BEVERLY — A third candidate has entered the race for state representative in Beverly.
Medley Long III, a business owner and president of the Greater Beverly Chamber of Commerce, announced Monday that he is a candidate in the 6th Essex District, which represents Beverly and part of Wenham in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
Long joins Beverly city councilors Hannah Bowen and Todd Rotondo as announced candidates for the seat. Bowen and Rotondo are running as Democrats, while Long is a Republican.
Candidates are stepping forward as Parisella is expected to be confirmed as a judge in the District Court system. Parisella was nominated for a judgeship by Gov. Maura Healey last month and is set to be confirmed by the Governor’s Council.
Parisella has been Beverly’s state representative since 2010 and was reelected to an eighth two-year term in November. If he becomes a judge, a special election will be held to fill the 6th Essex seat, most likely in March or April.
Long, 32, is the owner and creative director of Medley Creative Group, a digital marketing and design firm in Beverly. In addition to being president of the Greater Beverly Chamber of Commerce, he is also president of Beverly Homecoming, the nonprofit that runs the annual festival.
In making his announcement, Long said he is happy that Parisella will become a judge but also “concerned we would lose the compassionate and pragmatic leadership he has provided us for the past decade.”
“I’m running to build on that legacy while offering the energy and vision of a new generation of leadership,” Long said.
Staff Writer Paul Leighton can be reached at 978-338-2535, by email at pleighton@salemnews.com, or on Twitter at @heardinbeverly.