Tisei trying new game plan

LYNN – Republican Richard Tisei knows he needs to change his strategy if he hopes to gain a foothold in Lynn during this year?s challenge to U.S. Rep. John Tierney.?I definitely have to do better in Lynn,” said Tisei as he assessed his ability to defeat the nine-term Tierney, who narrowly fended off a challenge in 2012.Tisei won his Wakefield hometown by 4,000 votes two years ago but lost Lynn to Tierney by 13,509 votes. Tisei said he “spread myself too thin” in his 2012 campaign and still only lost in each 6th Congressional District community by an average of 110 votes.?Especially in Lynn there was a lot of mail that went out saying I was an extreme Republican,” he told reporters and editors of The Daily Item on Wednesday.The 51-year-old real estate entrepreneur is telling voters he can work with Democrats and still be effective in a Republican-dominated Congress.Libertarian Daniel Fishman grabbed 16,700 votes in the 2012 final election. This year?s 6th District race finds Tierney, a Salem Democrat elected in 1996, facing challengers Seth Moulton and Marisa DeFranco in the primary election preceding the November final election.With more than half the district?s voters casting themselves as Independents, Tisei said residents living in district communities ranging from Saugus to Amesbury are tired of congressional inaction.His stances on national issues include:? Seek waivers from the federal Affordable Care Act aimed at keeping intact main features of the state health care insurance system put in place in 2007, including flexibility for insurers to adjust premiums.? Tie minimum wage hikes to tax credits aimed at minimizing job losses in small businesses.? Scrutinize colleges and universities to determine why tuition rates are rising and how many graduates land jobs.? Lower the corporate tax rate “across the board.”? Create a “legal category” allowing immigrants now living illegally in the country to work, pay taxes and obtain driver?s licenses.? Reshape U.S. foreign policy to put the country “on the side of freedom” in dealing with other nations.Tisei served in the state Legislature from 1985 to 2010 when he ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor with Charlie Baker of Swampscott, who is gunning for the governor?s office again this year. He said his legislative track record includes success in passing reforms for veterans and teachers.Echoing a theme from his 2012 campaign, he said he parted ways on legislative issues with former Gov. Mitt Romney almost as often as he supported Romney?s positions.?My style is to try to get things done, not to poke someone in the eye. I will be in the majority but I will be in the group trying to work out compromises on things,” he said.Tisei said his 2012 campaign “started a movement to give people a choice” – a movement he hopes to continue into this year.?All I have to do is get to meet enough people,” he said.