Election 2018: Candidate Profile Of Tracy Lovvorn

A Grafton Republican has thrown her bid in to try and up-seat Jim McGovern, democrat representative for the 2nd Congressional District in Massachusetts since 2013.

Patch asked candidates in all contested races a series of questions to help introduce themselves to voters. Today we introduce readers to Tracy Lyn Lovvorn, who is 46 and married with two sons. She's got a Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology/Athletic Training from San Diego State University and a Master of Physical Therapy from Mount St. Mary's University. She's the founder and owner of Evolution Therapeutics. She also served as the Boys Youth Basketball's coach, a member of the Grafton Planning Board, taught Sunday School and was an IAABO Board 26 referee.

"I grew up on a farm," Lovorn told Patch. "I lost my parents at very young ages, and put myself through college. I am a wife of 24 years, a mother, a healthcare provider, operational manager, CEO, and small business owner. I was a college athlete, Cub Scout leader and coach. I have lived and worked all across the country."

To Lovvorn, the single most pressing issue is what she calls extreme partisanship. Her goal, she said, is to cut down on the extreme partisan gridlock in Washington that for years has led to increased division, and accomplished little.

"I believe that as a people, we have more in common than we have at odds," she said. "This is what I am going to focus on. I have a track record of bringing people together, finding common ground and goals, reaching across the aisle, and making positive things happen. I will focus on the needs of our district, and I will listen."

Soliciting feedback before voting, she said she'll offer transparent justification and reasoning behind all of her actions. In other words, every voter will know why, exactly, she's doing what she's doing.

"I hear it all the time and I listen when people tell me that they miss the days of Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neal," said Lovvorn. "When people in Washington could fight, like only brothers can fight, but at the end of the day still had the best interest of the family, our country, at heart. This is the perspective I promise to bring to the honor of being our U.S. Representative."

What is the critical difference between Lovvern and her opponent, Jim McGovern?

"I wholeheartedly believe in our Constitutional Republic," she said in response. "I support a fiscally responsible government, lower taxation and a decrease in excess regulations that stifles growth and production. I believe in smaller government and increased focus on state and individual rights with commensurate increase in accountability. I believe in the U.S. Constitution and the freedoms it bestows and I believe in empowerment. I believe in ‘a help up’ versus ‘a hand out’ and I believe that every citizen deserves respect and the assumption of good, until otherwise proven.

"My opponent's track record supports higher taxes, increased regulation, and increased governmental control. He wants to abolish ICE and he supports sanctuary cities and states. His platform aligns with the Progressive Caucus and Democratic Socialist agenda and he unapologetically discounts and suppresses the voices of at least half of his constituents throughout the district based on his own personal agenda and beliefs."

In his nearly 22 years in office, Lovvorn argues that McGovern is the "fifth most partisan member" of the 435 member Congress, aligning with Nancy Pelosi 95 percent of the time.

"This does not reflect the needs of Central and Western Massachusetts," Lovvorn tells Patch. "Washington is a log jam of partisan politics, and he is woven into the fabric of dysfunction in DC. He is historically one of the least bi-partisan members of Congress."

The largest city in the district, Worcester in April was rated by USA Today as one of the 20 most extreme poverty stricken cities in the country, Lovvern points out. It's on a list with Baltimore and Detroit. And statistics released recently showed that poverty rate has increased over the past year, while other cities and towns have declined significantly, she said. More than 20 percent of Worcester's households make less than $15,000 per year.

"Support for job creation in Worcester and throughout our District has not been supported by our Congressman whose track record is that of anti-business," Lovvorn told Patch. "He voted no to the recent tax cuts and regulatory reforms, and his historical cumulative Chamber of Commerce score is just 36 percent of a possible 100. Our current Representative has been non-productive and ineffective. In Jim McGovern's first 20 years in office he was responsible for writing eight bills that made it through the process of becoming enacted and being signed by the President. Six of which were the naming of government buildings. Our current Congressman is quick to find fault, point fingers , and cast blame, but he has failed in being able to impact and implement positive change on a national and local level."

Lovvern said the focus should be on healthcare and immigration reform, growth in well-paying jobs and infrastructure.

"With so much happening in the world around us, now more than ever is not the time to resist and fight, now is the time to roll up our sleeves, work together, and get things done," said Lovvorn. "We should be focusing on the care of our seniors, our military, our veterans, and the safety of our children. We have mental health and opioid crises to overcome, and college costs and congressional terms that we need to limit."

Her top three initiatives:

• Passing immigration reform that clearly defines a fair, humane and lawful pathway to citizenship, and establishes Massachusetts as a national leader on this issue. This has been a problem for decades and deserves solid resolution for all involved.
• If there is one thing we should all agree on it’s that high-quality infrastructure is essential to safety, security, as well as economic growth. Passing a sizable bi-partisan infrastructure bill that works with private industry, to match the urgency of the situation. A bill that ensures soundness of our roads, bridges, rails, locks and dams. We deserve a secure reliable electric grid, safe gas lines, and functioning water treatment systems.
• Bringing focus to the health and safety of our youth. Children in our Country are shooting each other with guns and shooting themselves up with heroin. Mental health issues are pervasive and suicide is a leading cause of death. Obesity, diabetes, and heart disease are increasing and for the first time our kids are at risk of having a lower life expectancy than their parents. This needs to change.

"Whether in the home, on the field, court, clinic, or in the boardroom," she told Patch, "I know what it takes to balance and meet a diverse set of needs with limited resources and I know what it takes for a team to be successful. As a private citizen I sacrificed my career and I worked with the Office of Inspector General and the Department of Health and Human Services in DC and the Assistant US Attorney Generals Office in Philadelphia to fight Medicare fraud and patient abuse. After five long years of active discovery, my actions set precedent that has resulted in $100’s of millions of dollars being returned to the Medicare Trust Fund and changes being made to help protect our most frail and elderly citizens being cared for in the skilled nursing environment. I bring with me a proven ability to not only identify wrongs but a track record in actively working to right them, to accomplish goals and support justice."

The best advice she's ever received? "Always have to have a goal in mind, always need a plan to follow, and there is nothing as consistent as change, so always be ready to modify the plan."

The 2nd Congressional District includes, in Norfolk County, Precincts 4A and 5 in Bellingham. In Worcester County, the district includes Athol, Auburn, Barre, Blackstone, Boylston, Douglas, Grafton, Hardwick, Holden, Hubbardston, Leicester, Leominster, Mendon, Millbury, Millville, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Northborough, Northbridge, Oakham, Oxford, Paxton, Petersham, Phillipston, Princeton, Royalston, Rutland, Shrewsbury, Spencer, Sterling, Sutton, Templeton, Upton, Uxbridge, Webster, West Boylston, West Brookfield, Westborough, Worcester and Precinct 1 in Winchendon. It also includes several towns and communities in Hampden, Franklin and Hampshire counties.

Photo submitted