Dec 15, 2020
LAWRENCE â Five weeks after one election, the city must decide whether to hold another election â this time to choose an interim mayor to finish the term of Daniel Rivera.Â
Rivera is preparing to leave the mayor s post to become president and CEO of the state agency MassDevelopment.
At Tuesday s City Council meeting, Lawrence s nine councilors are expected to discuss the pros and cons of having a special election, which is required by the city charter for a new mayor to be named.
The charter says the council president in this case Kendrys Vasquez becomes acting mayor if the mayor is unable to perform his duties. The charter, which is outlined at cityoflawrence.com, requires that a special election then happen to elect a new mayor. That election must take place within 90 days of the date the vacancy is created, according to the charter, which says the winner of the election would fill the outgoing mayor s unexpired term.
Dec 12, 2020
TIM JEAN/Staff photoMayor Daniel Rivera speaks at Lawrence General Hospital s COVID-19 testing site, as Gov. Charlie Baker looks on. Tim Jean
LAWRENCE â As Mayor Daniel Rivera moves on to the next chapter of his career, members of the city s political network are applauding his rise to a major state post.
After seven years as Lawrence s leader, Rivera announced Thursday he is stepping down as mayor to accept a job with MassDevelopment, becoming president and chief executive officer of that state agency. His decision comes with one year left in his second mayoral term.
MassDevelopment s Board of Directors voted unanimously Thursday to appoint Rivera to the position.