Taxation without representation? That might be the case for about 82,000 residents in Worcester, Belmont, Arlington and Cambridge if leaders on Beacon Hill opt against scheduling special elections to fill the seats being vacated by Rep. Vincent Pedone and Rep. William Brownsberger, who both could be gone from the House before the end of the week. House Speaker Robert DeLeo on Monday told the News Service he was leaning against holding special elections in both districts.
“Right now, I’d have to say I’m leaning towards not having a special election Pedone or for Brownsberger,” DeLeo said after a meeting with Gov. Deval Patrick and Senate President Therese Murray. Candidates this fall will run in newly shaped House and Senate districts in the wake of the decennial redistricting process, creating potential special election complications for candidates and voters amid the transition between existing and new districts.
Pedone, chairman of the Committee on Bills in Third Reading, could leave the Legislature as early Friday to begin his new job as executive officer of the Council of Presidents of the Massachusetts State University System, he said Monday. The Worcester Democrat said he is still trying to work out logistics, but would resign within two weeks.
Full Article: More than 82K residents may lack representation for second leg of two-year session – BostonHerald.com.