Sean Bielat

Sean Bielat
Born Sean D. Bielat
(1975-05-14) May 14, 1975
Sumter, South Carolina, U.S.
Alma mater McQuaid Jesuit High School
Georgetown University
Harvard Kennedy School
Wharton Business School
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Hope Bielat
Children 2

Sean D. Bielat (born May 14, 1975) is an American businessman and Major in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. In 2010, he was the Republican candidate for United States Congress in Massachusetts's 4th congressional district, losing to the incumbent, Democrat Barney Frank.

Bielat ran against Joseph Kennedy III for the same seat in 2012, but lost.

Biography

Bielat grew up in Rochester, New York, where he attended McQuaid Jesuit High School. He currently resides with his wife, son, and daughter in Carlisle, Massachusetts. Bielat works as an independent consultant. Previously, he held a position at Bedford, Massachusetts-based iRobot Corporation, where he directed their PackBot program, a $100 million defense robotics program.[1][2]

Education and military service

He holds a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University, a Master of Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.[2] Bielat served as an active duty Marine Corps officer for four years and has served in the Marine Reserve for seven years, achieving the rank of major.

Political positions

During his 2010 campaign, Bielat's expressed views were mostly consistent with most Republicans.[3] He opposes the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and called for its repeal,[3] calling the health care reform bill "very flawed" but adding that he was in favor of some sort of health care reform.[4] Bielat opposed emissions trading ("cap-and-trade"), calling it atrocious.[3] and is in favor of extending the Bush tax cuts, the series of tax cuts that occurred during President George W. Bush's term in office.[5] He opposed the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which was championed by his opponent,[3] and called Frank a "key player in America's financial collapse," blaming him for promoting "much of what caused" the Great Recession.[6] He opposes abortion, but favors same-sex marriage in Massachusetts.[3] Unlike other Republicans, Bielat "expressed a willingness to support increased federal spending on transportation and infrastructure."[3]

Congressional campaigns

Massachusetts's 4th district was considered a "solidly Democratic" seat;[7] the district gave Barack Obama 63 percent of the vote in the 2008 presidential election and Massachusetts United States Senator John Kerry 65 percent of the vote in his 2004 presidential election.[8]

2010

On September 17, 2010, Bielat defeated Norfolk businessman Earl Sholley in the district's Republican primary by more than 4000 votes, with a final vote tally of 60 percent to 40 percent.[9][10][11]

During the campaign, Bielat repeatedly faced criticism for running homophobic radio and television ads against his general-election opponent, incumbent Barney Frank, who is gay.[12][13][14]

Bielat lost the election, receiving 43.4% of the votes to Frank's 53.9%. It was Frank's closest finish since his first campaign for Congress in 1980.

2012

In January 2012, Bielat announced his intention to again run for the 4th district seat.[15] Frank announced his retirement from Congress and did not seek reelection.[16] During the 2012 campaign, Bielat was reluctant to reveal that his personal income was derived as CEO at One Click Politics, a firm that reduces citizen advocacy to clicking a message composed by Bielat's corporate clients to send to Congressmembers.[17]

Bielat lost to Democratic nominee Joseph P. Kennedy III,[16] taking 36.0% of the vote to Kennedy's 61.1%.[18]

Current

Currently, Bielat is CEO of military robotics company Endeavor Robotics.[19] Previously, he served as the CEO of BuildQuorum. Bielat organized the company with some of his colleagues from former employer McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm in Boston.

According to CrunchBase, BuildQuorum.com was formed in 2015. BuildQuorum.com generates revenue from sponsored "messages." ('Our Business Model,')[20] As of early 2017, BuildQuorum.com has increased its web traffic by sponsoring a Political Spectrum Quiz shared on Facebook and other social media sites.

Personal life

Bielat is a member of the St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Brookline and of the Catholic fraternal service organization, the Knights of Columbus. He and his wife, Hope, have a son, Theo, and a daughter, Seraphina.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Viser, Matt (19 February 2010). "Brookline Republican to challenge Frank". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 "Meet Sean - Sean Bielat for Congress". Archived from the original on 12 October 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Michael Warren, Sean Bielat v. Barney Frank: How big a wave?, Weekly Standard (October 11, 2010).
  4. ↑ Terkel, Amanda (24 September 2010). "Barney Frank Opponent Sean Bielat Says He Won't Be Campaigning On GOP 'Pledge To America'". Huffington Post. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  5. ↑ Hand, Jim. "For Frank, Bielat, it's about taxes". Sun Chronicle. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  6. ↑ "Candidate Statement: Sean Bielat". GateHouse News Service. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  7. ↑ Wirzbicki, Alan (23 September 2010). "Former Marine fighting the odds in 4th District". Boston Globe. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  8. ↑ Peoples, Steve. "Could Barney Frank Be in Trouble?". Congressional Quarterly. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  9. ↑ "GOP's Sean Bielat to face Barney Frank in Mass. 4th District". Associated Press. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  10. ↑ "2010 Rhode Island and Massachusetts Primary Results". ABC. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  11. ↑ "2010 State Primary Results". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  12. ↑ http://gawker.com/5670913/watch-animated-barney-frank-do-all-sorts-of-gay-dance-moves
  13. ↑ https://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/barney-frank-s-opponent-compares-gay-people-to-short-people
  14. ↑ https://www.huffingtonpost.com/alex-blaze/gay-republicans-launch-ho_b_773535.html
  15. ↑ "Republican Sean Bielat to run for Barney Frank's Congressional seat again". Wicked Local. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  16. 1 2 Mark Arsenault, Republican Sean Bielat to run for Barney Frank's Congressional seat again, Boston Globe (November 7, 2012).
  17. ↑ https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2012/07/19/sean-bielat-discloses-name-his-company/LbAnbKuyzCBnSbPHdd3OLN/story.html
  18. ↑ Election 2012: Massachusetts, New York Times.
  19. ↑ https://mic.com/articles/157330/taser-is-considering-a-flying-autonomous-police-drone-armed-with-a-stun-gun
  20. ↑ https://buildquorum.com/about
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