The Massachusetts Senate’s longest serving member, Marc Pacheco, identified for his work on local weather change and the service privatization legislation named after him, mentioned Tuesday he doesn’t plan to hunt re-election.
The resolution continues a pattern this legislative session of veteran lawmakers deciding in opposition to one other time period for retirement or to run for different elected positions, strikes that may spark races to switch longtime incumbents who’ve dominated their districts for years.
Pacheco, a stalwart of the Senate who was first elected in 1988, mentioned his departure doesn’t shut the door on his work in public service.
The 16-term Democrat from Taunton introduced the information in a put up on social media wherein he additionally revisited his work round organized labor, native efforts to maintain a hospital open, and a push for a brand new judicial advanced in Taunton.
He was the founding chair of the Senate’s Global Warming and Climate Change Committee, the place he led an effort to go the 2008 Global Warming Solutions Act, which ensured a cap on carbon emissions.
“While I am proud of all the work we have accomplished, much still needs to be done,” he mentioned. “I look forward to working with my colleagues and everyone who is interested in making Massachusetts a better place to live; and while I am unsure what the future will bring, the door is always open for new and exciting opportunities.”
Pacheco had $164,108 in his marketing campaign account as of Feb. 5 after elevating simply over $1,700 in January and greater than $24,000 in December, in keeping with state information.
The race to succeed Pacheco is already beginning to get underway. MassDems Chair Steve Kerrigan mentioned there “may very well be a competitive Democratic primary” in Pacheco’s district, although he mentioned he was assured a Democrat might win in opposition to whoever the MassGOP fields.
The Democratic occasion has beginning speaking “about and too candidates,” Kerrigan mentioned, including that “we are said to see [Pacheco] go.”
A spokesperson for the Massachusetts Republican Party is already in dialogue “with potential candidates for Sen. Pacheco’s seat.”
Pacheco’s deliberate exit from Beacon Hill is the second to be introduced within the Senate this session. Sen. Susan Moran, a Falmouth Democrat, mentioned final yr that she will not be operating for re-election, which prompted a race to fill the seat between two House colleagues.
But the turnover of seasoned lawmakers is extra pronounced within the House, the place not less than seven representatives who both maintain a management place or a rating committee spot have mentioned they don’t seem to be planning a return to the State House.
That contains Reps. Sarah Peake of Provincetown and Ruth Balser of Newton, who function the second assistant majority chief and third division chair, respectively, two management roles that include boosted pay and tasks.
Peake, a nine-term Democrat, made her plans clear final month, saying in a press release that it had been the “honor of my lifetime to serve the wonderful people of the fourth Barnstable district for these past 18 years.”
“It has been my honor to be there for my constituents when they needed help untangling the red tape of state government, and to help craft legislation making sure our environment, economy, and way of life can thrive here on the outer and lower Cape,” she mentioned.
The House will even lose not less than three committee chairs, together with Rep. Paul Schmid, who co-leads the Agriculture Committee; Rep. Denise Garlick, who co-leads the Education Committee; and Rep. Gerry Cassidy, a five-term Democrat from Brockton who co-chairs the Veterans and Federal Affairs Committee.
Schmid, a seven-term Democrat from Westport who was one of many inaugural co-chairs of the Agriculture Committee, pointed to his work serving farmers and bringing “local, healthy food into our schools and urban areas.”
“I want to thank everyone who has had confidence in me,” he mentioned. “Many say the Southcoast delegation is the best and I have been honored to work with each member.”
Garlick, a six-term Democrat from Needham, mentioned she plans to “work hard” throughout the remainder of the legislative session, which ends Dec. 31, and is “humbled” to have represented folks of all ages and talents in Needham, Dover, and Medfield.
“I appreciate each of you for your courage, candor and continued conversations in the belief that good government can and does make a difference. I am grateful for your support and many friendships,” she mentioned in a press release.
Former Rep. Josh Cutler took a job with the Healey administration this yr and vacated his House seat.
Rep. Smitty Pignatelli, an 11-term Democrat from Lenox, additionally mentioned final week he’s not operating for re-election. He is the vice-chair of each the House Rules Committee and Joint Rules Committee.
“It’s been an honor of a lifetime to serve with some amazing people making our Commonwealth special. It’s NOT a retirement but the close of one chapter and the opening of a new one. More to come,” he mentioned in a press release.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”