Race for state rep revs up
Casey departing after 10 terms
When voters choose a state representative from the 31st Middlesex District this fall, one name will be conspicuously missing from the field of contenders.
After 10 terms in office, Paul C. Casey of Winchester announced this month that he will not seek reelection in the district that includes Winchester and six of Stoneham's seven precincts.
With his decision, the district will see its first race for an open seat since Casey was elected in 1988, a dynamic that is already injecting new energy into the contest.
Prior to Casey's departure from the race, two Democrats had already emerged to challenge him: Winchester Finance Committee member Jason Lewis and Stoneham Town Moderator Michael J. Rotondi.
Following Casey's announcement, two more candidates jumped into the fray: Winchester Selectman Brian P. O'Connor, a Republican, and Winchester independent Chad Riley. The deadline for turning in nomination papers to local town clerks for certification is April 29.
In an interview, the 47-year-old Casey said a "confluence of activity" led to his decision.
"Twenty years is a long time to be doing the same thing. Second of all, I never intended to be here forever. Third, my family obligations have developed and ripened before my very eyes," said Casey, who has three children, ages 3, 6, and 8. "I just feel a little more regular lifestyle might be more beneficial to the family."
Casey, who has no set career plans for after he leaves office in January, intends to remain active in Winchester, where he is an elected Town Meeting member.
"I'll still be involved," he said.
Charles Houghton, chairman of the Stoneham Democratic Town Committee, said the open seat should attract attention to the race, as should the desire of some in Stoneham to see someone from their town elected. He said no Stoneham resident has served in the House for three decades.
Another dynamic that could generate interest is that neither party has an apparent lock on the seat. While Democrats have held it since Casey was first elected, Casey said Republicans have historically represented Winchester and Stoneham. His immediate predecessor was Winchester Republican Sherman "Whip" Saltmarsh Jr.
The competition promises to be spirited.
The Democratic contenders, who could face each other in a Sept. 16 primary, both bring strengths.
Rotondi enjoys a high profile from having served as town moderator for 16 years and as a former Conservation Commission member, and from his extended family's long history of public service. Other Rotondis who have held office include Sam Rotondi, a former state senator from Winchester, and Paul Rotondi, a Stoneham selectman and former School Committee member. Both are cousins of Michael Rotondi.
Lewis is a first-time candidate, but he has been active in Winchester as a member of the Finance Committee and the Master Plan Steering Committee, and as a community volunteer. He has also been on the campaign trail for six months, giving him a head start in fund-raising and voter outreach.
O'Connor also brings name recognition in Winchester from his tenure as a selectman - he was reelected to a second term last month.
Riley may face the longest odds in the race as an Independent and relative political newcomer. But he gained some visibility from a bid for Planning Board last year that fell just seven votes short, and his wife, Eileen Quill, comes from a well-known Winchester family.
Lewis has been a senior executive with several Boston-area software companies. He is devoting full time to the campaign.
"This district deserves to have strong leadership and someone who is going to bring some new ideas and a lot of energy and passion to representing" the two towns, he said, noting that his business and community service backgrounds have prepared him to offer that.
He said he would champion the concerns he has heard from voters, which are the need for strong public schools, sufficient local aid for the district, and healthcare that is "accessible and affordable for everybody."
Rotondi runs a property management and renovation business. He formerly worked for the state in several environment-related posts. Rotondi unsuccessfully challenged Casey as a Republican in 2000, switching to the Democratic Party in 2004.
He said he brings a background in local government that is "critical to understanding the challenges that our local communities face" with the loss of state aid. He said he also comes from a family with a long history of service to the two towns.
"I want to bring that type of commitment to this district to Beacon Hill and get what we deserve - better treatment," he said.
The chief operations officer for a software company, O'Connor formerly spent 25 years with Polaroid Corp., most of it as a sales and marketing executive. He is a Marine Corps combat veteran of the Vietnam War.
"I'm running to make sure the towns get more money from the state to build up their infrastructure and to make sure their property taxes remain at least in sight of people's budgets," said O'Connor, a friend and neighbor of Casey's.
"I've only run as a selectman, so I don't bring any baggage with me," he said, adding that he also offers his business background and "a lot of common sense."
A former Essex County assistant district attorney, Riley has a law practice with his father, Charles H. Riley Jr., in Winchester and Boston.
"I'm extremely excited by this unique opportunity to assist our communities," he said, "and very confident my background and professional accomplishments make me the best choice to serve as our district's voice on Beacon Hill, fighting for increased local aid, including for education . . . as well as for restoring a strong economy for Massachusetts and working on the public safety front."
John Laidler can be reached at laidler@globe.com. 