BEVERLY — Although a date hasn’t been set for the special election to replace former state Rep. Jerry Parisella, three candidates are already off and running along the campaign trail.
Beverly city councilors Hannah Bowen and Todd Rotondo and former Greater Beverly Chamber of Commerce President Medley Long III have all announced their campaigns for the 6th Essex seat that Parisella stepped down from earlier this month to be sworn in as a judge.
Fellow city councilor Matt St. Hilaire, who was also considering running, told The Salem News Friday he will not be joining the race.
The winner will represent Beverly and precinct 1 in Wenham.
Bowen, 43, and a Democrat, is an at-Large city councilor and the executive director of The Resolution Center, formerly known as the North Shore Community Mediation Center.
She plans to host an official campaign launch event in February. But she’s already focusing on learning which issues are most important to voters, she said.
“The stakes get higher every day, it seems,” Bowen said. “We’re seeing this legislative session take shape and I’m eager for us to have representation in that seat again and to be in that seat.”
Rotondo, 52, and also a Democrat, represents Ward 1 and is the co-owner of Salerno’s Italian Pub & Eatery. He is also the president of Beverly 400+, chairperson of the Beverly Youth Collaboration Board, and a member of the Greater Beverly YMCA Executive Board and Essex Tech School Council.
He will host his campaign kickoff Wednesday from 6-9 p.m. at the Off Cabot Club.
“The campaign right now is going in the right direction,” Rotondo said. “With my campaign, I intend to continue running it positively, as I’ve always kept my council races positive and upbeat.”
Long, 32, is running as a Republican. He stepped down as Chamber president last month to focus on his campaign for state representative, but is still involved in the organization, he said.
He is the owner and creative director of Medley Creative Group, a Beverly-based digital marketing and design firm, and remains president of Beverly Homecoming, vice president of the Beverly Farms Improvement Society and Beverly 400+, and is a board member for West Beach Corp. and Beverly Holiday Parade.
Long held an official campaign kickoff event Dec. 27 and plans to host community coffee hours to speak with residents.
“Jerry has done a fantastic job over the last 12 years,” Long said, “and I’m someone who can carry on his legacy of great constituency service.”
Contact Caroline Enos at{/em} CEnos@northofboston.com{em}.