The most interesting local race on the Sept. 1 primary election ballot is actually a prelude to a Nov. 3 final election contest to decide who will succeed long-time state Rep. Ted Speliotis when he retires in January.
Former Danvers state Rep. Sally P. Kerans is the sole Democrat listed on the primary ballot in the 13th Essex District race. Robert E. May Jr., a self-described “conservative voice,” is the only Republican running for the 13th Essex on Sept. 1.
Speliotis’ 32-year legislative tenure has ensured domination by Democrats of the Danvers, Middleton, West Peabody seat in the Massachusetts House of Representatives for almost five decades.
Kerans represented the 13th Essex in the 1990s and even though she is unopposed next Tuesday, Kerans is running an active campaign that includes an invitation to voters to play “Where’s Sally” by guessing the candidate’s whereabouts on the campaign trail based on photos she posts on Facebook.
May points to his active youth sports and Peabody community involvement record in his bid for votes. He hopes to join North Shore Republicans in the legislature, including state Rep. Donald Wong representing Saugus and state Rep. and Republican Minority Leader Bradley Jones representing Lynnfield.
Kerans and May will have plenty of issues to debate once they get through the formality of an unopposed primary election. May has already cast himself as a police reform opponent who describes reform proposals stripping qualified immunity away from police officers as “knee-jerk legislation.”
Veteran campaigner Kerans is lining up support from Democrats with an emphasis on her Danvers base and keeping voters informed about early voting opportunities this week.
In contrast to the hard-fought contest for U.S. Senate and the Democratic primary for the Sixth Congressional District, voters have no legislative primary races to decide on Sept. 1. But we urge Peabody voters to study up on Kerans and May and be prepared on Nov. 3 to pick who should represent the 13th Essex District.
