Travaglini reportedly assures senators he'll run again

Senate President Robert E. Travaglini has privately ruminated with colleagues about retiring, creating unease among Democratic senators and forcing him to assure his colleagues that he is seeking reelection to the Senate next fall and another term as the Senate leader, lawmakers said.

In interviews during the past several days, state senators said that Travaglini, who has undergone heart surgery and had thyroid cancer in recent years, has privately speculated that he is laying plans to leave, although no timetable had been set. One motivation for considering a departure is financial, said one of his colleagues, noting the high tuition bills Travaglini faces for his college-bound children. The Senate president makes about $85,000 a year.

Travaglini, a former city councilor from East Boston who won a Senate seat in 1992, was unavailable for comment yesterday. His press aide acknowledged that rumors of his departure have run rampant in the past few days. But she insisted the Senate leader planned to run for reelection and return as the Senate's leader.

''They are rumors," said Ann Dufresne, Travaglini's spokeswoman. ''It never ceases to amaze me the rumors that circulate around this office. He is running for another senate term and another term as senate president."

Asked if Travaglini plans to serve out the next two-year term, Dufresne said, ''I believe so. I have no indication he is not."

Speculation about Travaglini's future has created a stir, particularly among possible successors.

Those close to him say Travaglini would like to hand off the position to Senate Ways and Means Chair Therese Murray, the Plymouth Democrat who is considered his closest confidante.

Others mentioned as possible contenders are veteran Democratic senators Michael Morrissey of Quincy, Marian Walsh of West Roxbury, Mark C. Montigny of New Bedford, and Robert Havern of Arlington.

The choice of whom to back for the post is among the most important political decisions senators make on Beacon Hill. Backing a winner could land them extra-paying positions in the leadership and key assignments to committees.

''A lot of talk is going around, most of it coming from outside the State House," said Senator Steven Tolman, a Democrat from Brighton, who talked to Travaglini yesterday. ''But it is all wrong. Trav is running for reelection and I am delighted."

Morrissey said he has not solicited votes for the Senate presidency and said he hoped that Travaglini intends to serve another two-year term in the Senate.

''I support the Senate president," Morrissey said. ''I would hope he would tell us if he plans to leave. But I am not in any rush for him to leave."

Travaglini, who was elected Senate president in January 2003, had been a unifying and popular leader.

He succeeded Senate president Thomas Birmingham, who ran for governor in 2002 and lost.