Billerica Republican seeks to unseat Congressman Seth Moulton

Oct. 19--John Paul Moran, a Billerica Republican, himself as "unapologetically pro-American," a fiscal conservative and libertarian in his views on social issues.

The first-time candidate is challenging Congressman Seth Moulton, who is seeking a fourth, two-year term, in the Nov. 3 general election.

"I really want to bring common sense to government," said Moran. "This has not been my lifelong goal to be, you know, running for office and politics."

If elected in November, Moran would be the first openly gay man elected to the United States Congress.

A New Jersey native who grew up in a large Catholic family, Moran moved to Massachusetts 22 years ago after graduating from the University of Rochester. He arrived in the Bay State to work as a staff scientist and optical engineer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's IT Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington. Moran said the MIT tenure was a career highlight.

"I co-designed and was responsible for the testing of the optics for a large space telescope," he said. "It was a $500 million space telescope."

In 1991, Moran opened a small business, Blue Wave Marketing, a Boston-based digital marketing agency. While he may be a first time candidate, he is not new to politics: He has worked on the campaigns of Scott Brown and Mitt Romney. He founded a political nonprofit organization called the Grand Opportunity USA. He authored "Cues for Conservatives," a book published by Liberty Hill Publishing in 2016.

Legislative priorities

Moran said he would bring businesses back to the district, sponsor legislation that guarantees civil and religious rights to all, and direct federal dollars to transposition-infrastructure projects.

"By improving the public transportation, like getting the Blue Line extended to Lynn and beyond," said Moran, "that would draw many people from the city to the North Shore."

Moran said he decided to jump in the 6th District race out of frustration with the status quo and with an incumbent whom he feels is too focused on higher ambitions.

"My opponent foolishly switched his focus away from his day job in a frivolous and ego-driven run for president only to drop out before most noticed," said Moran. "Unlike [Moulton,] I will not view being your Congressman as a consolation prize."

Like Moulton, Moran supports beefing up a national service program whereby citizens commit to two years of service in exchange for educational benefits and stipends. Moulton and Moran believe national service could also "bring Americans from all socioeconomic backgrounds together" and could help with the college-affordability issues.

Moran, like Moulton, does not agree with a single-payer health system.

"Single payer is absolutely wrong, atrocious and horrible," said Moran. "The whole idea of 80-100 million people losing their private health insurance is not a good one; forcing government control of health care is un-American.

"It's wrong. It's socialist, and takes choice away from voters," he added.

He does support strengthening a public insurance option that competes with private health insurance. The free market competition brings down prices.

Moran did not offer names when asked to point to Republican and independent lawmakers whom he could see himself partnering with.

"I don't want to name names," he said. "I will work really with anybody who wants to make people's lives better."

On the COVID-19 response, he did not support the type of big COVID-19 relief package that Democrats seek. He did, however, say the government does need to help small businesses and families: Put a hold on payroll taxes, lower taxes on small businesses and invest in redevelopment among other measures.

He largely approved of Gov. Charlie Baker's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic but characterized the shutdown as a bit heavy handed.

"I'm all for social distancing and mask wearing," Moran said, "but the shutdown was too much like trying to kill a flea with a sledge hammer."

Reporting by Wicked Local's Joy Hosford was used in this report.

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