Franks 2010 campaign manager, Kevin Sowyrda, said a key factor in the congressmans decision was that the newly drawn up congressional district strips away New Bedford from Frank. The South Coast, heavily Democratic, pro-union fishing city has long been a prime power base for Frank, but his new district now includes several more moderate suburban towns, such as Walpole, rather than New Bedford.
Its a tougher district, said Sowyrda, who was recently hired as a consultant by Frank to analyze the new district. Barney was not thrilled at all with the map when he saw it. New Bedford, where his vote was huge, was sliced. His exact words to me were, They didnt do me any favors.