Local Political Rumblings – State Representatives and State Senators
Mar 8 – Cambridge has 3 State Senate districts and 5 State representative districts. Of these, only one district (Rep. Marjorie Decker) lies wholly within the City of Cambridge. All 40 State Senate seats and all 160 State Representative seats are up for reelection this coming November (and every even year), though many of these seats are uncontested (a sad state of affairs). So what’s the current status for this year’s state elections? Here are a few facts (and a rumor or two):
First, Sen. Anthony Petruccelli announced that he is resigning his First Suffolf and Middlesex Senate seat and a Democratic primary election is scheduled for Tues, April 12 to fill the vacancy. In the primary there are 7 Democratic candidates seeking this State Senate seat (and the eventual winner will still have to face reelection in November). The candidates are State Rep. Jay Livingstone (Beacon Hill) who has garnered the endorsement of all of Cambridge’s city councillors, Joseph Boncore (Winthrop), Lydia Edwards (East Boston), Diana Hwang (East Boston), Steve Morabito (Revere), Dan Rizzo (Revere), and Paul Rogers (East Boston). The general election, likely a formality with the only non-Democrat being Donald Logan Willyard (R-Revere), is scheduled for Tues, May 10.
It is rumored that City Councillor Leland Cheung may challenge Sen. Pat Jehlen for her Second Middlesex Senate seat this fall.
I have not yet heard of any potential challengers to Sen. Sal DiDomenico for his Middlesex and Suffolk Senate seat.
On the State Representative side, City Councillor and State Rep. Timothy J. Toomey will be seeking reelection to his 26th Middlesex State Rep. seat. He will be challenged by activist Mike Connolly who ran unsuccessfully against Toomey several years ago. In the interim, Connolly ran unsuccessfully for Cambridge City Council last November.
State Rep. Marjorie Decker will likely again be challenged by perennial candidate Lesley Phillips for the 25th Middlesex seat.
I have not yet heard of any challengers to Rep. David Rogers (24th Middlesex) or Rep. Jonathan Hecht (29th Middlesex), though I’m sure there are some potential candidates at least thinking about it. As for the 8th Suffolk State Rep. seat currently occupied by Jay Livingstone, that all depends upon how he fares in the April 12 primary. If he is successful, that would open up his State Rep. seat and we’ll have to wait and see who expresses interest in that seat. If unsuccessful, Rep. Livingstone could try again for the Senate seat in the fall or seek reelection to his current State Rep. seat.
If anyone knows of any other emerging candidates for the fall elections, please let me know. – Robert Winters
Meet the Senate Candidates – March 8th (Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association meeting)
The Democratic and Republican primaries for Anthony Petruccelli’s open Mass. Senate seat is April 12; the election will be May 10th.
On Tuesday, March 8, the Cambridgeport Neighborhood Assn. will host a Meet the Candidates as part of their March meeting at the Central Square Library. From 6-6:30pm there will be time to mingle with the candidates; from 6:30-7:30pm candidates will present short statements, followed by a short Q&A.
Attending will be: Joe Boncore, Lydia Edwards, Diana Hwang, Jay Livingstone, Steve Morabito, and Dan Rizzo.
At 7:30pm, City Arborist David Lefcourt and Maggie Booz, Co-chair of the Cambridge Committee on Public Planting, will speak about the care of young City trees. A short update about Magazine Beach and the listserv will follow.
The meeting will be in the 2nd floor Community Room at the Central Square Library at 45 Pearl Street. Refreshments will be served. All are welcome.