Brendan Crighton kicked off his fundraising effort Thursday night to win a seat in the state senate.
The Lynn Democrat, who has served one and a half terms in the House, hopes to capture the seat being vacated by Mayor-elect and state Sen. Thomas M. McGee.
“I’m running for state senate because now more than ever, we need fresh ideas, bold vision, and strong leadership to make the Third Essex District the best place to live, work, and raise a family,” Crighton said at Trio’s Mexican Grill on Market Street. “I have big shoes to fill, but I believe after nearly 10 years working for Tom McGee, six years on the City Council, and three as state representative, that I’m ready to hit the ground running.”
Crighton, who was elected to the House in 2014, had $21,546 in the bank as of June 30, according to the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance.
His campaign said since last summer that number has grown to more than $45,000 with a goal of $100,000.
Paul Crowley, CEO of Greater Lynn Senior Services, is the only other candidate to pull papers. The three-term former Lynn City Councilor is an unenrolled voter who voted Republican in four of the last six primary elections, according to the city’s Election Department. He did not return a call and an email seeking comment.
Voters in Lynn, Lynnfield, Marblehead, Nahant, Saugus, and Swampscott will choose their new senator in a special election Tuesday, March 6, 2018. The primary is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 6.
Candidates have until Dec. 26 to file nomination papers and then face a Jan. 2 deadline to submit certified nomination papers with the Secretary of State.
If Crighton is successful, it will open up his 11th Essex District House seat, which includes West Lynn and Nahant. So far, at least three potential candidates are in the running, including Ward 6 City Councilor Peter Capano, Drew Russo, executive director of the Lynn Museum, and City Councilor-at-Large Hong Net.
