Official Statement on US Senate Run

For the past several months I have considered a run for the United States Senate.  I very much enjoyed this process and the response was sustaining and positive.  I am especially thankful for the encouragement and wise counsel I received from those that I have spoken to about my interest in the Senate seat. 

I believe this race is an important one for working families in Massachusetts, and I believe that a Democrat can win the seat.  I also agree with those I spoke with that to have the best shot at success requires candidates to announce early.  Thus, I had set an April deadline for myself.

I have concluded that I cannot enter the race at this time.  As I worked through this decision making process, it became increasingly clear to me that at present there is much to do here in Salem.  This is a critical period of time for the City and the next several months will be consumed with dealing with a very difficult budget, planning for the future of the City’s aging, coal based power plant, and managing strategic investments in our waterfront and transportation some of which are currently underway.  My first obligation is to the people of Salem, who have elected me to do the best job I can, here first, before I think about moving on.

Plain and simple, I do think the seat is winnable, but there is a time and place for everything and I have simply come to the conclusion that for me, at this time, I enjoy my job as Mayor of Salem and I believe my work here will require my full attention.