Massachusetts state officials can do whatever the people of that state approve of - it's their senatorial chair, they can elect whoever they want. There's no hypocrisy if a majority of the constituents of the state approve of changes in state law that give the governor the ability to pick a temporary replacement. Mass. is, after all, one of our most liberal states so this would not be surprising considering the situation in Congress. I'm really more surprised that the legislature isn't sure they should allow it.
Gov. Patrick sets date for special election to fill Kennedy's seat | NECN
(NECN: Boston, Mass.) - Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has set a date of January 19, 2010 for a special election to fill Ted Kennedy's seat.
The primary election will be held Tuesday December 8, 2009.
Massachusetts legislators will hold a public hearing September 9, on the proposed law change that would let Patrick name an interim senator. The proposed change was requested by Kennedy before his death last week.
"I wholly support the special election and the democratic process, to fill the remaining two years of Senator Kennedy's term," says Patrick. "But I will continue to work with the legislature on legislation authorizing an interim appointment to the United States Senate for the five months until that special election happens."
The governor says he has no one specifically in mind for the interim senator, but says he would need the assurance that they would not run in the special election.
Secretary of State William Galvin released the following information regarding the special election:
- Registered voters can apply in writing now at their city or town hall for absentee ballots for the scheduled primary and special election. An absentee ballot application form can be downloaded from the Secretary's elections website . Click on "How to Apply for an Absentee Ballot."
- Candidates for the Senate must gather 10,000 signatures of voters. Secretary Galvin said
nomination papers will be available at the Elections Division, Room 1705, McCormack State Office Building, One Ashburton Place, Boston. Candidates for the U.S. Senate must be 30 years old, a registered voter, a U.S. citizen for nine years, and an inhabitant of Massachusetts when elected.
Nomination papers for the party primaries must be filed with local registrars of voters or election commissioners for certification by 5 p.m., October 20. Certified nomination papers must be filed with the Elections Division of the Secretary's Office by 5 p.m., November 3. Democratic, Republican, and Libertarian parties will conduct primaries.
Non-party candidates have until November 24 to submit nomination papers to local registrars for certification and until December 8 to file them with the Elections Division.
The last day to register to vote in the Senate primary is November 18. The last day to register for the election is December 30.
I was surprised that they didn't honor his request to change the rule that he had previously changed in favor of the Dem party. I was against the law before I was for the law...that song and dance gets really old, and billionaires from Massachusetts seem to know it well. My guess is we won't see a vote on healthcare until after this election is complete.
