Within hours of Representative Steven Walsh’s announcement that he was leaving the Massachusetts House of Representatives and the 11th Essex District to pursue a new challenge working for the Massachusetts Council of Community Hospitals, three Lynn public officials signaled their intent to seek election as Walsh’s replacement, with Councilor-a-Large Brendan Crighton even going so far to announce his candidacy via Twitter.
“I am proud to announce that I am running for State Representative for the 11th Essex District,” Crighton tweeted on January 21, 2014.
Crighton will face off in the race against two Lynn School Committee members, John E. Ford Jr. and Charlie N. Gallo.
In addition to serving as a Lynn City Councilor, Crighton also works as the legislative chief of staff for Lynn State Senator Thomas McGee.
Ford currently works in Walsh’s office on Beacon Hill. Gallo was elected to the Lynn School Committee in 2011 and was re-elected in November 2013 to his second term.
Both Crighton and Ford have said their experiences in the State House make them strong candidates to succeed Walsh.
In a statement to the Journal last week, Walsh said that his last day in the House will be on February 28.
Secretary of State William Galvin will schedule a special election date for candidates seeking to succeed Walsh, once his office has been officially notified of Walsh’s date of departure. Typically, the special election date is scheduled within 90 days of the seat being vacated, which would likely put the general election sometime in May, with party primaries scheduled four weeks prior to that.
As of the Journal’s deadline on Monday afternoon, no special election date had been announced.