Zinc
Joined: Oct 2007
|
Feb 01, 2008 18:32 modified on Jul 29, 2010 03:27
Mr Furcolo was the last Governor to serve two consecutive two-year terms. Mr Volpe elected in 1960 was defeated by Endicott Peabody in 1962. Gov. Peabody was defeated in the 1964 Democratic Primary by Lt. Gov. Francis Bellotti. Mr. Volpe made a return run for Gov. in 1964 and defeated Mr. Bellotti. Gov. Volpe would serve the last two year term. Starting with the election of 1966 the Governor's term would be expanded to four years and Gov. Volpe would be the first person elected to a four year term. In 1969 Gov. Volpe resigned to accept appointment as President Nixon's Sec. of Transportation paving the way for his Lt. Gov., Francis Sargent to be elevated to Acting Gov. Mr. Sargent went on to become the first Gov. elected to a four year term, in 1970, and actually serving out the entire term.
Gov. Furcolo was the last Gov. to appoint a U. S. Senator, who would serve until the next general election. When Senator John Kennedy was elected President he resigned his seat before Gov. Furcolo left office; at that time Mass. law dictated the Gov. could appoint a replacement who wolud serve until the next state election. Mr. Furcolo chose Ben Smith, former Mayor of Glouster and room mate of John Kennedy at Harvard. Whoever won the election would serve out the remainder of the established term of office.
In 2004 when it appeared that Sen. John Kerry stood a good chance to be elected president the Democratic legislature didn't want Republican Gov. Mitt Romney to have the authority to appoint a Republican. Accordingly, the Democratic legislature changed the law to allow for a special election to fill any vacancies in an open U. S. Senate seat. This law was later amended to provide for appointment of a temporary senator until the special election was held.
This new law enabled Gov. Deval Patrick to fill the late Sen. Ted Kennedy's Senate seat in 2009 with Paul Kirk. The main difference between the Furcolo and Patrick appointments was the immediate special election required after Patrick's choice of a fill-in Senator. Whereas Furcolo's choice served until the next regular state election.
|
