republican candidates.
His campaign platform is still in development, but he's a big proponent of states' rights and individual responsibilities, meaning smaller government involvement.
But it all comes back to the idea that he's an average Joe with a wife, three kids and a mortgage who wakes every day at 4 a.m. for work.
"I'm not convinced one man can't make a difference," Blasey said.
