Gaining the attention of voters is difficult in any local special election. And some say it would seem all the more challenging in the midst of a heated presidential campaign.
That is the task facing contenders in two area special elections. Primaries for the two races - in the Eighth Essex and 32d Middlesex House districts - will be held Feb. 5, the same day as the Massachusetts presidential primary. The finals for the two State House seats will be March 4.
"If it weren't for the big presidential primary coming up, probably there would be a lot more attention focused on us," said Mark B. Hutchinson of Melrose, the sole Republican in the 32d Middlesex contest. "But I think we're doing fine."
He said it is still possible to connect with voters going door to door. And after Feb. 5, "I think the race will really heat up because the presidential race will go away for a while and all eyes will be on us."
"I think voters are smart people, and while they follow national politics, they feel somewhat removed from it, so the local races are giving them a chance to feel personally connected," said Lori Ehrlich of Marblehead, who is up against Cesar Archilla of Swampscott in the Eighth Essex Democratic primary.
John Blaisdell, who faces fellow Marblehead Republican Tanya Degenova in the Eighth Essex GOP primary, does not believe voters are distracted by national politics.
"With the local news that is going on here, I think the people are very much in tune with their major concerns at this level," he said.
Independent Mark Barry is also running in the Eighth Essex.
Alderman at large Ron Seaboyer is vying with School Committee member Katherine B. Clark and Guido Federico in an all-Melrose 32d Middlesex Democratic primary.
Seaboyer said local interest in the presidential race has been in a temporary lull since the New Hampshire primary.
"We have to take advantage of that in this race," he said.
"The closer we get to February, that lull starts to quickly disappear."
Ehrlich, meanwhile, picked up a notable endorsement last week - from someone who formerly held the Eighth Essex seat.
Lawrence R. Alexander, a Marblehead Democrat who served as state representative from 1979 to 1991, announced his support for Ehrlich in a statement issued by her campaign.
"I've been incredibly impressed by Lori's ability to get things done," Alexander said of Ehrlich, who cofounded two area environmental organizations.
"Even as a private citizen, she has one of the strongest records of accomplishment on environmental issues in the state. Imagine what she could do as our representative."
But when it comes to this year's presidential race, Schulze and the Massachusetts senator are in different corners - at least for now.
Kerry recently endorsed Barack Obama in the Democratic race. Schulze is backing John Edwards.
"Edwards is talking my issues," Schulze said, referring to Edwards's message targeting corporate greed and power.
Schulze said he is not disappointed with Kerry for siding with Obama. "His endorsement is how he feels. I think change is what he is looking for." Nor does Schulze think Kerry expects his loyalists to embrace his choice in the race.
"John has never been a machine-type politician. He's not one to twist arms."
Still, Schulze said he listened to Kerry and "it made an impression on me." Should Edwards drop out of the race, he said he would likely go with Obama.
Richard W. Kassiotis was first elected to the Middleton Board of Selectmen in 1984.
And he keeps going and going: Kassiotis recently said he plans to seek a ninth three-year term this spring.
Kassiotis became the longest-serving selectman in the region last November when Janette Fasano opted not to seek reelection after 27 years on the Saugus board.
"I kind of get a tickle about it," Kassiotis, 68, said of that distinction.
Recalling what spurred him to enter town politics, he said, "I liked it right from the start when we moved to Middleton from Lynn. Right away, the town meeting government held something for me - to see how things could be done with so much less politics. You see people in the street and they know your name. It's a real nice feeling in a small town like this."
A key convention matter will be the endorsement of a candidate in the Democratic race between Kerry and his challenger, Gloucester lawyer Edward J. O'Reilly.
Local leaders hope that with all the political activity of the moment, Democrats will remember to turn out at the caucuses and that some will run for convention seats.
Attending a state convention is "a good learning experience," Georgetown Democratic Town Committee chairman Paul Nelson said. "You get to meet a lot of other people with similar ideals but different approaches to problems. There will be added interest at this year's convention because of the senatorial race."
John Laidler can be reached at laidler@globe.com.
