In the News
OPINION COVERAGE · THE LOCAL NEWS · AUGUST 1, 2026
Bob Waite Profiles Dan Kelly and the Choice Facing Second Essex Voters
The Local News columnist Bob Waite sits down with Dan Kelly to discuss constituent service, local control, the role of a Republican on Beacon Hill, and the competitive 2026 race for State Representative in the Second Essex District.
Original column by Bob Waite, The Local News
Published online August 1, 2026
Campaign summary prepared by Vote Dan Kelly campaign staff
Dan Kelly may say he is fed up with Beacon Hill, but columnist Bob Waite found a candidate who was relaxed, approachable, and eager to listen.
In an August 1 opinion column, Waite recounts a breakfast conversation with Kelly about why he is running for State Representative, what he has heard throughout the district, and why he believes the Second Essex needs more accessible constituent service and a stronger voice in state government.
The column also explores Dan’s positions on local zoning authority, education funding, shellfish regulation, political accountability, and his decision to run as a Republican in a Democratic-leaning state.
Coverage at a Glance
Publication: The Local News
Column: Lite Waite
Article: Dan Kelly wants you to know he is fed up, but do voters have an appetite for change?
Columnist: Bob Waite
Publication date: August 1, 2026
Coverage type: Opinion column and candidate profile
Primary subject: Dan Kelly’s candidacy for State Representative
Race: 2026 Second Essex State Representative election
Topics discussed: Constituent service, local zoning, Section 3A, education funding, shellfish regulation, political accountability, and debates
District: Massachusetts Second Essex District
What Bob Waite Observed
Waite met Dan for breakfast to get a better sense of the person behind the campaign language.
Based on Dan’s website and his repeated declaration that he is fed up with Beacon Hill, Waite expected that he might encounter an angry or combative candidate. Instead, he describes Dan as mellow, personable, and comfortable discussing his positions.
That contrast is important.
Dan is frustrated with the way Beacon Hill operates, but his campaign is not built on anger toward his neighbors. His frustration is directed at a system that he believes has become too concentrated, too unresponsive, and too willing to impose statewide policies without adequately considering their local effects.
Dan’s approach is to listen, build relationships, and work with people—even when they disagree.
That is why the three principles at the center of his campaign are service, civility, and accountability.
Why Dan Kelly Is Running
Dan told Waite that his central reason for running is to provide the district with better constituent service.
A State Representative should be present throughout the district, respond to residents, help people navigate government, and understand the issues facing each community.
Dan has put that belief into practice during the campaign by attending Select Board meetings, Council on Aging programs, community gatherings, cultural events, neighborhood conversations, and other activities across the district.
He is not attending simply to speak. He is attending to listen.
Every town has different needs. The only way to understand them is to spend time with the people who live there.
That commitment is also reflected in Dan’s 24/7 pledge: If a resident calls or writes, Dan pledges to respond personally within 24 hours, seven days a week.
Local Decisions Should Include Local Voices
One of the central policy concerns discussed in the column is the gradual movement of local zoning authority toward Beacon Hill.
Dan cited the MBTA Communities Act, commonly called Section 3A, as an example of a statewide policy that places significant obligations on individual municipalities.
Dan believes Massachusetts needs practical solutions to housing and affordability. He also believes that Georgetown, Hamilton, Ipswich, Newbury, Rowley, and Topsfield Precinct 1 should retain a meaningful role in decisions that affect their neighborhoods, infrastructure, environment, public services, and town character.
The district’s communities are not interchangeable.
Each has different roads, schools, water systems, wastewater limitations, environmental conditions, housing stock, and planning priorities. A statewide requirement may look simple on paper while producing complicated local consequences.
Dan’s position is not that communities should be able to ignore Massachusetts’ housing challenges. His position is that durable housing policy requires transparency, local knowledge, adequate infrastructure, and meaningful public participation.
Education Funding and Local Taxpayers
The column also discusses Dan’s concern with the state’s Chapter 70 education-funding formula and the funding agreement associated with Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School.
Chapter 70 is the state program that distributes education aid to Massachusetts school districts. The amount a community receives depends on a formula that considers enrollment, local financial capacity, foundation budgets, and other factors.
Dan believes the formula does not always reflect the pressures experienced by small communities whose property values may appear high while many residents—including seniors and working families—struggle with rising taxes and household expenses.
Regional school agreements can create additional complications because participating communities must divide costs according to formulas established through state law and regional agreements.
Dan believes the district needs a representative who will examine how these formulas affect local taxpayers, advocate for fairer treatment, and make sure the state is carrying an appropriate share of education costs.
Common Sense for the Shellfish Industry
Waite’s column also addresses Dan’s concern about state and federal regulation of the local shellfish industry.
Clam digging is part of the identity and working economy of Ipswich and the surrounding coastal region. Closures or regulatory decisions can affect commercial harvesters, restaurants, seafood businesses, tourism, and families whose livelihoods depend on the flats.
Dan believes protecting public health and supporting the shellfish industry are compatible goals.
He has called for practical cooperation among local officials, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, federal regulators, environmental experts, and the people who work on the water.
Regulation should be based on sound evidence, clear communication, and a serious understanding of local conditions.
Why Dan Is Running as a Republican
Waite asked Dan why he chose to run as a Republican rather than as an independent.
Dan’s answer was rooted in his belief in a functioning two-party system and the need for political accountability.
Massachusetts government is overwhelmingly controlled by one party. Dan believes healthy government requires debate, transparency, and legislators who are willing to question decisions made by their own leadership.
Being a Republican does not prevent Dan from working with Democrats or Independents. Former Governor Charlie Baker, former State Representative Brad Hill, former Representative Lenny Mirra, and State Senator Bruce Tarr have demonstrated that Massachusetts Republicans can work across party lines while providing an independent check on Beacon Hill.
Dan wants to continue that tradition: cooperate whenever possible, disagree respectfully when necessary, and judge every proposal by its effect on the people of the district.
A Competitive Second Essex Race
Waite’s column recognizes that defeating an incumbent is difficult, while also noting the unusually competitive history of the Second Essex seat.
The official 2022 election was decided by a single vote. Kristin Kassner received 11,763 votes, while former Representative Lenny Mirra received 11,762.
In 2024, Kassner received 16,063 votes, or 54.2 percent, while Republican Mark Tashjian received 13,562 votes, or 45.7 percent.
The columnist identifies Ipswich as the district’s electoral center of gravity. Official results show that 9,633 ballots were cast in Ipswich in the 2024 State Representative race—more than in any other municipality in the district.
But winning the Second Essex requires reaching voters throughout Georgetown, Hamilton, Ipswich, Newbury, Rowley, and Topsfield Precinct 1.
Dan believes every community deserves a serious campaign, direct voter contact, and opportunities to hear from both candidates.
Let the Voters Hear the Candidates
Waite expresses hope that voters will have the opportunity to see live debates throughout the district.
Dan welcomes that opportunity.
The people of the Second Essex deserve direct, substantive conversations about constituent service, affordability, housing, education, infrastructure, legislative transparency, local control, seniors, veterans, and the working economy of the district.
Debates should give voters an opportunity to compare the candidates’ records, priorities, and approaches without relying solely on advertising or party labels.
Dan is ready to participate.
The Person Behind the Campaign
The column also offers a more personal view of Dan.
Dan is a retired attorney, husband, father, community volunteer, and actor. He told Waite about appearing in a production of The Little Mermaid at the Rochester Opera House, where he played Grimsby and made an additional appearance during a musical number.
The story gives the column a humorous ending, but it also illustrates something real about Dan: He is comfortable meeting people, speaking in public, taking on unfamiliar roles, and occasionally laughing at himself.
Public service requires seriousness. It also requires perspective, warmth, and the ability to connect with people.
Dan brings all four.
Beacon Hill or the Second Essex?
Bob Waite’s column asks whether voters have an appetite for change.
Dan believes voters should decide that question after hearing directly from both candidates and examining how they would represent the district.
The choice is not simply between a Republican and a Democrat.
It is a choice about what kind of representation the Second Essex should expect:
Will residents receive personal, responsive constituent service?
Will local officials and residents have a meaningful voice when state policy affects their communities?
Will the district’s representative ask hard questions, explain important votes, and evaluate legislation independently?
Will the Second Essex have a representative who is consistently present in Georgetown, Hamilton, Ipswich, Newbury, Rowley, and Topsfield Precinct 1?
Dan is running because he believes the district deserves service, civility, accountability, and an independent voice on Beacon Hill.
About the Original Coverage
This page is an original campaign summary of an opinion column published by The Local News on August 1, 2026.
The original column, “Lite Waite: Dan Kelly wants you to know he is fed up, but do voters have an appetite for change?” was written by Bob Waite.
The column contains Waite’s personal observations, political analysis, humor, and descriptions of his conversation with Dan. It is not presented as a campaign endorsement.
Vote Dan Kelly did not write or publish the original column. This page summarizes the coverage and provides additional context about the policies and campaign principles discussed.
READ BOB WAITE’S ORIGINAL COLUMN
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote the profile of Dan Kelly?
The column was written by Bob Waite and published by The Local News on August 1, 2026.
Is the article a news report or an opinion column?
It is an opinion column published as part of Bob Waite’s “Lite Waite” series. It combines a candidate interview with personal observations, humor, and political analysis.
Why is Dan Kelly running for State Representative?
Dan says his central reason for running is to provide residents with more responsive constituent service. His campaign also emphasizes local control, affordability, legislative transparency, and political accountability.
What did Dan Kelly say about local zoning?
Dan expressed concern that statewide policies, including Section 3A, are moving significant land-use authority away from municipalities. He believes affected communities must retain a meaningful role in local planning decisions.
What did Dan Kelly say about education funding?
Dan raised concerns about the Chapter 70 education-aid formula and the Whittier Tech regional funding agreement. He believes the state should more accurately account for the pressures these systems place on local taxpayers.
Why is Dan Kelly running as a Republican?
Dan believes in a competitive two-party system and the accountability created by having independent voices in government. He also points to Massachusetts Republicans who have successfully worked across party lines.
How close was the 2022 Second Essex election?
The official result was 11,763 votes for Kristin Kassner and 11,762 for Lenny Mirra—a one-vote difference.
What happened in the 2024 election?
Kristin Kassner received 16,063 votes, or 54.2 percent. Republican Mark Tashjian received 13,562 votes, or 45.7 percent.
Which communities are in the Second Essex District?
The district consists of Georgetown, Hamilton, Ipswich, Newbury, Rowley, and Precinct 1 of Topsfield. Byfield is a village within Newbury.
When is the 2026 Massachusetts state election?
The election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Learn More and Get Involved
Read Dan’s priorities, learn more about his background, volunteer in your community, or contribute to help the campaign reach voters throughout the Second Essex District.