When he launched his 2010 campaign for the House of Representatives, Ryan Fattman's chances of winning were considered a long shot. Running against a long term incumbent, Ryan was projected to lose big. But, after taking his campaign to the people, visiting them door-to-door and pledging to stand up against Beacon Hill's practice of raising taxes and cutting local services, Ryan won a decisive victory and was elected to the House of Representatives.

Today, Representative Ryan Fattman is proud and humbled to serve the people of the 18th Worcester District. With a 100% voting attendance record,  Ryan works daily to fulfill his promise of making Massachusetts a place we are proud to call home; a place where people want to live, raise their families, and spend their entire lives.

Ryan’s adherence to Massachusetts is influenced by his parents. The first in his family to graduate from college, Don Fattman came to Massachusetts to start his career in business when General Mills relocated out of his home town in Pennsylvania. Ryan’s mom, Ann, pursued her love for teaching by opening and managing a local pre-school. Together, Don and Ann started their family in a small Massachusetts town.

What Ryan saw within the walls of his home shaped his life. His two hard-working, loving, and self-made parents instilled in him simple, small town values. Growing up in Sutton, Ryan learned the importance of hard work, family, and faith in God, community, and country. These values have guided Ryan's own life and informed his political views.

Ryan was elected to the Sutton Board of Selectmen at the age of 21, making him the youngest Selectmen in the town’s history. His youth allowed him to flourish and bring fresh, new ideas to the town. After helping to lure businesses to Sutton to create jobs on RT 146 with TIF agreements, reducing property taxes for the elderly, creating a master plan for Marion’s Camp, and improving cellular communications in Sutton, Ryan was overwhelmingly re-elected to the Board at the age 24.

In 2010, Ryan launched his campaign for State Representative because he believed Massachusetts needed to change direction. High taxes were causing businesses and families to leave to other states. Year after year, cuts to local aid devastated communities’ services like education, snow plowing, and road maintenance. Corruption on Beacon Hill ran rampant, and perks and privileges for politicians seemed to be bankrupting Massachusetts, both financially and morally.

Despite being outspent nearly 2-1, Ryan defeated an entrenched four term politician in every town in the district. The day after the election, Ryan stood in each town center to hold a “thank you” sign to show voters his appreciation for their support.    

Today, Ryan is working to make Massachusetts a place we are proud to call home. In his first term as State Representative, Ryan has maintained a 100% voting attendance record. He has voted twice to freeze unemployment tax hikes to create jobs, and was a lead sponsor to restore $65 million in local aid cuts made by Governor Patrick. Because of this effort, the towns of Webster, Douglas, Oxford and Sutton received over $369,000 for local town services.

Coming from a  family of small business owners, helping small business owners put people back to work has been a top priority for Ryan. He has successfully fought against new taxes that will hurt hiring, and is staunchly opposed to collecting Internet sales taxes.  He has also sponsored numerous pieces of jobs legislation, including “The Small Business Competitive Act.”

Ryan has led the effort to stop illegal immigration, voting to require proper identification so only US Citizens and legal immigrants receive public benefits. He has filed legislation to penalize employers who intentionally hire illegal immigrants in place of legal citizens or legal immigrants. He supports the Secure Communities program which would deport dangerous criminals convicted of crimes who are also illegal immigrants. 

In his service, Ryan has learned a simple truth. Stay close to your constituents. Public officials are here to serve the people, the people are not here to serve the officials. Ryan is owned by no one, votes his conscious, and promotes his true passion: to help improve the community and bring to the people changes that are necessary to make their daily lives better.

Years after Ryan’s father came to Massachusetts to start his own life, build a career, and start his family, Ryan is ready to do the same.  Recently engaged to his high school sweetheart, Stephanie Kotseas, Ryan recognizes that people in Massachusetts and their children deserve a bright future. He wants to help Massachusetts establish a thriving economy devoid of burdensome regulations and taxes and focus on delivering local government services as efficiently as possible. One day , Ryan and Stephanie will start a family, and Ryan works hard to build a strong and prosperous Massachusetts that their children will be blessed to inherit.