Republican enters race for House seat
BROCKTON - A longtime Republican Party official from Brockton has entered the race to replace state Representative Thomas P. Kennedy, setting up a general election face-off against one of three Democrats who have already announced their candidacies.
Lawyer Lawrence P. Novak, a representative to the Republican State Committee, and chairman of the city committee, turned in nomination papers by Tuesday's deadline, said city Elections Commissioner John McGarry. McGarry said he certified the signatures.
Novak's entry into the race was a surprise to local political pundits, who did not expect a Republican to run. Moreover, Novak still has a criminal indictment hanging over his head; he has professed his innocence.
Novak was charged more than two years ago with money-laundering, related to his role as a defense attorney for an accused drug dealer. He allegedly told the client he could help him hide $107,000 in drug sale proceeds. However, a federal judge ruled that wiretap evidence collected in the case was inadmissible. Prosecutors have appealed, and the case is pending in federal court.
Novak's involvement in the Republican State Committee was suspended after his indictment. However, he was reelected in February, and has been allowed to resume his duties.
City Councilor Thomas Brophy, a Democrat and an aide to retiring state Senator Robert Creedon, said he anticipated a Republican would jump into the race by Tuesday's deadline, but did not think it would be Novak, particularly because of the pending charges.
"One would think that before you enter the political arena again, you'd want to make sure that . . . the case was terminated," Brophy said.
Novak said he entered the race to make sure both parties are involved, and because voters have a choice. He doesn't believe his criminal case will be a factor, he said, because he expects the case to be dismissed.
He will face one of the three Democrats who have taken out nomination papers: City Councilors Michael Brady and Robert Sullivan, and Conor Yunits, son of former mayor John Yunits Jr. They will face off in a Sept. 16 primary.
The four will seek to fill Kennedy's Ninth Plymouth representative seat, which covers only Brockton.
The seat is open because Kennedy is seeking to replace Creedon, who is stepping down after 25 years to run for the Plymouth County clerk of courts seat left vacant by the death of Francis Powers on March 28.
