Lawmakers urged to create opportunities for candidates of color
Matt Murphy
State House News Service
The state s only majority-minority Congressional district, represented by U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, is an area ripe for lawmakers to create more opportunities for candidates of color at the state level, according to officials and advocates who testified Monday in front of legislators in charge of redistricting.
Pressley, who in 2018 became the first Black woman elected to Congress from Massachusetts, urged the Special Committee on Redistricting on Monday to keep as much of her district intact as possible.
Meanwhile, leaders in Randolph, Chelsea and Revere pressed for their communities to be kept whole in House districts on Beacon Hill, rather than carved up. And numerous advocates said Boston should have a Senate district crafted to make it more likely that a Black person can be elected.
Bob Michelson
Randolph town councilor Paul McDermott has resigned, citing time restraints.
McDermott, who represents District 2, could be succeeded by Arthur Goldstein, the longtime board member who McDermott defeated at the polls in 2019.
Goldstein has been offered the position to serve out the final 10 months of McDermott s term. As of March 11, Goldstein has not responded. He has until March 19 to decide, although at his final board good-bye after being defeated, he ended by saying - in his best Terminator voice - I ll be back.
If Goldstein does not accept the position, the runner-up of the councilor-at-large race who lives in District 2 - Jesse Gordon - would be offered the seat.
Randolph town councilor McDermott resigns; former councilor could take his place patriotledger.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from patriotledger.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.