Tuesday’s municipal elections elevated three state legislators to new positions, which can only mean one thing: More elections. The leaders of the House and Senate both said they hope to hold special elections to replace legislators who’ll be leaving around the end of the year.
Senator Robert Hedlund, a Weymouth Republican, will be sworn in as Weymouth’s new mayor on Jan. 4, after edging aside incumbent Mayor Sue Kay in Tuesday’s election. Senate President Stanley C. Rosenberg told reporters he hopes to hold a special election in the spring to replace Hedlund.
Hedlund’s legislative director, Patrick O’Connor, announced on Wednesday he’s launching a campaign for the Senate seat. O’Connor, who’s also Weymouth Town Council president, made the announcement on his Facebook page. A Democrat, attorney and Hingham Selectman Paul Gannon, previously announced he’d run for the Senate seat, whether or not Hedlund left it. Gannon previously served in the House, representing South Boston from 1990 to 1994, when he was ousted by Stephen F. Lynch, who now serves in Congress. Also said to be considering a campaign for Senate is Representative James Murphy, a Weymouth Democrat, who could not be reached for comment.
The House, meanwhile, has three vacancies now. Representative Michael D. Brady, a Brockton Democrat, was elected to the state Senate on Tuesday, replacing Democrat Senator Thomas P. Kennedy, who died in June. Representative Stephen L. DiNatale, a Fitchburg Democrat, was elected mayor of Fitchburg. And due to the resignation of Representative Leah Cole, a Peabody Republican, a special election had already been scheduled for March 1, 2016, the date of the presidential primary in Massachusetts. House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo told reporters Wednesday that he may be able to schedule a special election to replace Brady March 1 as well, though the other vacancy may take longer.
Stephanie Ebbert can be reached at Stephanie.Ebbert@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @StephanieEbbert