Off-year vote gets a spark

Races in Brockton, Marshfield are key

The rest of the state may have only a few high-profile election contests this year, but south of Boston races for open legislative and county seats are already triggering a flurry of activity.

Much of the focus is on Brockton, where political dominos have been falling since the death of Plymouth County Clerk Francis Powers on March 28.

Six-term Democratic state Senator Robert S. Creedon Jr. of Brockton announced that he would leave the Senate to run for the county clerk seat Powers held for more than 30 years. Democrat Thomas P. Kennedy then declared that he will give up the Brockton state representative seat he has held for 25 years to run for the Senate seat Creedon is leaving.

Two city councilors - Robert F. Sullivan and Michael D. Brady - have, in turn, signaled intentions to run for Kennedy's House seat, and others may follow suit.

Also running for the Brockton House seat is Conor Yunits, son of former mayor John T. Yunits Jr. And add Jill Wiley of Brockton to the list of those taking out nomination papers.

All of the potential and announced Brockton-area legislative candidates so far are Democrats. Republican Party leaders last week were trying to recruit candidates.

"I believe we will have candidates for both seats in the Legislature," said Lawrence P. Novak, chairman of the Brockton Republican City Committee.

Robert T. Joy, chairman of the Plymouth County Democratic League, said the emergence of so many Democratic candidates in a short time demonstrates the health of the party.

"As far as Plymouth County goes, we have a lot of activity," he said.

Creedon's departure from the Senate means the region loses a seasoned representative on Beacon Hill.

And he is not the only one. Democratic Representative Frank M. Hynes of Marshfield also is leaving, for retirement. A competitive field is already emerging for his House seat.

Creedon is so far unopposed for the low-profile county clerk position, which pays almost double the senator's salary of $65,737 last year. Kennedy had no opposition for the Senate seat as of last week.

"There will be some new faces in the Legislature, but it appears people are leaving because the job can be a tough grind," said Michael Kryzanek, a political scientist at Bridgewater State College. "It's a lot of going out nights, going back and forth to Boston. The pay is not that good. It takes its toll."

April 29 is the initial filing deadline for nomination papers for state and county races.

The state Republican Party is not mounting a widespread campaign this year to oust incumbent Democratic officeholders. Democrats now hold all statewide offices and all Massachusetts congressional seats. There are only five Republicans in the 40-member state Senate and 19 in the 160-member House.

Barney Keller, communications director for the Massachusetts Republican Party, said the party's top priority this year has been finding strong candidates.

"What you are seeing is a focus on the quality of candidates and not just quantity," said Keller.

"We hope to pick off a few Democrats."

Walpole Town Moderator Jon W. Rockwood, a Republican, is running for the seat of Democratic state Senator James E. Timilty of Walpole.

Two Foxborough Democrats, Devin Romanul and Bill Darcey, are planning to challenge freshman Republican state Representative F. Jay Barrows of Mansfield.

Open seats for two low-profile county offices south of Boston have drawn a host of candidates. According to Secretary of State William F. Galvin's office, eight Democrats, two Republicans, and one independent have taken out papers to run for two seats on the Plymouth County Commission.

Taking out papers for the open register of probate post in Bristol County are six Democrats, two independents, and one Republican.

Across Massachusetts, there are few contested races on the ballot. The governor and other constitutional offices will not be up for election until 2010. In the only statewide race, two Republicans, Jeff Beatty and James Ogonowski, are vying for the right to face US Senator John F. Kerry, who faces Democrat Ed O'Reilly in the Sept. 16 primary.

Three controversial questions could be on the statewide ballot this year: bids to decriminalize possession of marijuana, eliminate the state income tax, and ban dog racing.

The racing ban is strongly opposed by the owner of the Raynham dog track.

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