Republican Jim Ogonowski sets up campaign headquarters in Chelmsford

On the second floor of a small building on Chelmsford Street, Republican Congressional candidate Jim Ogonowski has set up his campaign headquarters.

He chose Chelmsford because the town is located in the middle of the Fifth Congressional District, and the landlord is an old farming friend, according to campaign staff.

Inside, the once bare apartment has shelves of campaign literature, a makeshift communications center and snack food for staff and volunteers.

“To get [Ogonowski] out there takes planning, and that’s what we do here,” said Ladd Moore, the campaign’s political director. “A lot of the real work goes on outside the office.”

Ogonowski has motivated his campaign staff to get behind him in his first bid for a political office.

“I don’t care who else is in the race. I’m just excited that Jim’s in the race,” said Ladd, a veteran of Kerry Healey’s campaign for governor. “We started out with a few friends and a pickup truck.”

The candidate’s extended family has played a big role in getting his campaign off the ground, Ogonowski’s staff said, so has his ties to the agricultural community.

Ogonowski’s farmer work ethic sets him apart from other candidates, said Valerie Smith, his spokesman.

“He’s not walking around, talking in a suit all day long. Jim gets up in the morning, four or five, and delivers hay,” Smith said.

Throughout the campaign, Ogonowski has tried to avoid traditional party lines, said Smith. “He’s frustrated by partisan politics.”

The former Air Force lieutenant colonel does not support the proposed immigration bill in Congress because it gives undocumented immigrants amnesty, said Smith.

But he called the bill “a good start,” because it has the support of the Democratic Congress and the Republican administration, Smith said.

In terms of managing his campaign, all Ogonowski needs is someone to point him toward a group of people to talk to, and he will take it from there, according to his campaign workers.

“He’s definitely not poll-testing any issues,” Ladd said. “I don’t think he’s afraid to stand up for what he believes in.”

“He’s a natural,” said Valerie Smith, his spokesman. “One of the most obvious things you learn working with him is he loves meeting people.”

Before she became spokesman for Ogonowski, Smith worked for Homeland Security, in the press office. Though the workload is about the same, Smith said, working on a campaign is more predictable.

Both Smith and Ladd hail from the West Coast. But the campaign has grass roots, Smith said — the first people to get fundraising letters were Ogonowski’s friends and family. Now the campaign has a page on Facebook.com.

Some traditions are developing around the campaign headquarters, such as ordering pizza for staff and volunteers, and going out for breakfast on Fridays.

The campaign staff has developed camaraderie, according to Smith.

“It becomes close, getting to know each other, working long hours, eating meals in the office,” Smith said. “Every day, we’re ordering food for the volunteers, for the interns.”

The greatest challenge will be mobilizing voters through the summer vacation months, said Ladd. The primary is about 10 weeks away.

“We have a short timeframe,” Ladd said. “There’s never going to be a moment between now and the end of the campaign when we don’t have lots of work to do.”

The campaign will not reveal how much money they have raised until July 15, when the Federal Elections Commission requires it, Ladd said.

Ogonowski had not intended to declare his candidacy until June 1, according to Ladd. The secret got out that he was planning a run, so Ogonowski decided to formally announce, Ladd said.

“His candidacy has been able to generate a huge amount of support very quickly,” said Ladd. “It’s almost too early to tell what his chances are.”

The campaign will aim to reach everyone in the district rather than targeting any specific group, said Ladd. “[Ogonowski is] going to talk about himself and his issues. We’ll be targeting everyone. We’ll see where his message sticks.”

Andy Metzger can be reached at ametzger@cnc.com or at 978-371-5745.