EXCLUSIVE: First GOP Candidate Enters Race Against Whitehouse
Friday, March 18, 2011
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has his first official opponent for 2012.
Republican Benjamin “Barry” Hinckley III, a Newport entrepreneur, has filed with the Federal Election Commission and a test version of his campaign Web site can be found at www.prospertest8.com.
In a statement to GoLocalProv, Hinckley said he is currently spending time with his family before “things get very busy for the next 570 days or so.”
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTHinckley’s biography says he grew up in a family of boat builders and “understands the significance of the marine manufacturing industry and its place at the heart of Rhode Island’s economy.” The 44-year-old also blames government regulation for driving jobs and revenue out of the state.
In addition to calling for a repeal of President Obama’s healthcare imitative, Hinckley claims he will “declare war on our debts and deficit by eliminating earmarks, cutting all redundant programs, and fighting for a constitutionally-sound Balanced Budget Amendment.”
Heads up taxpayer group
Hinckley is the co-founder of Boston-based Bullhorn, which bills itself as the “global leader in on demand, integrated front office software for the staffing and recruiting industry.” The company was recently recognized as one of the fastest growing businesses in Boston for the sixth consecutive year by the Boston Business Journal. The BBJ also named Hinckley to its “40 Under 40” list in 2005.
Hinckley has also served as the Massachusetts director for FairTax, a group that has proposed getting rid of all federal income and payroll based taxes in favor of a retail sales tax.
According to his political views on his Facebook profile, Hinckley describes himself as a “socially moderate liberty Republican who believes strongly in balancing our budget and individual liberty.” Since 2007, the University of Colorado, Boulder and Deerfield Academy graduate has contributed a combined $9,900 to Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown and New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.
Hinkley is the first to announce his candidacy in what looks like it could be a crowded Republican primary in 2012. Former Governor Don Carcieri, former head of the State Police Brendan Doherty, Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian and former gubernatorial candidate John Robitaille have all been rumored as possible challengers to Whitehouse.
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