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Antonioni won’t seek re-election to MA Senate

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Antonioni won’t seek re-election

Senator to pursue ‘other things’

By Matthew Bruun TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

LEOMINSTER- State Sen. Robert A. Antonioni, a popular local legislator who has fended off all challengers during his career in the Statehouse, announced yesterday he would not seek re-election this fall.

“I’ve been running for office every year, or every other year, since 1985,” Mr. Antonioni said in an interview yesterday from his law office on Main Street. “There are other things in life, and I want to be able to do them while I’m still young enough.”

Mr. Antonioni, a Democrat, will turn 50 in July.

The milestone of turning 50 looms large, he said, as does the retirement in December of his father, Attilio Antonioni, from their shared law practice.

“I’ve felt pulled in lots of different directions,” he said, describing the schedule of balancing the equivalent of two full-time jobs.

Is there something in the ventilation system that is inspiring senators to depart in droves?

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Comments

  1. I expect the retirement announcements can be attributed to the fact that the nomination papers for State Senate and State Rep were available to candidates starting today (February 6).

  2. and he was straight, clear, well informed, and very approachable.  He’ll be missed in the dialog about the state’s role in education, among other things.

    • As a student school committee member I was invited to go to the State House “Day on the Hill” for School Committees. There Antonini had a fairly concise knowledge of education and spoke as a former school committee member himself and gave a pretty direct speech. Also Kerry Healy came to give remarks in lieu of then Governor Romney who was out of state (likely building his campaign that bastard) and gave a pretty misleading speech. The contrast between the two was remarkable.  

      • He will be greatly missed.  He was approachable, listened, and truly cared about parity for mental health treatment, children in foster care, indigent defense, and many other issues that are too often unchampioned.

        • In being open about his own battles with depression, Senator Antonioni lessened the stigma of admission and treatment of mental illness for others.

          <

          p>The problem with “stigma” is that it causes those who need treatment not to seek treatment, sometimes with tragic results.

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          p>I view Senator Antonioni as one of the best members of the Senate, and as possessing great personal heroism.

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