When Carver Select Board member Sarah Hewins learned that longtime 2nd Plymouth district representative Susan Williams Gifford lost her reelection campaign to primary challenger John Gaskey, she was “really surprised.”

According to Hewins, Gaskey’s win – with 59% of the 3,061 votes cast in the Sept. 3 Republican Primary – is part of what drove her to launch a write-in campaign for the seat representing Wareham, Carver and parts of Middleboro.

"Only 6% of the electorate voted for him,” Hewins said, explaining her decision to run. “I felt like I had to do this."

Gaskey “really is an extreme candidate,” said Hewins, who is a longtime Democrat. "He's against many bedrock issues that we both [Hewins and Gifford] support.”

In a pre-primary interview with Wareham Week, Gaskey talked about being a gun rights "absolutist," being “staunchly” pro-life and opposed to much of what the state is doing to shelter recently arrived immigrants.

Gaskey has not yet responded to a request for comment.

Hewins is currently serving her 16th year on the Carver Select Board. She also served two five-year terms on the Carver Planning Board and 15 years as conservation agent for the town.

“I've had a lot of success just getting things done. Not just saying that I'll do them but actually getting them done,” said Hewins.“One of the things that I learned in getting things done is: One, listening to people first. Second, lots and lots of hard work. It's not easy but it's certainly worth it."

According to Hewins, she plans to promote her campaign through social media, advertisements, and through two mailings.

Her career also includes 10 years as the chair of the seven-town Plymouth/Carver Aquifer Advisory committee and as commissioner for the Southeast Regional Planning and Economic Development District for five years.

Hewins, who said she has been recognized by the state for her environmental work, is using this and other policies as a foundation for her campaign.

"My biggest policies are taking care of the environment [and] affordable housing,” she said.

Hewins said that affordable housing should be implemented “in such a way to respect everyone, so that the housing units that are affordable are integrated into the market units.”

Additionally, she said she will advocate for seniors and children as well as for the cranberry industry.

Hewins said she plans to use her 30 years of experience in local politics to help her campaign.

"I have run many many campaigns before, successfully," said Hewins, who also unsuccessfully challenged Gifford for her seat in 2016 and 2018. "I have a pretty well rounded idea of how towns work and I think that I have a sense from my past two runs for state [representative] of Middleboro and Wareham. I have a sense of some of those towns’ priorities as well."