He served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1965 – 1968 , Sheriff of Suffolk County , Massachusetts from 1968 – 1969 . He was Metropolitan District Commissioner from 1970 – 1975 , He was Chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party from 1975 – 1976 . He ran for municipal office and served as a Boston City Councilor from 1980 – 1981 . He was a candidate for Mayor of Boston in 1967 , Secretary of the Commonwealth in 1978 . He was the Republican candidate for Governor of Massachusetts in 1982 . Sears received one vote for the Vice Presidential nomination at the 1976 Republican National Convention
1976 Republican National Convention
1976 Republican National Convention
John W. Sears