No deadline extension to seek Rosenberg seat
Western Mass. official cries foul over ethics report’s timing
State Senate President Harriette Chandler is putting the kibosh on any rules changes to help potential challengers run for disgraced ex-Sen. Stanley C. Rosenberg’s post, even after a western Massachusetts official called for such a delay.
Rosenberg resigned Thursday after the Senate Ethics Committee released a scathing report describing his “significant failure of judgment and leadership” in giving his now-estranged husband, Bryon Hefner, access to his Senate emails. Hefner was indicted earlier this year on multiple charges of indecent assault and battery and open and gross lewdness.
The report itself was issued May 2 — one day after the deadline for House and Senate candidates to pull papers in order to run for office. Rosenberg, an Amherst Democrat, had initially planned to run for reelection, but his resignation leaves only one candidate — Northampton resident Chelsea Kline — in the race.
Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz, whose city is in Rosenberg’s district, said other candidates would likely be interested in a nowopen seat and called for state officials to set a special deadline of May 15 for that district.
“When a 21-year incumbent decides not to run again, generally there’s a significant interest in candidates stepping forward from both parties,” Narkewicz said. “It seems like more than a coincidence the report dropped the day after the nomination papers deadline.
“My concern is that the communities (Rosenberg) represents are being punished by the way the ethics committee released this,” he said, adding he would not run for the seat.
The May 1 deadline is set by state law, and the Legislature and Gov. Charlie Baker would have to approve a special amendment to change it for the Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester Senate seat. But Chandler said she is not interested in doing so.
“The Senate President’s office will not be extending the filing deadline for the Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester District Senate election,” spokesman Kevin Connor said in a statement. “Candidates may still run sticker or write-in campaigns for the seat.”
Narkewicz said he hasn’t spoken to Kline about his push to give her competition and said he was only acting because of the timing of Rosenberg’s resignation.
“Had the ethics report been released a week ago, we wouldn’t be having this conversation,” Narkewicz said.
In a statement, Sens. Adam Hinds (D-Pittsfield), Eric Lesser (D-Longmeadow), Anne Gobi (D-Spencer) and Donald Humason Jr. (R-Westfield) said they will collectively advocate for Rosenberg’s district for the remainder of the formal legislative session.
Rosenberg quit after Gov. Charlie Baker, Attorney General Maura Healey and ultimately his own Senate colleagues urged him to resign.
The Senate Thursday night voted 37-0 to accept his resignation, to apologize to the victims and to promise a change in the Senate’s culture.