Boston area lawmakers to resign, special elections to follow
There will need to be two special elections to fill open seats in the state House, after a pair of Massachusetts Democrats announced they will leave their elected positions to take jobs elsewhere.
Rep. Jon Santiago will stay in government after resigning from the 9th Suffolk district, but will move to the executive branch where he will fill the recently created cabinet position of Secretary of Executive Office of Veterans’ Services.
“Our veterans deserve the absolute highest quality of care, but they are far too often underserved. The Healey-Driscoll Administration is committed to meeting the complex needs of those who have bravely served our country, and I look forward to the opportunity to continue my own service as Secretary of Veterans’ Services,” Santiago, an officer in the U.S. Army Reserves, said in a release after his appointment was announced.
Despite announcing his departure sooner, Santiago was beaten to the punch clock by Rep. Ed Coppinger, who filed a letter of resignation at the House Clerk’s office on Thursday indicating he would resign his representation of the 10th Suffolk district effective at close of business on the last day of February.
A six-term lawmaker, Coppinger will move onto the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, where he will lead their government affairs department. Coppinger won’t be the first former lawmaker to join the business association’s ranks. The organization was previously led by former Massachusetts Speaker of the House Tom Finneran and former Rep. Robert Coughlin.
So far Brian Gaillardetz and David Giordano, both of West Roxbury, have filed to run for Coppinger’s seat and Brian Kearney, of Dorchester, has filed to run for Santiago’s open seat.
The Legislature, which is due to receive and begin considering the state’s budget this week, will be responsible for scheduling the elections.