Several Brookline Residents Eye Kennedy's Seat In Congress

BROOKLINE, MA — Well, at least one local Brookline politician won't be throwing their hat in the ring for U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy's seat in the 4th Congressional District in Congress. State Rep. Tommy Vitolo announced that he won't be one of the challengers. But two other Brookline residents have stepped forward to throw their hat in the ring.

Democratic Socialist Ihssane Leckey of Brookline declared in May, expecting to challenge Kennedy himself. Brookline resident Alan Khazei, who co-founded City Year announced his candidacy Tuesday. And several more are circling.

Vitolo, however, said he plans to run for reelection to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 2020. He said he had been considering running for Congress to represent the Fourth District, but is officially not running.

"I've thought carefully about the possibility of running for Congress and have discussed the idea with my loved ones. I'm staying right here in Brookline, and will run for reelection to continue serving in the Massachusetts House of Representatives," said Vitolo in a release.

"I love my job in the district, attending community events and sharing ideas with neighbors. I love returning home to my family every day, reading bedtime stories to my daughter, checking my son's homework, doing the dishes alongside my wife," he said.

Vitolo, who was sworn in this January, described the candidates emerging for the open seat as strong, but stopped short of any endorsements.

"I will be looking for a congressional partner who will fight for the issues that matter to all of us, like social and economic justice, public education, and climate and environmental protection," said the state representative who lives near Washington Street with his wife Jennifer Taranto and their two children.

In addition to Leckey and Khazei, Newton City Councilor Becky Walker Grossman announced she, too, is running for the 4th District House seat held by Kennedy.

And there are several others from Brookline considering a run.

MA Treasurer Deborah Goldberg is also taking steps toward joining what's shaping up to be a bit of a crowded field. Others considering the position include Brookline Select Board Member Jesse Mermell and Dave Cavell who is a senior adviser to Maura Healey and was a speechwriter to President Barack Obama.

Newton City Councilor Jake Auchincloss also indicated he's considering.

Outside of Brookline and Newton, State Sen. Paul Feeney, of Foxborough, and state Rep. Patricia Haddad of Somerset have all indicated they’re also thinking of running.

The Fourth Congressional District includes parts of Bristol, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth and Worcester counties:

Read more:

• MA Treasurer Deb Goldberg Eyes Joe Kennedy's Seat
• Arrival VR: Ihssane Shares Her Immigration Story (2019)
• Joe Kennedy Mulling Senate Run Against Ed Markey (August)
• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Endorses Sen. Ed Markey
• Joe Kennedy Announces Run For Senate
• Newton's Grossman Declares Run For Kennedy House Seat (Sept.24)

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).