New England Public Radio

Retiring Mass. Lawmakers To Bid Goodbye To Beacon Hill

Massachusetts state senators retiring in January will give goodbye speeches on Thursday.

MORE: A conversation with retiring state Sen. Stephen Brewer of Barre

The lawmakers include Gale Candaras of Wilbraham, who unsuccessfully ran for another office.

After 18 years on Beacon Hill, Candaras wanted a change. She ran for Hampden County Register of Probate but lost in a squeaker of a race.

“I’m still the senator until January 6th,” she says. “And then after that, I hope to travel.”

And then look for work, preferably, Candaras says, in economic development.

In the legislature, she says, she helped convince eastern Mass politicians of the importance of western mass. Other highlights, she says: passing an economic development bill and – a couple years ago – a bill overhauling the state’s alimony law, which is now being challenged before the state’s highest court.

Retiring state Sen. Stephen Brewer of Barre says he has a few plans for his future, including working with a land trust, and a more personal goal.

“I’ve taken my first banjo lesson. It’s very complicated, very difficult,” he says. “And I like to teach. I would love to teach a new generation of young people.”

Brewer, who’s been in the legislature since 1989, announced over a year ago that he would not seek re-election. That followed his unsuccessful campaign to become the next Senate president.

Candidates For Greater Springfield Senate Seat Differ On Commuter Rail

Five Democrats are vying to replace outgoing Massachusetts State Senator Gale Candaras in Greater Springfield. The candidates differ on a possible commuter train between Boston and Springfield.

MORE: New England Public Radio’s voter guide for primary elections in western and central Massachusetts and northern Connecticut

The theoretical creation of that line was the only issue that sparked some debate between the candidates in a roundtable discussion. Aaron Saunders is skeptical.

“A train from Boston to Springfield would be great for Boston. I’m sure it would,” said Saunders. “But when we only have scarce dollars, we need to apply those in the way that’s best going to help western Mass. residents, and that’s investing in the PVTA, investing in our local roads and bridges.”

Two other candidates agreed with Saunders. But Eric Lesser says the state needs to expand commuter rail, which currently stops in Worcester.

“Let’s extend that train from Worcester out to Springfield. Let’s have it come to Springfield, bring that prosperity, bring that growth out to us too, it is achievable,” said Lesser.

On other issues, the five men mostly agreed. All support the Springfield casino. All five also support medical marijuana, but are against full legalization of the drug. The winner of the September 9th primary will face Republican Deb Boronski in November.

Candidate roundtables are part of a collaboration between The Republican newspaper, MassLive, CBS3 and New England Public Radio.

Mass. Legislature Moves To Plug Gas Leaks

Proposals aimed at preventing gas leaks in Massachusetts’ aging infrastructure is moving forward in the legislature.

A Senate bill creates a classification system for leaks, ranging from the most dangerous, to ones considered non-hazardous. Gas companies would be required to immediately repair the most severe leaks, but would be given a year to address those that aren’t an imminent threat.

During the bill’s debate, Senator Gale Candaras recalled walking through the ‘rubble’ left by a 2012 gas leak explosion in Springfield’s North End. She says aging gas infrastructure could complicate some major construction, including of a possible casino, proposed for downtown Springfield.

“I am truly fearful about the gas leak situation. I’m hoping we’re going to be ok through all of this development, and that we’re not going to have any disasters,” says Candaras. “I’m going to count very heavily on the experts to make sure everything goes well and no one is injured.”

The Senate last week unanimously passed the bill, while the House passed a version in February. The two chambers will need to find a compromise, before gas leak legislation can head to the governor’s desk.

MA State Senator Forgoes Re-Election Bid To Run For Hampden Register Of Probate

Massachusetts State Senator Gale Candaras says she will not seek re-election to a fifth term this fall. She will instead run for Hampden County Register of Probate.

Candaras says her decision to run for Register is an extension of her career practicing family law prior to joining the legislature. The Wilbraham Democrat says during her 18 years there, she’s fought for more equitable funding for the courts, especially those dealing with family and juvenile matters. But now, Candaras says, she’s needed most overseeing those courts.

“The people of Hampden County know I care about people and fairness, they know my interest in access to justice,” Candaras says. “They know I’m effective, that I work hard to deliver, and they know I won’t back down from a fight.”

Candaras joins interim Register Suzanne Seguin as the only announced candidates so far. A 32-year veteran of the trial court system, Seguin says not being a politician will be an asset for her.

“There’s no question in my mind that the days of a politician working in the court system are over,” Seguin says. “And I feel I am a professional, and that’s what the voters deserve here.”

Former Chicopee Mayor Michael Bissonnette is also considering a run for the seat.

Massachusetts Sen. Gale Candaras to Announce Future Political Plans

More turnover in the western Massachusetts delegation to the state legislature may be on the horizon, as veteran Senator Gale Candaras of Wilbraham announces her future political plans Tuesday morning.

Candaras says she will either seek re-election in the senate, or step down to run for Hampden County Register of Probate. If she leaves the Senate, she’ll follow two other veteran senators from the region: Mike Knapik, who resigned last summer, and Ways and Means Chair Stephen Brewer, who announced his retirement last week. 

“To lose these three key senators in just the last five months is intriguing,” says political analyst Tony Cignoli. “Certainly Brewer and Candaras will stay in the senate until January of next year, but there is concern about what happens thereafter.”

Cignoli says Candaras is likely to seek the Register of Probate office, and he says it’s an unusual move for a senator like her, with 17-years in the legislature. As Probate Register, Candaras would oversee the family court, which handles divorce, child custody, and estate cases. She will officially announce her future plans in a press conference Tuesday, flanked by U.S Congressman Richard Neal, and state Senator Stan Rosenberg. 

Massachusetts Lawmakers Angle for Senate President’s Chair

Massachusetts state senators are maneuvering to become the next Senate president. That’s fueled by speculation that Senate President Therese Murray, one of the most powerful politicians at the state, could be headed for the door.

Senators are already lining up votes to replace Murray, suggesting that her departure could be imminent. In any case, Murray has to step down as president by the end of March 2015, because of term limit rules.

Two senators are jockeying for the job: Senate Ways and Means Chairman Steven Brewer of Barre, who oversees the budget and tax bills, and Senate Majority Leader Stanley Rosenberg of Amherst, who was the main voice on casino gambling and redistricting.

The effort to lobby and line up votes has gone on outside of public view, in conversations inside offices.  Publicly, many senators won’t say who they’re backing. Others will, like Marc Pacheco of Taunton:

“I’m a supporter of Stanley Rosenberg’s,” Pacheco said. “I’ve supported him a long time.  He has been an outstanding leader.”

Sen. Gale Candaras of Wilbraham was more tight-lipped about all this, and careful to praise the Senate president.

“It is my sincere hope that she serves until the last day, the last hour, the last minute of her term,” Candaras said.

And Candaras only obliquely confirmed that the leadership race has come down to fellow Western Massachusetts senators Rosenberg and Brewer.

“I absolutely support having a Senate president from Western Massuchusetts and I would say there’s almost a 100% probability that I will be able to serve with a great colleague and friend from Western Massachusetts,” she said.

For her part, President Murray walked away when reporters asked her about her plans. Brewer would not comment and Rosenberg’s aide said he’s occupied with Senate business.