Catching Up With Evan Falchuk

(The following was posted on Franciscolwhite.com.)

In the race to succeed Deval Patrick as the next governor of Massachusetts, Evan Falchuk stands out as the one brave new political voice. Detached completely from the who’s who of the Democratic Party and an outspoken advocate for fresh perspective on Beacon Hill, Falchuk formed the United Independent Party as the solution to bipartisan stagnation.

With his hectic schedule, I was able to catch up with the hard runner for a gubernatorial seat that’s far less of a longshot than some may think. In this interview, he opens up about third-party politics, young voters, family, and civil liberties.

Mr. Falchuk, Massachusetts has a significant number of Unenrolled voters. What about politics in the Commonwealth, in your opinion, has turned so many people away from the two parties in power?

It’s actually a majority of voters – at least 53%, as of August 2012 – who register as Unenrolled voters, choosing to be independent of the Democratic and Republican parties. It’s the highest percentage in the country, which is surprising given that people think of Massachusetts as such a “blue” state.

Voters feel as if the government, and the parties that currently run it, aren’t listening to them, or focusing on the priorities voters think are important. An insightful comment I heard from a voter recently was that the candidates whom the parties nominate are the ones “who are good at saying what they’re supposed to say.” As a voter myself, I think this is a big part of the reason why so few people vote – only 13% voted in the most recent special election for a Massachusetts seat in the U.S. Congress.

Voters want candidates who can say – clearly and openly – where they stand; who can introduce new, innovative ideas and initiatives that fit our modern world; and who aren’t beholden to the special interests that fuel the two parties. Voters don’t see that coming from the Democratic and Republican parties, so it’s no wonder they are leaving the parties in search of something that better represents their own views and priorities.

Read More