As it stands, every single member of the Governor’s Council in Massachusetts is a Democrat.
Franklin resident Dashe Videira wants to change that.
The 35-year-old education consultant, who homeschools three of her four children, is running for Governor’s Council in the state’s Second District. She is running against the Democrat incumbent, Robert Jubinville of Milton, who has held the post since 2013.
She ran a write-in campaign in the Republican primary in September and got enough votes to win the party’s nomination for the November general election.
Videira told NewBostonPost that she is running because of her children.
“I believe they have the right to live in a more balanced and positive world,” she said in a telephone interview. “To do that, I knew I needed to take action and expand my voice. A dear friend and mentor pitched the idea of a sticker campaign back in July for Governors Council. When I started looking more into it, I knew it was a sign. It was a practical, realistic schedule for my mom life and an opportunity to offer more balance to the council coming in as a Republican who stood for family morals and values.”
If elected, Videira said she would like to give a voice to people whose views aren’t being represented on Beacon Hill, including in the governor’s council.
“My first priority is to say thank you to all those who gave me a chance to be a voice for them in government,” she said. “Second, I hope to offer a more ‘we the people’ voice to encourage others to run for office over the next few years. The republic originally crafted by the founding fathers was intended to be balanced. Currently, we are a one-party government. Third, I am focused on bringing a new fresh, and youthful energy to ask questions to gain more understanding, leadership, and partnership within the council.”
The Governor’s Council, which meets on Wednesdays, confirms judges to the state court system, votes on commutations, and votes to confirm members of certain boards in the state, including the parole board. Members of the Governor’s Council are elected for two-year terms representing one of eight districts that cover the state. The lieutenant governor presides over the Governor’s Council and breaks tie votes.
When asked what she thinks sets her apart from her opponent in this race, Videira said that her background would bring a unique perspective to the council.
“Education and experience within psychology, mental health awareness, and community development,” she said. “I will bring a true lens of diversity with a clear and realistic perspective of today’s mental health crisis. I am very involved within my district locally. I have an incredible ability to pay attention to details with a work experience in change management. We are in a critical time for change and a positive movement. I believe I have the skill sets to drive the Council in a more organized, realistic, and stable direction.”
Videira has a master’s degree from the University of the Rockies in psychology, a private college in Colorado that closed down in 2018.
To make it onto the November ballot, Videira faced an uphill battle. She announced her bid for Governor’s Council in mid-July. She needed 1,000 write-in votes to make the ballot since the candidate signature deadline had already passed to get onto the primary ballot. She succeeded, getting 1,093 votes, according to the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office.
Videira said the person who asked her to run for the council this year was the same person who asked her to run for school committee last year: Franklin Republican Town Committee chairman Alan Earls.
“Towards the end of last summer, I had this man Alan Earls, Franklin RTC chair and Franklin Observer editor, knock on my door,” she said. “He showed up three times until I was ready to say yes to a meeting. The first meeting I felt obligated to say yes to running for School Committee. I ran on a platform of medical, spiritual, and educational freedom. Even made yard signs that said that. And it was a wild ride. I never won a seat, but I won an army. It was a true prayer answered.”
“When my dear friend pitched the idea of Governors Council, things just made sense,” she added. “So we said yes, and asked for another prayer. Absolute miracle that we made it on the ballot! As challenging as a primary race can be, we were so blessed to have a victory with 1000 votes! Totally proved we had the support and we were going to do this.”
As Videira notes, she ran for Franklin School Committee last November. She received 1,053 votes, finishing 12th out of 12 candidates running for seven seats.
Given the Governor’s Council’s authority to vote to approve pardons and commutations issued by the governor, Videira said she is willing to hear people’s cases and give fair considerations on a case-by-case basis.
“One of the biggest difficulties we are facing is a mental health crisis,” she said. “It is critical to pay attention to details when making any decisions regarding pardons. I will bring my background in psychology with a ‘we the people’ voice from past life experiences to determine a fair and just decision regarding a pardon. Pardons require one to do their due diligence in the criminal, pay attention to details of their behavior, and focus on the moral … and need of the community after a release.”
The second governor’s council district includes: Ashland, Attleboro, Avon, Bellingham, Braintree, (Precincts 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B1, 4A, 5A, 5B, 6B), Bridgewater, Brockton, Canton, Dover, East Bridgewater, Easton, Foxborough, Framingham, Franklin, Halifax, Hanson, Holliston, Hopkinton, Mansfield, Medfield, Medway, Milford, Millis, Milton, Natick, Needham, Norfolk, North Attleborough, Norton, Plainville, Randolph, Sharon, Sherborn, Stoughton, West Bridgewater, Whitman, and Wrentham.
Jubinville could not be reached for comment on Tuesday or Wednesday this week.
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Screenshot from Franklin All Access TV 
