Quite simply, we need to get more quality Republican candidates elected to our state legislature. To do this, they will need support at the grassroots level. Here's why.

Research tells us that candidates are elected because of three voter perceptions:

• What the voter thinks of the candidate.
• What the voter thinks of the candidate's political party.
• What the voter thinks of the candidate's position on the issues.

Our Republican town and city committees are the only organizations that deal with these three critical perceptions at the local level.

And because all voting members of the Association of Massachusetts Republican Town & City Committee Chairmen (AMRC) are chairmen; the AMRC is the only organization dedicated to maintaining and strengthening these local committees on a peer basis -- experienced chairmen helping new chairmen, strong committees helping weak committees.

Year-in and year-out, only town and city committees work at the local level to identify and recruit candidates so that the Republican slate is filled with the most qualified candidates possible. And that every elective office has a Republican challenger.

Year-in and year-out, only town and city committees provide the local perspective to elected Republican officials, Republican candidates and the Republican State Committee -- town by town, and city by city.

Now that Massachusetts enjoys Republican leadership, it easy to forget the role that our town and city committees played in our Republican successes.

Yet, I'm sure that every elected Republican can tell you that it is far easier to win when you're backed by strong grassroots organizations. And very difficult to win if these organizations are disorganized or disrespected.

Now is the time to support the Association of Massachusetts Republican Town & City Committee Chairmen.

The question is:

• Will our candidates be able to look to strong, able local organizations to give them the crucial support that they need, and that only our town and city committees can give them?
• Or will they be forced to run campaigns weakened by lack of vigorous grassroots support?

We've come so far. Help build on our success.