Walsh leaving Legislature to take hospital council job

LYNN – State Rep. Steven Walsh told The Daily Item Tuesday morning he will become the Massachusetts Council of Community Hospital’s executive director in March, opening the door for City Councilor Brendan Crighton and School Committee members John Ford and Charlie Gallo to announce candidacies for the West Lynn-Nahant seat.
I am proud to announce that I am running for State Representative for the 11th Essex District. – Brendan Crighton (@BrendanCrighton) January 21, 2014
Walsh, 40, resigned Tuesday as Massachusetts House chairman of the Legislature’s health care financing committee, but said he has not set a date for leaving the Legislature.
“I’ll do so in the coming weeks,” he said.
Crighton is state Sen. Thomas M. McGee’s legislative chief of staff and Ford works for Walsh. Both men on Tuesday said their legislative experience make them strong candidates to succeed Walsh – an 11 year legislator. Gallo was elected to the school committee in 2011.
The Council, in a press statement, said Walsh “will ensure that MCCH continues to advocate for the advancement of community medicine and community hospitals throughout the state.”
Walsh is the second North Shore legislator to resign this month: Revere state Rep. Kathi-Anne Reinstein left her House seat on Jan. 17 to become government affairs representative for Boston Beer Company.