POST-GAZETTE - Res Publica

Off to the Races

by David Trumbull

May 2, 2008


Saturday, May 3rd, is opening day at Suffolk Downs with a full program of live racing and the simulcast of the 134th Kentucky Derby. Be there and support the fine old sport of thoroughbred racing and “The Downs” an important employer of many workers in East Boston and the surrounding communities.

Some other races—the political variety—are also starting now. The deadline for submitting nominating signatures for Representative and Senator in the General Court has just passed and while the final list of candidates making it onto the ballot has yet to be published, we do have, thanks to the good people at Mass Resistance, list of Republican hopefuls.

The best hopes for Republican candidates are often in those cases where there is an “open seat” because the incumbent is not seeking re-election. Here are some “open seats” to watch in 2008.

House "open" seats (12 reps NOT RUNNING for re-election)

8th Middlesex - Leaving: Rep. Paul Loscocco (R-Holliston) Republican Dan Haley, an attorney from Holliston is running.

31st Middlesex - Leaving: Rep. Paul Casey (D-Winchester) Republican Brian O'Conner, a selectman from Winchester, is said to be a very good candidate.

2nd Hampden - Leaving: Rep. Mary Rogeness (R-Longmeadow) William Scibelli, a Longmeadow selectman is running for the Republicans and is said to be pretty good.

2nd Bristol - Leaving: Rep. John Lepper (R-Attleboro) Attleboro City Councilor George Ross, a Republican, hopes to replace him.

2nd Middlesex - Leaving: Rep. Geoffrey Hall (D-Westford) Littleton School Committeeman, Republican Paul Avella is running.

4th Middlesex - Leaving: Rep. Stephen LeDuc (D-Marlborough) Arthur Vigeant, the Marlboro City Council President, is a conservative Republican running to replace him.

4th Plymouth - Leaving: Rep. Frank Hynes (D-Marshfield) Republican Dan Mullarkey has been recruited.

3rd Middlesex - Leaving: Rep. Patricia Walrath (D-Stow) Hudson Selectman Sonny Parente, pretty conservative. Had kickoff with Paul Cellucci.

37th Middlesex - Leaving: Rep. James (Jamie) Eldridge (D-Acton) Curt Hayes, who ran as an Independent against Nikki Tsongas and Ogonowski in the recent Congressional race, is now running as a Republicans.

4th Worcester - Leaving: Rep. Jennifer Flanagan (D-Leominster) There's no Republican running.

9th Plymouth - Leaving: Thomas Kennedy (D-Brockton) So far no Republican is running.

Barnstable, Dukes & Nantucket - Leaving: Erik Turkington (D-Falmouth) No Republican running.

Senate "open" seats (5 senators NOT RUNNING for re-election)

Suffolk and Norfolk - Leaving: Sen. Marion Walsh (D-Boston) No Republican running.

Worcester and Middlesex - Leaving: Sen. Robert Antonioni (D-Leominster) No Republican running.

Second Worcester - Leaving: Sen. Edward Augustus (D-Worcester) Republican John Lebeaux, who was a liberal Worcester City Councilor, is running.

Middlesex and Worcester - Leaving: Sen. Pamela Resor (D-Acton) Republican Stephen Levi is running.

Second Plymouth and Bristol - Leaving: Robert Creedon (D-Brockton) No Republican running.

I thank Mass Resistance for researching and publishing this list on their website http://www.massresistance.org/

David Trumbull is the chairman of the Boston Ward Three Republican Committee. Boston's Ward Three includes the North End, West End, part of Beacon Hill, downtown, waterfront, Chinatown, and part of the South End.

--30--