This is Who We Are

Sometimes it is good to get more than one perspective on a person
running for Congress because the whole truth is more complicated and less
misleading than a few words or phrases in the daily news. References to our son
Rick in terms of wealth or funding are shallow descriptions of the man.

It might be helpful to the voters of the 3rd Congressional
District to know who we are, and mostly, who Rick is. We are the Greens. We are
a military family, and our children are, proudly, military brats. Granted, the
dictionary definition of “brat” is not complimentary, but in combination with
“military” it’s meaning has evolved and ameliorated to largely connote a group of kids who, despite relatively
frequent uprooting, moving, relocation, adaptation, readjustment, and many
other little inherent
problems of every kind, manage to cope, grow up, and become better, stronger
people, not in spite of the life, but because of it.

Rick enjoyed most of the experiences his childhood gave him and
has also always enjoyed learning about his grandfathers’ service. Merle Green,
Sr., served aboard the USS Augusta in the North Atlantic in World War II.
Rick’s support of veterans and military families is unwavering. He also
understands and appreciates that all members of military families also serve,
each in his or her own way.

During childhood and early youth, Rick attended public schools in
California, Delaware, Oklahoma, and Massachusetts. He has lived in Pepperell
longer than any other place and it is his home. He moved about every three
years, with a few short-term stays thrown in, and adjusted to the transitions
well. Probably more than anything else, he enjoyed sports while growing up.
Sports taught him life lessons including both leadership and teamwork. Whenever
he was the new kid, he also repeatedly learned that if you really want
something, often you must work really hard.

Each branch of the military is a microcosm unto itself. Our
children met many different kids from many different places. They also
experienced different attitudes toward home, church, school, and life in
general. Continual exposure to this diversity was a positive force in their
realization that it’s not the differences in people that are usually important.
It is what we have in common that matters most.

During Rick’s teenage years, one of the most memorable long-term
projects in his life revolved around a solid, drivable, 1965 Pontiac GTO
sedan/post coupe that his dad found on the lemon lot while visiting Pease Air
Force Base circa 1986. Muscle car mania was not yet extreme, so the price was
reasonable, and Merle thought it would be a good together project for him and
Rick. I think this experience, along with constant exposure to do-it-yourself
car improvements, helped sow the seed that germinated into 1A Auto and
eventually the inimitable 1A Auto how-to videos. Rick can still trouble shoot
his own car and perform his own repairs if time and accessibility allow. That was the original plan of 1A Auto, to
help develop personal skill in car repair. Everyone has so much latent talent
and ability to be developed. Doing car repairs is just one tiny example. Some
people are better prepared than others, some more aware of their options than
others, some more affected by the interference of every day responsibilities
than others, but none incapable of developing latent abilities. People are
empowered by knowing how much they themselves can do, and this is an aspect of
life that needs more focus rather than encouraging taxpayer dependence.

Thinking about Rick’s College years and shortly thereafter, it is
difficult not to marvel at the energy he had then. He played sports, not
without casualty, worked up to twenty hours a week when he was able, and
graduated from Cornell with his class and a degree in Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering. He came home to Pepperell after graduation, but soon decided to
try his luck in the Washington, DC area where he already had friends, and the
job economy, at that time, was better. He was willing to do anything until the
“right” job came along. Ironically, his first job was valet parking for a
popular restaurant frequented by members of the US Congress. Eventually, he got
a contract job with OSC (Orbital Sciences Corporation), one of the small
aerospace companies that, without public acclaim, do valuable behind the scenes
work for NASA. There he worked on both the Taurus and Pegasus rockets and he
enjoyed developing a database that tracked aspects of rocket performance. He
was in touch with NASA employees regularly, and when a position related to his
experience came open, he applied, interviewed, and got the job.

Eventually, he wanted his own business, so he pursued an MBA at
The Darden School, University of Virginia. After graduation, the 1A Auto plan
emerged while Rick did consulting by day and launched eBay auction items far
into the night. The first year Rick went to work full-time at the business, he
took no salary, lived on money he had saved, and stayed in a loft room,
formerly his bedroom, above the garage he had helped his dad build.

1A Auto has grown fantastically, and, yes, Rick, with his
brother, did build that. The vision and the plan were his. Together they have
displayed an understanding of economics, perseverance, a strong work ethic, and
have laid out good guidelines for their staff. Rick visits small businesses
along the campaign trail because he loves seeing them prosper and, of course,
because many of them are restaurants that serve great food! If not over taxed
and over regulated, small businesses create 60% to 70% percent of new jobs in a
good economy. When businesses are created, grow, and create jobs, a larger tax
base is created. Under repressive taxing and regulating, these processes are reversed,
and the opposite occurs unless there is great demand for the products or
services available. He understands small businesses and what, legislative or
otherwise, helps or hurts them and their customers/clients.

Rick’s interest in and concern for small business influenced him
to co-found the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, perhaps the premiere government
watchdog in the state. Though he no longer leads the organization, he still
believes in the principles of fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability
in government. He has, thus, long worked to increase economic opportunity and
solve fiscal issues for our state’s citizens, entrepreneurs, and small
businesses.

Rick has gone, even swum, to great lengths to emphasize his
concerns about infrastructure. Of course, everyone is concerned about outdated
and failing bridges and roads, but Rick is well qualified to help speed the
processes of reparation or restoration. He understands any project from both an
engineering and a financial perspective, be an informed part of the discussion,
and simultaneously work to move the project along.

The opioid crisis is certainly a serious situation, perhaps the
most serious situation that we face today. Rick is fully aware of it, having
lost employees to it. In Congress, he will appoint a senior staffer to
coordinate federal, state, and local efforts with community-based organizations
focused on treatment, prevention, and education. Further, he will work for
co-ordination of federal, state, and local law enforcement to stem opioid
distribution.

As far as immigration is concerned, Rick has repeatedly supported
enforcing the rule of law. Open borders aid drug traffickers, human traffickers
of every kind. Sanctuary cities hide criminal elements which endanger both legal
immigrants and citizens. Our son-in-law is a naturalized citizen who paid a
hefty fee for the paperwork and followed the rules. He is a fine young man who
has made a valuable contribution to both our family and business. It is
interesting to note that neither he nor any of his very capable friends who
have become citizens have registered as Democrats. If asked to explain why
simply and quickly, their answer would probably go something like this, “We
grew up in the old Soviet Union. We know what it is like when government
controls everything.”

Anyone who has gone to school with Rick or known him for very
long knows that he has a good mind, a good heart, common sense, and the drive
to work hard for what he cares about. He has stated that he will not take a
government pension, not write a book, and never become a lobbyist because he
believes he should be a public servant who is not seeking a pathway to wealth.
If wealth is measured by family and friends who support him, then Rick is
already a wealthy man. Any other wealth depends upon perspective. He lives in a
nice neighborhood in Pepperell, and he drives a used car. He has never bought a
new one. He does not carry rolls of cash in his pockets, has never wasted money,
and he does not have millions in the bank. 1A Auto is worth a few million, but
he is not the only owner, and any assets are not easily liquefiable. Anyone
with minimal business sense knows that much small business profit must stay in
the business to spur growth and create jobs.

I have written this message with input from my husband and
family. We count our three children among our greatest achievements. They have
been assets to us, and Rick can be and wants to be an asset to you too. Please
consider going Green with us on November 6, 2018.

Janice Green

Pepperell

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