Software engineer challenges Tierney

LYNN – Richard A. Baker Jr., a software engineer and patent protection expert from West Newbury is challenging U.S. Rep. John F. Tierney’s seat in the House of Representatives.Baker, 49, is admittedly shy on government experience, with the exception of two years as a member of the Pentucket Regional School Committee, but cites his international business experience as a major strength.A Republican with decidedly independent views, Baker said he was encouraged to run for Congress because many people he meets are dissatisfied with those currently in office in Washington, D.C. Referring to Tierney, he said, “We all see him as vulnerable. He doesn’t do a whole lot of work. And he seems to have an effect on people so that they either hate him or like him.”During an interview with The Item this week, Baker, who for the past 15 years has lived in West Newbury with his wife, Leisa Mingo, and their 12-year-old son, David, said his family has discussed the possibility of his winning the election and how it might impact their lives.”I’d like to home school my son. We don’t want to give up our house in West Newbury, so that would give us flexibility to go back and forth to Washington,” he said.The candidate works as director of intellectual property licensing at 3com in Marlborough. Previous experience includes software development, engineering management and patent protection. “I’m basically an engineer. I solve problems,” he said. “I’ve traveled a lot in my work – internationally – and when you have dinner with people from other countries, it gives you a whole new perspective on the United States. I think that’s a strength and something in my favor because it was part of my job in the private sector, not in government. It gave me insight.”Baker said his father, Richard Baker Sr., ran for state representative in 1960 and came in second on the ballot. “My father worked at GE, mostly in Fitchburg, but he spent his last few years before retirement in Lynn,” the candidate said.A 1981 graduate of the University of New Hampshire, Baker holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science and English, with a minor in electrical engineering. He enjoys hiking and fishing with his son, but admits he wouldn’t know what to do if he didn’t work.If elected, Baker said he would prefer membership on an appropriations committee or one involved with issues involving patent protection. He would support Congressional term limits – no more than three terms, which would ensure the elected official’s pension while fostering change.”I’m upset with the way Congress works right now, and so are a lot of other people,” he said. “I listen to the other side. I found that out while serving on the school committee. I started out as a conservative and I listened and I would work toward the middle.”Baker said the U.S. must not become a service economy and instead work to create manufacturing jobs. “We can retrain people, but we also have to make sure the jobs are here,” he said. “But we shouldn’t be retraining these people to work in a service economy.”A congressman must be a leader in the district, somebody who encourages the State House to make Massachusetts more business friendly, he said.Congress must also strive to protect U.S. patents. “We can’t just let China have our patents. Otherwise, our own firms will move there just to obtain the same level of costs. We have to support our engineers who create programs by protecting their creations.”Baker, the oldest of seven siblings, was incensed by President George Bush’s economic stimulus payment plan. “I had a real problem with that because he basically took the money from my son and gave it to me. So in the future, my son is going to have to pay back that debt. It’s not right,” he said, noting that average U.S. citizen owes more than $6,000 in terms of repaying the national debt.As for the government bailing out failing financial companies, he said, “I hate the idea of a President nationalizing business.”Baker said he supports