According to the Lowell Sun and confirmed by Robert Winters on his site, Middlesex County Clerk of Courts Michael Sullivan is running against the incumbent DA Marian Ryan who was appointed to fill that seat by Governor Patrick this past spring when Gerry Leone stepped down to accept a private sector position. This should be an interesting but civil race.
Sullivan, who ran for district attorney in 1998 and called Ryan a friend, said Monday he’s the best candidate for the job because of his experience in prosecution and administration. He plans to make a formal announcement on his candidacy early in the new year.
“I decided to run based upon my own personal background,” Sullivan said. “It’s something I always wanted to do… I believe I have what it takes to reclaim and reignite what had traditionally been a strong office.” – See more at: http://blogs.lowellsun.com/thecolumn/2013/12/23/well-known-cambridge-democrat-to-challenge-ryan/#sthash.gdctRU1G.dpuf
I’ve long predicted my former Mayor and City Councilor would make this step. He came very close to challenging Jarret Barrios for the then open position back in 2006 (both backed out when Leone came in), but then choose to succeed his ailing uncle as Clerk of Courts instead. He has overseen a dramatic transition in that office to digitization as well as a multi-million dollar modernization of the facilities. I would be interested to hear what other Middlesex lawyers have to say about interacting with the court facilities there, their take on the new DA, and who they might back.
As Mayor, Michael was kind enough to write me a college recommendation and vigorously acknowledged and defended my rights as a student school committee member to speak as well as submit motions (a trait not entirely shared by his successor or the Superintendent). As a candidate for county office he was visible in every major parade or event and did not take his election for granted. Glad to see him challenge Ryan and make it a race.
…when is the Clerk’s office up again? If not this year does the Governor get to appoint a replacement if Sullivan wins, followed by a special election at the next biennium like for High Sheriff?
Clerk of courts is elected every six years. Michael was elected in 2006 and re-elected in 2012. It makes a ton of sense for him to run. He already has won county wide, has experience in the office, and is a well known quantity around voter rich Cambridge and Somerville. He had a lot of high profile endorsements too. If he loses, he keeps his day job and raises his profile considerably. And yes the Governor would appoint and the appointee would enjoy nearly four years of incumbency. The game of Massachusetts musical chairs will have another round…
I received a text from Michael Sullivan a couple of days ago announcing his decision to run. I supported him as a Cambridge City Councilor, Mayor and than Clerk. Glad to hear he’s running. Quality guy.
I live in Lowell, home of Middlesex’s other Superior Court, but we never seem to hear much from or about him up here. Cambridge folks seem to know him and his family well, but he is a county-wide officer.
Overall he received 535, 438 votes Countywide. A little over 216,000 voters blanked the race.
In Lowell, Michael Sullivan received 25, 741 votes in November 2012. That was more than Elizabeth Warren(19, 600) and Scott Brown (13,905) and on par with Congresswoman Niki Tsongas (25,098) who had an opponent.
Lowell made up about 5% of Sullivan’s total vote.
Clerk isn’t a high profile job so it’s not surprising a lot of voters might not know him. I suspect that will change with this race.