Gay-marriage foe files for House run

The former Georgia state lawmaker who is spearheading the opposition to gay marriage in Massachusetts was one of six Republicans who filed papers yesterday to take on the state's 10 Democratic congressmen -- a sizable crop given the GOP's longstanding trouble recruiting strong congressional competitors.

Ronald A. Crews, a US Army chaplain who runs the Massachusetts Family Institute, said yesterday he will almost certainly run for the US House against Representative James P. McGovern, Democrat of Worcester, virtually ensuring a major role for the hot-button issue of same-sex marriage in the fall election. Crews said he will make a formal announcement of his candidacy at some point after municipal and state officials certify the signatures he filed yesterday at town halls in the Third Congressional District.

"I think that my candidacy will give a vehicle to continue to speak to this [same-sex marriage] issue, although I will not be a single issue candidate," said Crews, who lives in Ashland.

Crews said he will step down from his position running the Family Institute upon officially declaring his candidacy.

Democrats yesterday labeled Crews, a believer in creationism, a "right wing extremist."

Crews "came up here from Georgia to spread his divisive message in this state, and I don't think he will succeed," said Philip Johnston, chairman of the state Democratic Party.

Aides to Governor Mitt Romney did not return calls seeking comment on the candidacy, but Dominick Ianno, executive director of the state Republican Party, said party officials were "strongly encouraged" by Crews's ability to gather support so quickly.

"That was an impressive grassroots effort that Ron's campaign put in," Ianno said. "We think he will make a very strong candidate for Congress."

McGovern, a native of the district in his fourth term, supports extending marriage rights to same-sex couples, but said yesterday that his appeal to voters in the Third District extends far beyond that issue.

"It's not a single-issue district," McGovern said. Jobs, health care, education, environment, and prescription drugs, "those are the issues people care about. . . . This, to me, is about my record, and I'm proud of what I've done."

McGovern's colleagues face Republican candidates with far stronger ties to the districts they represent than those of Crews.

Ianno, the Republican party executive director said the other races shape up as follows: Representative John Tierney of Salem will face lawyer Stephen P. O'Malley Jr.; Representative William D. Delahunt of Quincy will square off against Washington legislative strategist Michael Jones; Representative Martin T. Meehan of Lowell will be opposed by management consultant Ilana Freedman; Representative Edward Markey of Malden will run against educator Ken Chase, and Representative John Olver of Amherst will campaign against Orange Selectman Steven Adam.