Sean Bielat

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

Sean Bielat
Born
Sean D. Bielat

(1975-05-14) May 14, 1975
Sumter, South Carolina, U.S.
Alma materMcQuaid Jesuit High School
Georgetown University
Harvard Kennedy School
Wharton Business School
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Hope Bielat
Children3

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, two sons, and daughter in Carlisle, Massachusetts. Bielat serves on various boards. Previously, he worked as CEO of Endeavor Robotics, which he helped carve out of iRobot Corporation in 2016. In 2019, Endeavor Robotics was sold to FLIR Systems for $382 million. Bielat had previously 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 served in the Marine Reserve for sixteen 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 was 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]

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.[12] Frank announced his retirement from Congress and did not seek reelection.[13]

Bielat lost to Democratic nominee Joseph P. Kennedy III,[13] taking 36.0% of the vote to Kennedy's 61.1%.[14]

Current

Currently, Bielat is CEO of military robotics company Endeavor Robotics.[15] Previously, he served as the CEO of One Click Politics. Bielat organized the company with some of his colleagues from former employer McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm.

Personal life

Bielat is a member of the St. Irene's Catholic Church in Carlisle, Massachusetts and of the Catholic fraternal service organization, the Knights of Columbus. He and his wife, Hope, have two sons and a daughter.

References
  1. Viser, Matt (19 February 2010). "Brookline Republican to challenge Frank". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  2. "Meet Sean - Sean Bielat for Congress". Archived from the original on 12 October 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  3. 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. "Republican Sean Bielat to run for Barney Frank's Congressional seat again". Wicked Local. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  13. Mark Arsenault, Republican Sean Bielat to run for Barney Frank's Congressional seat again, Boston Globe (November 7, 2012).
  14. Election 2012: Massachusetts, New York Times.
  15. https://mic.com/articles/157330/taser-is-considering-a-flying-autonomous-police-drone-armed-with-a-stun-gun
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