Local House candidates scramble to make impression

The field of candidates for the open 11th Norfolk District House seat is large -- four Democrats, two Republicans, and two independents, as of this week's initial filing deadline -- with no candidate seen as dominant.

While there are plenty of local officials running, absent from the list are any selectmen, who are usually the best-known figures in town and logical candidates for state representative.

Westwood Selectman Anthony J. Antonellis looked to be a strong candidate when he filed nomination papers late last week, but on Monday he announced his withdrawal.

The legislative post was incompatible with his job as a trial attorney, Antonellis concluded.

That leaves the remaining eight candidates on relatively equal footing.

"It's a wide -open race," said Republican hopeful William McKinney of Dedham, who will face Douglas Obey of Westwood in the GOP primary.

"It's going to go to the candidate who has the most active campaign and is best organized," said Democrat Stephen Bilafer of Dedham.

The primary will be held April 17, the day after Patriots Day in the middle of school vacation week and in between local elections in the district's towns of Dedham, Walpole, and Westwood.

The opening was created in January when two-term incumbent Robert K. Coughlin, a Dedham Democrat, resigned to take a high -level economic post in Governor Deval Patrick's administration. Coughlin's departure was unexpected, and local politicians had little time to decide whether to run and then plot their campaigns.

In a regularly scheduled House election, campaigns often stretch a year or more, but in this race, candidates have only six weeks to the primary and four weeks after that to the general election.

Early door-knocking and sign-holding have been limited by the recent bitter cold weather and icy sidewalks and steps.

The compressed campaign cycle and expected low turnout heightens the importance of identifying committed supporters and getting them to the polls.

"We know that the candidates will be very active," said Dedham Town Clerk Paul Munchbach. "We anticipate they are going to be trying very hard to get their vote out."

Munchbach said he expects a turnout of between 20 and 25 percent in Dedham.

Dedham is the largest town in the district with seven voting precincts. Westwood has four.

The Walpole section of the district comprises one precinct, in the north end of town.

With Antonellis out of the race, the Democratic field as of Tuesday's initial filing deadline included Dedham Town Meeting representative Cheryl Schoenfeld, Dedham School Committee member Joanne Flatley, Town Meeting representative Thomas M. Boncek, and Bilafer, who was a top aide to former state Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly.

Republican candidates are Obey, chairman of the Westwood Republican Town Committee, and McKinney, a member of the GOP State Committee.

The independent candidates are Paul McMurtry of Dedham, owner of the Dedham Community Theatre, and Margot Pyle, a Dedham Town Meeting representative.

The field could change before the primary. Candidates must deliver their papers to the secretary of state's office by March 15 and then would have three days to withdraw.

The state Republican Party is targeting the election as a possible starting point for a rebound from last fall's drubbing in the state elections. GOP state chairman Peter Torkildsen was in Dedham last week for a fund -raiser and rally.

Candidates who were interviewed last week said they are working hard to get their names and messages before the voters.

"We've been campaigning every day, knocking on doors, going to shops, going to campaign coffees, just reaching out to people," Schoenfeld said.

"It's a sprint, as they say," Flatley said. "It's knocking on doors and asking people for the vote."

In the Republican race, Obey got a head start, opening a campaign office days after Coughlin announced his departure.

McKinney said he has geared up his campaign quickly in the last few weeks.

As the campaigns were getting under way, candidates last week were skirting hot-button issues, such as gay marriage and abortion rights, and instead emphasizing their qualifications and dedication to the needs of the district.

"None of these questions have come up when I talk to voters," Schoenfeld said. "People are focused on their lives right now and how they are going to get along."

The state representative race could be overshadowed by local elections and issues.

Walpole and Westwood both will be voting on controversial tax increases in their town elections, while Dedham and Westwood are debating major housing and shopping projects proposed for the communities.

McMurtry said he may benefit from his ownership of the Dedham Square theater.

"I have unique advantage over my opponents. I do own the marquee," he said. "There might be an announcement on it if we are victorious."

Robert Preer can be reached at preer@globe.com.