Matt Fabisch named head of R.I GOP

Who says there are no Jewish Republicans?

Matthew Fabisch has been named the new Executive Director of the Rhode Island Republican Party. In that position, he is in charge of the day-to-day operations of the state Party. Fabisch, 30, is an attorney who lives in Smithfield with his wife Michelle. He was a Republican candidate for Town Council there in 2012.

Fabisch grew up in Brockton, Mass., where he attended the Solomon Schechter School, participated in a shomer shabbat Boy Scout troop and went to the New Jewish High School of Greater Boston (now the Gann Academy).

Fabisch noted that the R.I. Republican Party has historically had active participation from the Jewish community, including former Attorneys General Richard Israel and Jeff Pine and General Treasurer Nancy Mayer. He pointed to current Jewish GOP leaders such as: East Greenwich Town Council President Michael Isaacs; Cranston GOP Secretary Eileen Grossman; Barrington GOP Secretary Martha Wallick; Johnson & Wales University College GOP leader Russell Taub; and Warren GOP Delegate Andrea Hittner Smiley (wife of state GOP Chairman Mark Smiley).

Fabisch, who has also served as the Legal Counsel for the Stephen Hopkins Center for Civil Rights, is considered an expert on issues involving school choice, 2nd Amendment rights and economic liberty.

When asked what appeal the Republican Party has to Jewish voters, Fabisch cited belief in restoring individual responsibility and in breaking the cycle of government dependency, while supporting private charitable and community good works.

He added, “My grandparents were Holocaust survivors. What drew me to constitutional law, and to politics, is the importance of preserving the opportunity to build a new life in this country, based on economic and religious liberties. I see these values most embodied in the Republican Party.”

Matt Fabisch (Mfabisch@rigop.org) will be speaking at the “Election 2014” Breakfast at Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road in East Greenwich, on Sunday, January 12, at 9:00 a.m. The breakfast is sponsored by the synagogue’s Men’s Club and Sisterhood. He will be joined by Sam Zurier, Jewish Democrat City Councilman of Providence.

David Talan (DaveTalan@aol.com) from Providence, a former candidate for mayor of Providence, is the Corresponding Secretary of the R.I. Republican Party. He can be reached at 941-3662.