This fall could herald the beginning of a new political era for Marlborough.
The city is losing its two seasoned Beacon Hill legislators, and the replacements are certain to be either new to Marlborough or new to the State House. The situation raises questions about Marlborough's legislative agenda and how much pull the newcomers will have as they attempt to get things done for the city.
"If you're talking about earmarks in the budget and potential pork that goes above and beyond the normal level, that's where you might see some difference in ability to deliver for the district," said Pam Wilmot, executive director of Common Cause Massachusetts. "In terms of local legislation, home-rule petitions, it should not make a huge difference."
State Senator Pam Resor, an Acton Democrat, is stepping away at the end of this term after nine years. Now-former state representative Stephen LeDuc, a Marlborough Democrat, gave his farewell speech last week and has already started his new job as assistant clerk-magistrate at Marlborough District Court. He was in the State House for 11 years.
Two candidates have taken out nomination papers for the Senate seat: State Representative Jamie Eldridge, an Acton Democrat, and Marlborough City Councilor Steven Levy, a Republican.
The Senate district stretches along Interstate 495 north of the Massachusetts Turnpike, and covers Marlborough, Acton, Ayer, Boxborough, Hudson, Littleton, Maynard, Shirley, Stow, Harvard, Southborough, and Westborough, and parts of Sudbury and Northborough.
Marlborough City Council president Arthur Vigeant, a Republican, has taken out papers for the state representative seat, and a few other Marlborough residents and politicians are considering a run. One resident, Joseph Valianti (whose brother Daniel held the seat prior to LeDuc), said he has taken out papers and plans to run as an independent.
The state representative district consists of Marlborough, Berlin, and part of Southborough.
Regardless of who wins, both newcomers will be faced with obvious challenges.
"The largest thing is the mandated upgrades to our treatment plants - that is the number-one issue facing this community," said Mayor Nancy Stevens, who has ruled out a run for either seat. "I want to make sure whoever represents us is going to fully understand the impact that is going to have on our businesses and our residents."
The city's Westerly and Easterly water-treatment plants are both scheduled to undergo federally mandated upgrades during the next several years at a cost of about $80 million, the most expensive project in Marlborough's history. The city has already received $10.3 million in grants for the Westerly plant, the first in line for the upgrade.
Resor said a challenge for her successor and for the new state representative will be to fight alongside Stevens for grant money for the Easterly plant. Both projects are needed to support businesses in the city.
"Marlborough is a growing community and very welcoming to industries and businesses, and has reached out to get additional businesses in their community and to expand those that are there and provide them with good services," said Resor.
Winning money for a district is, of course, a high priority for any legislator. Some funds are based on formulas, but there are also projects, like park improvements or a new municipal building, that require a dedicated funding fight, said Resor, which can be harder for a newcomer.
"That's not to say you need to be here years and years to get anything done, but certainly your first year you're not as likely to," said Resor.
Common Cause's Wilmot said policy priorities, which aren't always community specific, can be a little more challenging for a novice legislator because it often takes committee chairmanships to get power and a platform. With their party holding the reins on Beacon Hill, Democratic state senators always get chairmanships as soon as they take office, unlike Democratic state representatives, said Wilmot.
Resor is chairwoman of the Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture. LeDuc holds no chairmanships.
But LeDuc said he didn't see that as an impediment. Everyone has a chance to contribute, even without holding a chairmanship.
"My advice would be to network aggressively with your future colleagues," he said of his successor. "And identify the people who are accomplished and open to working with you and take them on as a mentor, because it's probably the fastest way to shorten that learning curve."
Lisa Kocian can be reached at 508-820-4231 or lkocian@ globe.com.
