Anthony "Coach Tony" O'Brien, former Navy officer, candidate for Board of County Commissioners
PSA. There are 26 towns and one city in the county: Abington, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Hingham, Hull, Kingston, Lakeville, Marion, Marshfield, Mattapoisett, Middleboro, Norwell, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rochester, Rockland, Scituate, Wareham, West Bridgewater, Whitman.
Anthony O'Brien asks for your vote, and family and friends' votes
Reminder. General-final election day is Nov. 3, 2026.
Anthony O’Brien is a candidate for a position on the Board of County Commissioners in Plymouth County. Our 26 towns, plus the city of Brockton, are listed on his UPDATED website www.AnthonyOBrien.com
O’Brien wins Primary Election over Plymouth County Commissioner Wright
In the state Primary election on the Republican ballot for a position on the Plymouth County Board of Commissioners, Anthony O’Brien of Pembroke won over incumbent Commissioner Sandra Wright of Bridgewater and Korey Welch of Rockland.
Incumbent Wright is finishing 16 years of service in her fourth term.
Democrat Rhonda Nyman of Hanover was unopposed on the Democrat Primary ballot. As their respective party nominees, Nyman and O’Brien will compete in the General election on Nov. 3.
O’Brien received 12,661 votes or 47%, Wright received 9,837 or 36%, and Welch received 4,808 votes or 17%. (Several media sources)
On social media, Commissioner Wright and Welch, as well as Commissioner Jared Valanzola, have congratulated O’Brien and expressed support for O’Brien’s General election campaign.
The Commissioner’s race was one of the very few contested Primary races in both parties statewide. O’Brien was one of the very few challengers to beat an incumbent.
O’Brien’s message included his goals to improve outreach, services, and teamwork.
Plymouth County consists of 27 municipalities including the city of Brockton and the town of Plymouth. O’Brien received the most votes in 22 of the 27 municipalities.
There are three elected Plymouth County Commissioners including Wright, Democrat Gregory Hanley of Abington, and Republican Jared Valanzola of Plymouth. They each serve terms of four years.
The positions for Hanley and Valanzola are on the ballot for U.S. President every four years. Wright’s position is on the ballot for Governor every four years.
The Commissioners ensure executive oversight for county government which is mostly the Register of Deeds and maintenance at the county courthouses. The county government headquarters is in Plymouth.
For more information about the O’Brien campaign please visit www.AnthonyOBrien.com
Please contact him via cell-text (508) 868-2547.
Why run? Love of country, community, family, and public service.
His positions include Pro-Life, pro-Prop 2½, pro-term limits, pro-Legal immigration, and pro-voter ID; plus Anti-Waste/Fraud/Abuse, anti-sanctuary/woke, anti-socialism, and anti-cultures that support terrorism against Americans (like some Dems supporting radical Islamists).
He is a blessed Dad of Anthony (15) and James Donald (13) both great student-athletes and followers of Jesus. Thank you to their Mom Staci for this greatest gift! O’Brien has served as a youth coach for their teams for years.
He earned a degree in Business Administration from Stonehill College.
With decades of management and leadership experience, he has been a member of several boards overseeing budgets, personnel, and properties helping our communities.
He is running to improve efficiencies, outreach, services, and teamwork.
More information about O’Brien can be found on www.AnthonyOBrien.com, facebook and LinkedIn.com which have been updated.
Please share this information via social media, facebook, LinkedIn, emails, and texts with family and friends. Please contact O’Brien if your group has meetings or events or if anyone has a great sign location or wants to donate to the campaign.
His cell-text (508) 868-2547
To donate via check to "Committee to elect Anthony O'Brien" PO Box 27 Pembroke MA 02359
Link to donate
https://secure.winred.com/committee-to-elect-anthony-o-brien/donate-today
Most importantly thank you for your friendship!
Most recent unresolved big problem in county government: wrongful hiring of new County Administrator
This summer, the County government posted a job opening to hire a new County Administrator. The posted salary range was $100,000 to $125,000. (Records show outgoing Administrator's salary was $122,000.)
However, a Selection Committee member said their top pick is a "good friend." (He can’t do that, it’s a violation of State Ethics laws on Conflicts of Interests obviously.) Commissioner Wright said the same thing, he’s a “very good friend.” Same conflict.
The state conducts training on Conflict of Interest laws for all employees every year.
The "good friend" was selected to be hired by Commissioner Hanley and Commissioner Wright. Commissioner Valanzola strongly protested and objected to the obviously flawed if not illegal selection and hiring.
It is likely he may not have been selected anywhere else, where he was not a good friend, due to his highly questionable record in his last few positions as a municipal official, most recently in Brockton. Under his watch as CFO, it was widely publicized that the city somehow lost an estimated $18 million dollars in the schools dept. There are still many unanswered questions from that fiasco.
His latest selection was a situation obviously requiring much more ethical officials doing a little bit more review of records and open-source media. (The Commissioners, like most voters who follow government news, were well-aware of their friend-selectee's problems.) A proper review of any applicant's record must include more than a friendship test.
When a top question is 'With so many problems in his record on the public record and in public media, would he have been selected by any other hiring officials, or even any other friends, anywhere for a similar position?' then we have a big problem.
What's the big deal? This almost never happens. Almost no officials anywhere make these errors or so publicly commit basic, obvious favoritism-nepotism for a friend to an executive position.
Theres more.
Not only did Commissioner Hanley and Commissioner Wright hire a "good friend," but they ADDED over 50% ($60,000) to the posted salary in his agreement - another unprecedented action - and a historic salary of $185,000. A primary consideration for the salary increase, discussed in the public meeting, was to bring the county position's salary closer to the selectee's most recent salary of $250,000 in Brockton. Of course, that should never be a consideration for any salary for any position and all involved here know it The salary belongs to the position and its duties, the salary does not belong to any applicant.
These unprecedented actions may have many illegal "errors" or violations of law raising several important legal questions and exposing the county to significant legal and financial liability. There's more.
And to complicate the legal problems further, Commissioner Hanley and Commissioner Wright attempted to make room in the budget for this suspicious hire and $60,000 increase to the posted salary so they terminated 2 employees at the same meeting. Again highly unusual. And more.
Public sources say this unusual action was done despite the very strong protests of Commissioner Valanzola, and the county Treasurer, and county Advisory Board Reps strongly advising Hanley and Wright against this. (The Advisory Board is like a legislative branch with budget duties for the county.) There's more.
More questions about the ethics issues: Many have said they may have intentionally committed a “bait and switch” stunt for "a good friend" by posting a lower salary range to discourage more applicants, thus making the "friend/less-qualified applicant" seem more qualified and more competitive, then hired the good friend from a smaller pool of applicants, then increased the posted salary for the good friend. It obviously appears that way. These unprecedented problems will likely lead to complaints to the state Ethics office and/or Inspector General and lawsuits against the county from several interested parties.
Due to the massively flawed if not illegal process, the Secretary of State, state Ethics office, Inspector General and/or Clerk of Court should conduct an investigation.
If wrongdoing is found then appropriate actions should be taken to immediately suspend the Administrator's contract and suspend his service to the county until an appropriate investigation is conducted and ideally restart the proper hire process again.
https://southshoretimes.com/towns/official-alleges-the-fix-was-in-with-plymouth-county-hiring
We are already paying over 40% - 40% !! - of our income to government! At least 25% of our income to federal taxes, 8-10% to state taxes/fees, and 8-10% to local taxes/fees. We are Taxed Enough Already!
Again, please share this info with your friends and contacts to help our campaign for better government.
Introduction
Anthony O'Brien, Sr. served tours in the Marine Corps and the Navy and now serves as a Deputy Sheriff with the Plymouth County Sheriff's Office. He coaches his children in sports and clients in weight loss and fitness.
His Dad Don O'Brien was the first Deacon at St. Edward Church (now St. Edith) in Brockton. Don and his 3 brothers served in the military and inspired Tony to follow their example to serve.
With 14 siblings (mostly from 2 stepFamilies) & a family of nurses & veterans, Tony's greatest joy is serving as Dad to Anthony Jr (14) & James Donald (12) with max gratitude for his family's generations of dedication to faith, family, education, community & country.
Tony O'Brien is a former Navy SEAL Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) who served at SEAL Team FIVE & SDV Team ONE. A veteran of seven overseas deployments to 25 countries, he led platoons & task units for crisis response throughout Asia, the Middle East & Europe and trained in 30 states throughout the US.
He worked with US Secret Service details for US Presidents (Pres. Bush Sr, Pres. Clinton, Pres. Bush Jr). LCDR O'Brien's awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, NATO Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal, French Fouragere decoration, and commendations from the Secretary of Defense & President Bush Jr.
As a former Navy SEAL officer & graduate of the Command & Staff College focusing on strategic planning & operations, he is an expert in mission planning & execution and a mission-oriented mindset helping individuals & teams maximize mission success in life and/or business through his program SEAL Boot Camp.
Contact: cell-text (508) 868-2547 AnthonyThomasOBrien@yahoo.com
facebook.com/AnthonyOBrienSr LinkedIn.com/AnthonyO'Brien
PO Box 27 Pembroke MA 02359 www.AnthonyOBrien.com
Summary
At Cardinal Spellman High School, he was selected to the National Honor Society for academics. He became a runner and member of cross-country & track teams who was selected co-captain of both teams that participated in state tournaments.
In his senior year of high school, he finished 3 marathons (26.2 miles) including 2nd place at the New England Junior AAU Marathon Championship in Holyoke, Mass.
Also active in the Drama Club, he was inducted in Spellman's Robert McEwan Drama Hall of Fame in 2011 for participation in and support of theater & performing arts programs.
Drama Director Mr. McEwan & XC-track Coach Nick Siciliano were two of his closest teachers & mentors.
His athletic career included finishing 15 marathons (26.2 mi), 3 Half-IRONMAN triathlons & the IRONMAN triathlon world championship in Hawaii (swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, run 26.2 miles).
After serving a tour in the Marine Corps Infantry & Recon, the Secretary of the Navy selected him to transfer to the Navy & try-out for the SEALs at their basic training course, the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL course or "BUD/S." He graduated with class 156.
A motto for his life may be "Better late than never" due to several challenging highlights at any age that he hopes may inspire others incl: attended BUD/S at max allowed age of 28, is one of the oldest graduates of Army Ranger School ever (age 41), became a Dad at age 51 & 53, and graduated police academy at age 56.
After his faith in God, and thanks to God, his favorite blessing is being a Dad, with of course top credit & max thanks to their children's Mom Staci who named Anthony Jr. (AJ) after his Dad & "James Donald" (little JD) after the boys' grandfathers.
He is blessed to have survived serious injuries from accidents parachuting, diving, skiing & motorcycling and from decades & hundreds of miles and hills running, hiking & swimming carrying equipment & under hazardous conditions while leading highly-skilled units in training & operations worldwide. His competitive athletic career has transitioned to the joy of very light exercise with his kids & coaching others.
He uses his weight management program that he mostly learned in the military & has studied since then. It helped him lose 45 lbs in 4 months & he has maintained 175 lb for 15 years focusing on better eating habits and very light exercise to be part of fighting the obesity epidemic causing diseases & death and help more clients-teammates get more healthy & live leaner longer for their families & themselves. Did you know age 80 is average lifespan and 20% of people live to age 90?
One of many inspiring principles from his faith & service is "we are never out of the fight." We all stumble & fall, but how long do we stay down? Who gets up? Of course, one doesn't have to be a Marine, SEAL or Christian to be inspired to overcome obstacles. Thankfully, most people do overcome.
Personal
His Dad Don served in the Marine Corps in Korea. Don's 3 brothers also served in the military.
Don met Tony's Mom Marigold while Don was a student at UMass & she was a student at Bay Path College. Don was hired as a manager at the Howard Johnson plant in Brockton.
Tony's parents had 4 children: Anthony, Josephine, Matthew & John. They named him after Saint Anthony (Patron of the lost) & Apostle (doubting) Thomas. Josephine was named after Don's mother-their Grandmother. Matty was named after Apostle Matthew. John was named after their Uncle John, a WWII veteran & husband of their beloved Aunt Doris.
When Tony was age 5, a fire at their home resulted in the death of their heroic Mom Marigold age 28 & Tony's brother 'little John' age 2. She ran in & out of the burning home several times to get each child out.
A few years later, Don married Lorraine Sabina of Brockton who was also a young widow - also with 3 children - Ed, Laurianne & Mark Sabina. Ed was named after their Father.
The unique merger of the two families with 3 children each was often referred to as "The Brady Bunch" after the popular TV show which had a similar storyline.
Don & Lorraine had a "love boy" son Donny (who Tony affectionately calls "partner" due to golf tournaments they played together as teammates & won awards at).
They were active at St. Mary's Church & St. Edward Church and attended Brockton schools.
His first stepMom Lorraine & Tony share the same birthday.
Tony attended Massasoit Community College in Brockton and graduated from Stonehill College in Easton MA and Command & Staff College in Quantico VA.
His Dad Don's career was highlighted by becoming one on the most respected & sought-after experts on food plant operations and food safety procedures & inspections in the eastern US, plus his longtime Deacon ministry highlighted by Don & Lorraine's popular Pre-Cana program preparing couples for marriage.
After Lorraine's extended battle with cancer, including Don taking a leave of absence from work to serve as her caregiver for a year, their beloved Lorraine passed away at age 61.
A few years later, his Dad Don married Andrea, also a widow with 7 children - the second time Don was a widower & married a widow with the same number of children that he had.
Don & Andrea have 14 children, 32 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren - holidays are fun.
His Dad Don & Don's 4 siblings - all 5 - lived to the age of 80.
Tony's sister Josephine introduced him to her best-friend Staci. Their children Anthony & James are very close to their four grandparents and enjoy arts & crafts, music & performing arts, running, soccer, skiing, baseball & hockey.
Detailed military biography
Tony's inspiration to serve our country started with "years of patriotic stories & admiring pride of service from his Dad, Uncle Dick & Uncle Chuck who were Marines." His Uncle Dick was a Vietnam veteran & Marine Corps colonel. His Uncle David USN was the 48th Commanding Officer of the USS Constitution that Tony affectionately calls "USS-1." Don's third brother John served in the Air Force.
Tony also responded to a call to service from President Reagan following the Iran embassy hostage crisis. His family legacy makes him most proud of his military service.
After joining the Marines, he was selected for appointment to Lieutenant in the Marines by President Reagan. Then he was selected to be an Infantry platoon commander assigned to First Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment (1-5), First Marine Division at Camp Pendleton CA, under battalion commander Colonel Peter Vacca, a Vietnam Silver Star recipient. O'Brien led his platoon on an overseas deployment throughout Asia including Japan, Korea, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand & China.
His battalion executive officer Major Wallace Gregson & operations officer Capt. Richard Natonski would both rise to the rank of General. LT O'Brien was blessed with outstanding troops, leaders & mentors throughout his military service. Infantry units are the front-line combat personnel closest to enemy engagement during conventional military operations which are usually large-scale operations.
As the platoon commander, he was responsible for his unit's combat readiness, served as the unit's primary instructor for weapons & tactics, coordinated their admin, intel, training, ops, logistics, supply, transportation, and communications functions, and was the tactical leader for combat operations.
A common observation among career combat-arms officers is "platoon commander is the most fun & rewarding job in the US military" & in their entire careers.
Deployments are the rotation of units to temporary assignments overseas to maintain US national security worldwide, train with foreign military units, and remain vigilant there to respond to crisis situations as assigned by higher authority. The Dept. of Defense national management of the deployment system maintains US military presence worldwide to assist allies & serve US national security interests.
One of the Corps' most decorated units, First Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment (1/5), nicknamed "Geronimo" after the famous warrior, has a century-old reputation as a "Go-to" unit selected for difficult missions that participated in some of the most famous battles ever: Battles of Belleau Wood (WWI), Okinawa (WWII), Chosin Reservoir (Korea), Hue (Vietnam), Desert Storm & Iraqi Freedom.
The Marines' nickname "Devil dogs" was given by the French in appreciation for the Marines' never-say-die fighting spirit that was critical to victory during the infamous Battle of Belleau Wood.
For their courage at Belleau Wood, the Fifth Marine Regiment was awarded the French Fourragere decoration (shoulder cord) which the unit still wears today.
Fifth Marines is considered the most decorated regiment in Marine Corps history.
LT O'Brien also completed USMC Mountain Leader Course at Bridgeport CA in the Sierra Nevada mountains conducting challenging training to become an instructor in military rock climbing and skiing.
After his tour in the Infantry, O'Brien was hoping to serve in a unit more focused on smaller & more independent special operations. He was selected for & completed a rigorous screening process for "Recon" and was selected as a recon Platoon Commander at First Reconnaissance Battalion under battalion commanders Colonel Wheeler Baker then Colonel Digger O'Dell. (Joining Recon was significant since his Uncle Dick served in Recon in Vietnam - more on Colonel Dick here soon.)
Colonel Digger O'Dell was inducted in the USSOCOM Commando Hall of Honor. Recon was a division-level combat asset performing reconnaissance providing intelligence offices with tactical information. Recon was the first Marine Corps unit to be informally considered "special operations" before the Marines joined SOCOM in 2006 to fully integrate in US Special Operations and established the Raiders in 2015. First Recon Bn was featured in the TV miniseries "Generation Kill."
O'Brien's Recon platoon conducted special weapons and tactics training with one of America's most highly-regarded law enforcement units, Los Angeles Police SWAT.
In 1985, he led his platoon as the first Recon platoon to make an operational overseas deployment since Vietnam and deployed with Battalion Landing Team 3/1 (BLT) throughout Asia incl Japan, Korea, Philippines, Thailand & Guam.
First Force Recon Company was disestablished after Vietnam then reestablished in 1986.
LT O'Brien worked for BLT battalion commander Colonel Bob Tilley, a Vietnam Silver Star recipient, and trained in Japan with a Navy SEAL unit led by LTs Joe Kernan & Tom Brown and Chief Pat Parks. This was his first knowledge of & experience with SEALs. Kernan & Brown rose to the rank of Admiral. For his tour in the Infantry & Recon, O'Brien was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal from Colonel O'Dell & General Hank Stackpole.
At Recon, he attended Navy Diver School and Navy Diver Ops Supervisor Course (taught by SEALs) at San Diego CA and led several diving ops from several patrol boats, ships & submarines.
He attended Army Airborne (parachutist) School and Army Jumpmaster School at Ft. Benning GA and led many parachute ops from fixed wing aircrafts & helicopters from the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines. In the Marines, he was authorized to wear the Navy Diver insignia, Army and Navy parachutist "jump wings" badges, and the French Fourragere decoration.
In 1986, he and members of his Recon platoon were selected to be "extras" in Clint Eastwood's Marine Corps movie "Heartbreak Ridge" for scenes filmed at Camp Pendleton and can be seen in several scenes as Marines in the units with Mr. Eastwood. (He would say please call me Clint, Marines responded yes sir Mr. Eastwood.)
During training in Quantico VA, O'Brien played a season for the Marine Corps Quantico rugby team. In a highly competitive process, hIs officer's commission was meritoriously augmented from reserve to regular officer which was required for his promotion to Captain and to continue his military career.
On promotion to Captain in the Marines, he was selected to serve at Bootcamp Parris Island SC as a Series Commander, Battalion Adjutant then Battalion Executive Officer supervising & leading Drill Instructors training thousands of recruits to graduate from Marine Corps Bootcamp & become Marines.
As a Battalion Adjutant (2RTB) at Parris Island, he carried his Uncle Dick's 1952 USMC sword while leading many ceremonies including Bootcamp graduation ceremonies. (Don't mess up that ceremony, "Moms of America" are filming it.) A top inspiration for Tony joining the Marines, Uncle Dick was a Marine Colonel & Vietnam veteran who also served in Recon and was a decorated Vietnamese linguist interrogating prisoners in combat, later was an infantry battalion commander (1st Bn, 8th Marines), and then national commandant of the Marine Corps League (MCL), the first MCL national commandant while serving on active duty since the legendary General John A. Lejeune founded the MCL in 1923.
While stationed in South Carolina, Tony earned his FAA private pilot license.
For his successful tour in the Marines, Capt. O'Brien was awarded his second Navy Achievement Medal from Colonel Jay Sollis & the Commanding General and the Meritorious Unit Commendation from the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
Tony's Drill Instructors presented hm with a Marine Corps NCO sword (enlisted non-commissioned officer) which he says was one of his greatest honors & gifts.
While at Parris Island, and inspired by his previous training with SEALs and desire to serve in units more focused on special operations, he was selected for a rare inter-service transfer to the Navy, appointment to Lieutenant by US Secretary of the Navy James Webb, and an opportunity to try-out for the SEALs at their maximum allowed age of 28. (Average age of BUD/S students is 20.)
O'Brien is especially grateful to CAPT Larry Bailey, then Commanding Officer of BUD/S, who supported his application to transfer to the Navy & attend BUD/S.
Secretary Webb is a distinguished USMC veteran, former US Senator, Vietnam vet recipient of Navy Cross & Silver Star Medals, and best-selling author of military books.
BUD/S is the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training course considered one of the most difficult military training programs in the world & the foundation of the SEAL's legacy as a highly successful special operations military unit. A BUD/S class starts with an average of 100 students and the graduation average in each class is 20%. Tony often looks back at his experience at BUD/S & how a "do-or-die attitude" was required to start & complete some training events (as well as a supreme trust in training staff, classmates, and of course faith in God). Once one achieves that mindset then it can change how one approaches so many things in life for their entire life.
Navy SEAL units are specialized combat units tasked by higher authority usually for crisis response, search & rescue, and disaster relief operations usually under highly challenging & hazardous conditions. SEAL Teams wer
