About Our Committee

The Republican voice of Orleans — working to put real choices in front of the voters of our town.

Who We Are

We are the Orleans Republican Town Committee — the official, elected body of the Republican Party in the Town of Orleans. Our members come from every walk of life: varied careers, backgrounds, faiths, and ages, united in a shared commitment to the Constitution and to electing Republican candidates for local, county, state, and national office. We are one of the longer-standing committees in the network, having filed continuously with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance since at least 2016.

The Town That Chose Its Own Name

By an act of the General Court passed March 1, 1797 and signed by Governor Samuel Adams two days later, the southern half of Eastham became the Town of Orleans. It took its name from Louis Philippe Joseph, Duke of Orléans — a deliberate thank-you to France for her help in the Revolution, and a deliberate refusal of an English one. The town’s own history credits the idea to Isaac Snow, an Orleans patriot whom the British captured twice and confined to a prison ship in England, and who escaped and made his way home by way of France. As the town puts it: “Orleans is the only town on Cape Cod with a French name.”

The landmark on our seal is the Jonathan Young Windmill — a smock mill believed built around 1720 in South Orleans, among the oldest surviving windmills in the United States, and still carrying hand-hewn timber from its original construction. It ground grain on the Town Cove hill, spent most of a century in Hyannisport, and was brought home and rebuilt by the Orleans Historical Society at Windmill Park, where it stands today.

And on July 21, 1918, the German submarine U-156 surfaced off Nauset Beach and shelled a tug and its barges, putting rounds onto the Orleans shore — making this town the only place on United States soil to come under enemy fire in the First World War. Orleans has been where the country’s edge is for a long time. We carry that inheritance forward — the belief that power belongs to the people, not the government.

Our Mission & Vision

The mission of the Orleans Republican Town Committee is to support the work of the Republican Party, at all levels of government, and to promote the principles of freedom, equality, and justice as intended by the founders of the Constitution of the United States. In doing so, we advocate for:

  • The maintenance of our role as leader of the free world and a strong sense of pride in our country and our heritage;
  • One government, “of, by, and for the people,” that minimizes its intervention in the lives of its citizens by promoting individual responsibility, initiative, volunteerism, and entrepreneurship, together with corporate responsibility;
  • Recognition of the need for good character and integrity, and the strengthening and defense of the institution of family.

Our vision is to be seen as protectors and advocates of freedom, equality, and justice; allies to our citizenry who enhance the potential and dignity of each individual; defenders of our country and our heritage; and advocates of the family and of sound character and integrity — the party that invites the community to discuss issues, share ideas, express concerns, and arrive at solutions.

Core Beliefs — The Republican Oath

I believe that the proper function of government is to do for the people those things that have to be done but cannot be done, or cannot be done as well, by individuals — and that the most effective government is government closest to the people.

I believe that good government is based on the individual, and that each person’s ability, dignity, freedom, and responsibility must be honored and recognized.

I believe that free enterprise and the encouragement of individual initiative and incentive have given this nation an economic system second to none.

I believe that sound money policy should be our goal.

I believe in equal rights, equal justice, and equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, creed, age, sex, national origin, or disability.

I believe we must retain those principles worth retaining, yet always be receptive to new ideas with an outlook broad enough to accommodate thoughtful change and varying points of view.

I believe that Americans value and should preserve their feeling of national strength and pride, and, at the same time, share with people everywhere a desire for peace, freedom, and the extension of human rights.

Finally, I believe that the Republican Party is the best vehicle for translating these ideals into positive and successful principles of government.

What We Do

We’re not a brochure — we’re an active committee. Among the things we do:

  • Recruit and support Orleans residents willing to put their name on the ballot — for town office and for state and county seats;
  • Provide financial support and volunteer hours to Republican candidates at the national, state, county, and local levels;
  • Hold sign standouts and rallies for our candidates, and get our message in front of Orleans voters;
  • Hold regular committee meetings that are open to every Republican and Independent in town;
  • Work alongside the other committees in the Massachusetts RTC network so our towns speak with one voice;
  • Keep our neighbors informed about what is happening in Town government — see Town Meetings.

Committee Leadership

The committee is led by an elected slate of volunteers who give their time to keep the Republican organization in Orleans strong. The committee is registered with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance as the Orleans Republican Town Committee (OCPF CPF ID 76422).

Chair
Peter H. O’Meara
Treasurer
Gordon Smith

The full slate of officers will be published here shortly. In the meantime, the fastest way to reach the committee is our contact form — it goes straight to us.

Our Meetings

The committee’s next meetings — with the current date, time, and location — are always listed on our Meetings page. All Republicans and Independents are welcome — come meet the team, hear what we’re working on, and find your place in it.

Get Involved

Whether you can give an hour a month or an evening a week, there is a place for you here. Find out how to join, or reach out to the committee directly.