A veteran state legislator from western Massachusetts is bypassing a run for re-election this year to pursue a top administrative job in the court system. WAMC’s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports
Democratic State Senator Gale Candaras of Wilbraham will give up a 17-year career in the Massachusetts legislature to run for the position of Hampden County Register of Probate.
" It is time for me to write a new chapter in my life in public service. I have always served where I thought I was needed most."
Candaras announced her candidacy for the top administrative job in the Hampden County Family and Probate Court on Tuesday morning during a speech before an audience of roughly 100 supporters in the meeting room of the historic Old First Church in Springfield’s Court Square. She received several endorsements from members of the local legal and political communities.
In her speech, Candaras stressed her legislative record as a strong advocate for the courts and her passion for family law. She pointed to her work to bring about the first reforms in the state’s alimony laws in nearly 40 years.
Candaras, in an interview, called the decision to run for register of probate rather than re-election to the State Senate “gut wrenching” and one that she came to after considerable deliberations during the holidays.
Candaras, an attorney, was elected to the Massachusetts House in 1996. She won the Senate seat she now holds in 2006. The salary for the register of probate, as of July 1st, will be $130,613. The salary for a state senator is $75,000
"This job is not a perk for a job well done by me or anyone else."
The register of probate is an open seat because of the retirement in 2012 of Thomas Moriarity--the longtime office holder. The interim register Suzanne Sequin plans to run for the office. Former Mayor of Chicopee Mike Bissonnette, who lost his re-election bid last year, is also expected to announce his candidacy.
In the rollout to her campaign Candaras presented an impressive collection of prominent endorsements including Massachusetts Congressman Richard Neal, who noted he had campaigned with Candaras a number of times in the past. Hampden County Sheriff Mike Ashe described Candaras as one of his closest friends. Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno called Candaras “uniquely qualified for the post of register of probate.”
Candaras also received endorsements from attorney Ellen Randle, who chairs the Hampden County Probate and Family Court Bar Committee and Laura Gentile, Clerk Magistrate of the Hampden County Superior Court.
Candidates are already lining up to run for the state Senate seat Candaras will surrender. Republican Debra Boronski of East Longmeadow is already running. Democratic State Representative Angelo Puppolo of Springfield confirmed he plans to run, and Democrat James Harrington, who is chairman of the Ludlow School Committee is expected to become a candidate.
The state Senate district includes roughly half the city of Springfield, the towns of Belchertown, Ludlow, Wilbraham, Granby, Hampden, East Longmeadow, Longmeadow and part of the city of Chicopee.
