4th Middlesex District Special Election Date Set

ARLINGTON - There will be a special election on July 25 to elect the successor to Sen. Ken Donnelly.

Donnelly, an Arlington Democrat who represented the 4th Middlesex District's Arlington, Billerica, Burlington, Woburn, and parts of Lexington, died last Sunday following an eight-month battle with a brain tumor. He was 66.

The Senate adopted the order Thursday to set the date.

In addition to Arlington Rep. Sean Garballey, who is widely considered to be strong contender for the office and said to be seriously considering a run, State House sources told the News Service that Senate President Stanley Rosenberg's chief policy advisor Jim DiTullio and Donnelly's chief of staff Cindy Friedman, both of Arlington, were exploring possible campaigns.

On the Republican side, Billerica Rep. Marc Lombardo has been urged to consider running for the seat, but declined to discuss the possibility when asked shortly after Donnelly's death out of respect for the senator and his family.

According to Secretary of State William Galvin, whose office oversees elections, nomination papers are due by May 23. Candidates must gather at least 300 certified signatures to qualify for the ballot.

Nomination papers will be available at the city and town halls of the communities in the district and at the state elections division, located in Room 1705 of the McCormack State Office Building, One Ashburton Place, Boston. The elections division may be reached at 1-800-462-VOTE.

Materials from the State House News Service were used in this report

Photo by Alison Bauter