Beverly Candidates Line Up For Open State Representative Seat

BEVERLY, MA — As eight-term State Rep. Jerry Parisella was officially sworn in as Associate Justice of the District Court this week, three Beverly candidates have lined up to fill the open 6th Essex seat representing Beverly and Wenham Precinct 1 on Beacon Hill.

Beverly City Councilors Hannah Bowen and Todd Rotondo, along with Beverly Chamber of Commerce President Medley Long, have signaled their intentions to run for the special election when it is scheduled.

Parisella was elected to his eighth term in November before Gov. Maura Healey nominated him to the District Court as her 50th judicial nomination last month.

Bowen, Rotondo and Long said they planned to run for the seat in the weeks that followed the nomination and Governor's Council confirmation.

Long said in his campaign announcement that his priorities on Beacon Hill would be to support local businesses, make life in the area more affordable for seniors and young professionals, and invest in infrastructure "that keeps our neighborhoods safe, strong and connected."

"The momentum we're building is incredible, and I'm so thankful to everyone who has already stepped forward to be part of this effort," Long posted on his social media campaign page. "Your encouragement means the world to me, and I'm ready to give my all to earn your trust, your support, and the chance to represent Beverly and Wenham.

"Let's keep the conversation going, and let's make a difference together."

Bowen, a City Councilor At-Large, told Patch on Monday that she thanked Parisella for his three decades of public service in the military and as a state representative and that she will be formally announcing her candidacy in the coming days.

"On the City Council, I've taken on National Grid and won protections for residents, passed an ordinance allowing homeowners to build accessory dwelling units, and increased transparency and auditing of city government," she said of her credentials to fill the State House seat.

Rotondo, the Ward 1 City Councilor, is planning his official campaign kickoff event on Jan. 22 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Off Cabot Club on Wallis Street. He is a three-term City Councilor and is a member of the Beverly Harbor Management Authority Committee.

Rotondo has been a Ryal Side resident since 1996 and co-owner of Beverly business, Salerno’s Italian Pub & Eatery, since 1998.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)