Framingham Mayor's Senior Advisor Departs For Joe Kennedy Camp

FRAMINGHAM, MA — One of Mayor Yvonne Spicer's top advisors has left the city to work for the 2020 U.S. Senate campaign of U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III. Jacquetta Van Zandt was Spicer's senior advisor of external relations.

"I wish Ms. Van Zandt well in future endeavors and thank her for her service to the City of Framingham," Spicer said via a spokesperson on Friday.

Spicer hired Van Zandt in January 2018. She formerly worked as the director of constituent services at the Office of the State Treasurer. Van Zandt earned just over $80,000 in her Framingham role, according to reports.

Kennedy is planning to challenge first-term U.S. Sen. Ed Markey in the September 2020 Democratic primary. The race may split state Democrats. Last month, Framingham state Rep. Jack Lewis endorsed Markey.

Before he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2013, Markey for 36 years represented the 7th Congressional District, which used to include Framingham, Natick, and Wayland. The 7th was redistricted in 2013 to include only Boston, Cambridge and some surrounding communities. U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley now holds the seat.

Van Zandt's departure from Spicer's office was first reported by Politico.