Lexington Parent, Education Board Rep. to Run for State Senate

LEXINGTON, MA – The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education's parent representative Mary Ann Stewart has announced her candidacy to fill the late state Sen. Ken Donnelly's seat, the State House News Service reported. The Lexington resident and former Town Meeting member and School Committee chairwoman is the third candidate to enter the race, behind Cindy Friedman, Donnelly's chief of staff, and Rep. Sean Garballey.

Stewart teaches at Middlesex Community College and previously served as director of education and programs for children, youth and families at a Newton church and president of the Massachusetts PTA, according to the State House News Service.

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

A special election will be held July 25 to fill his vacant seat.

The three candidates thus far are all Democrats. Billerica Rep. Marc Lombardo was originally thought to be the likely challenger from the Republican side but said last week he would not run for the open seat, Wicked Local reported.

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.