Breaking News: Joan Menard not seeking re-election

Stunning pile of cash to walk away from... (0.00 / 0)

She's got some serious coin and yet she's stepping down. Does she sense a challenge at reelection in the form of a good candidate or sense a coming bad year for Democrats. I doubt we recruit anyone, but its got some GOP potential with some of those towns and Brown made serious inroads here.

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by: South Shore Republican @ Tue Feb 09, 2010 at 23:56:39 PM UTC

Only One Republican (5.00 / 1)

Has been elected from the towns of this district to Beacon Hill since the Legislature went down to 200 Seats in the Late 1970's.

State Rep. John Bradford (R-Rochester) served from 1986 to 1992, before joining the Industrial Accidents Board by appointment by then Gov. Weld. We lost his seat to now State Rep. William Straus (D-Mattapoisett).

More to the point, this State Senate Seat has only been represented by three people since Eisenhower was elected in 1952, all three of them Democrats. Mary Fonseca (1953-84), Thomas Norton (1985-2000), and Menard (2001-).

This is definetly Democratic Turf, but maybe we can steal one here.

Potential Dems Include:
Rep. Patricia Haddad (D-Somerset)
Rep. David Sullivan (D-Fall River)
Rep. Kevin Aguiar (D-Fall River)
Rep. Mike Rodrigues (D-Westport)
Mayor Correia (D-Fall River)

My guess is either Sullivan or Haddad run. Aguiar is a newbie, and Rodrigues, as we all know, is an underachiever. Both of those Rep seats would be hard to pick, but Haddad's did vote for Scott Brown last month.

(R)- Outside 495

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by: MerrimackMan @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 00:22:48 AM UTC

Open Rep Seat? (0.00 / 0)

Even if we lose this, the dominoes could fall in a positive way.  If there is an open rep seat in the non-Fall River towns, we could pick up a seat there.

Bob Hedlund for Minority Leader.

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by: Mike "DD4RP" Rossettie @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 01:01:47 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yes (0.00 / 0)

I was referring to the Domino Effect. Sorry about that.

Unfortunately, only Haddad's seat would be Pick-Up-Able, and Marginally so. Sullivan, Aguiar, and Rodrigues all have large chunks of Fall River, and Brown would have thus been unable to have won any of them.

Haddad's District on the other hand Contains all of Conservative Dighton, the Democratic Stronghold of Somerset (Turned by Brown last month), A precinct in Swingy Swansea (Won Solidly by Brown), and Four Precincts in East Taunton (A City Brown blew Coakley out of the water in)

I'd probably guess Brown won her District with about 55%.


(R)- Outside 495

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by: MerrimackMan @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 01:38:44 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Rep. Candidates (0.00 / 0)

state committeeman David Rose is planing a run for Sullivan's seat.  Others are rumored to run for other Fall River rep. seats

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by: gopwave2010 @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 03:18:55 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Several Rep. Candidates (0.00 / 0)

David Rose is indeed running for Sullivan's seat.  We also have CJ Ferry running again for Kevin Aguiar's seat.

I haven't heard of someone to run for Menard's seat but I had the rumor that she wouldn't run again this past Sunday.

There may be other GOP candidates coming out to run unbeknownst to me at this point.

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by: BNCordeiro @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 04:07:58 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

David Rose for Senate? (5.00 / 1)

Winning this open Senate Seat would likely be easier that winning a Fall River Rep seat as a challenger.

Bob Hedlund for Minority Leader.

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by: Mike "DD4RP" Rossettie @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 11:33:51 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

RUN! (0.00 / 0)

You are one of the most political active people I know. You are also just a great guy! PLEASE run for something!!  Think BIG!!  I'll start your facebook fan page "Draft Brock for ???"!! Goal is 100 fans in two hours!  

"Together we are the GOP team"

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by: GopSue @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 13:11:42 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Not anytime soon (0.00 / 0)

Considering that I don't live in Menard's district, there isn't much I can do in that area.  That said, I do live in Rep. John Quinn's district but we already have a solid candidate for that seat: Joe Michaud, Dartmouth Select Board chairman & New Bedford attorney.

Of course, I could run against Senator Mark Montigny but considering he's got about the biggest war chest on Beacon Hill and I have...zero... :)

Perhaps in due time but I don't think that time is today.

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by: BNCordeiro @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 19:46:41 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Money Does not Win the Race (0.00 / 0)

Organization, support and heart do.

Think back to the replacements and Gene Hackman heading into halftime during the big game against Dallas - Its about Heart (pounds his chest!!).

Brock has lots of support here and in his district which leads to the question, if not now when, if not here where and for what office.

Draft Brock :-)

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by: ConsEph @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 23:44:55 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

You need money.... (0.00 / 0)

To put that organization, support and heart to work.  You need headquarters, phone banks, push cards and other materials.  Money isn't the end all and be all, but you need to have enough money to win.

Bob Hedlund for Minority Leader.

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by: Mike "DD4RP" Rossettie @ Thu Feb 11, 2010 at 12:30:01 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Does this warrant (0.00 / 0)

a call to draft Brock?

Follow me on twitter @garyrlake

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by: garyrlake @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 01:02:00 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Though i would endorse Brock if he were to run (0.00 / 0)

However it not his District He resides in the 2nd Bristol Plymouth.

Towns of Mattapoisett,Dartmouth, Acushnet, NB and my hometown of Fairhaven.

" A republic if you can keep it"- Ben Franklin 1787

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by: sjfern20 @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 01:42:27 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

rats n/t (0.00 / 0)

Follow me on twitter @garyrlake

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by: garyrlake @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 02:01:35 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Sorry! (0.00 / 0)

Scott is right, I'm a neighbor to the district - and it's certainly within my region - but I'm under Senator Mark Montigny & not Joan Menard.

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by: BNCordeiro @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 04:08:51 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

we'll (0.00 / 0)

keep trying :)

Follow me on twitter @garyrlake

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by: garyrlake @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 04:23:51 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

[hidden comment] He'd get a job (0.00 / 3)

in the Baker administration no problem when he lost.

Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it.

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by: Dr. Jones @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 02:14:13 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

There may be 40 open seats this next election (0.00 / 0)

...for the Massachusetts legislature.  Seriously.

Deborah Sirotkin Butler
Make Open Meeting Laws apply to the Massachusetts House, Senate, and Executive - Sunlight and air are the best disinfectant

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by: AmberPaw @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 02:12:10 AM UTC

Breakdown of Senate vote (0.00 / 0)

Could someone tell me where I could find a breakdown of the U.S. Senate vote by State Rep. and State Senate districts? Someone posted the Congressional District breakdown here before, but I would like to see those other numbers.

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by: TauntonRed @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 02:52:42 AM UTC

Im Working On It (0.00 / 0)

I have 15 Districts Completely Done. Another 15 Districts are Complete but with Unofficial Results, and another 10 Districts are hung up because I do not have any type of precinct level data in certain towns in those districts. Im planning on finishing it up next week, but by then, someone else may already have finished it.

(R)- Outside 495

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by: MerrimackMan @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 03:16:52 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Nice! (0.00 / 0)

I've been doing them as best as I can when I profile the Rep and Senate candidates.  I've been using the Boston Globe as my source, so the numbers aren't 10% accurate.  These are usually election night returns that may not include absentee ballots and so on.

It's hard to find precinct level data for statewide elections.  You, MerrimackMan, deserve credit for being on top of this data and election data in general.

Bob Hedlund for Minority Leader.

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by: Mike "DD4RP" Rossettie @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 11:38:25 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

what i'm hearing (0.00 / 0)

Menard retiring was largely driven by the Firefighter's Union.  Michael Coogan (firefighter) announced recently for the seat:

http://www.wickedlocal.com/som...

The union has been very aggressive behind the scenes in pushing her out.  Menard is 75 and didn't feel like going through a primary.  With her out of course, we'll likely see at least a couple other higher profile Dems announce.  Would be great to see an R get in, if there were going to be a year to win this seat, this would be it.

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by: massgop5 @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 03:08:07 AM UTC

Former Mayor (0.00 / 0)

John Mitchell will probably run:

http://www.heraldnews.com/feat...

I've also heard that Rep. Rodrigues is interested.

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by: Couves @ Thu Feb 11, 2010 at 22:19:00 PM UTC