hile the US Senate and congressional races have been ho-hum this year and many incumbent legislators are unopposed, a few local contests for the Massachusetts House and Senate are stirring interest.
The state Republican Party, which has been criticized for failing to build up its ranks during recent election cycles, is trying to hold on to several state Senate seats and hoping to make gains in the House.
Democrats outnumber Republicans 33 to 6 in the Senate and 129 to 27 in the House. There are three House vacancies, one House seat held by an Independent, and one vacant Senate seat.
Two open Senate seats have set off scrambles. On Cape Cod, former House GOP leader Edward B. Teague of Yarmouth is trying to return to the Legislature. Teague, who lost a congressional bid to US Representative William D. Delahunt in 1996, is facing Barnstable County Commissioner Robert O'Leary, a Democrat.
In Worcester, Representative Harriette L. Chandler, a Democrat, and former Worcester County assistant district attorney Christopher P. LoConto are battling for the seat being vacated by Senator Robert A. Bernstein, a Democrat.
Two GOP Senate incumbents are facing energetic challengers. Senator Robert L. Hedlund of Weymouth, who lost a race for mayor in 1999, faces opposition from Weymouth Democrat James M. Cantwell, a former Marshfield selectman. Republican incumbent JoAnn Sprague of Walpole faces James Timilty of Walpole, whom she defeated in 1998. Timilty is the brother of Governor's Councilor Kelly A. Timilty.
Meanwhile, Democratic incumbent Susan C. Fargo of Lincoln has competition from Waltham Republican Andrew Pryor, the father of Sarah Pryor, the Wayland girl abducted in 1985.
Mark White, executive director of the Democratic State Committee, said it was reasonable to expect his party to maintain its current numbers in both branches. ''We'll be ecstatic if we can increase our majorities,'' White said.
Dominick Ianno, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Republican Party, said the GOP anticipates raising its overall numbers in the Legislature for the first time since 1990.
On the House side, a lively race is underway between Republican Michael J. Coppola, a Foxborough selectman, and Democrat Dianne Royle, a former selectwoman from Mansfield, for the seat of outgoing Republican incumbent Barbara C. Hyland of Foxborough.
Meanwhile, two Waltham city councilors, Democrat Thomas M. Stanley and Republican Michael R. Squillante, are vying with Libertarian Daniel J. MacKenzie for the seat vacated earlier this year by Independent David F. Gately, who became mayor of Waltham.
In Holyoke, Republican Kevin A. Jourdain and Democrat Michael F. Kane, both city councilors, are running for the seat of Holyoke Democrat Evelyn G. Chesky, who lost in the primary. Former Assessor Edward J. Mills, a Hopkinton Democrat, and political newcomer Paul J.P. Loscocco, a Holliston Republican, are dueling for the seat vacated by Holliston Democrat Barbara Gardner.
Amesbury Democrat Paul E. Tirone and Newburyport Republican Joseph P. Sullivan, both former Newburyport city councilors, are vying to succeed retiring Republican incumbent Kevin L. Finnegan of Newburyport.
Several feisty challenges against incumbents are also sparking interest.
Republican incumbent Francis L. Marini, the House minority leader, faces a challenge from Duxbury Democrat Dino M. Colucci, an attorney. In Plymouth, Republican incumbent Vinny deMacedo is battling Democrat Richard H. Sherman, a member of the Plymouth Advisory and Finance Committee.
In Wellesley, Dr. Lawrence R. Kaplan, a Democrat and former president of MetroWest Medical Center, has mounted a challenge to Republican incumbent John A. Locke of Wellesley.
Republican Michael J. Rotondi, the Stoneham town moderator, is challenging Democratic incumbent Paul C. Casey of Winchester. Worcester Independent William J. McManus II, who was until recently a Democrat, faces Worcester Democrat James Brendan Leary, a political newcomer.
Democratic incumbent David C. Bunker of Rutland and Republican Mark S. Ferguson, a Holden selectman, square off in a rematch of the special election won by Bunker last year. Veteran Republican incumbent Walter A. DeFilippi of West Springfield is opposed by Democrat Stephen J. Buoniconti, a former West Springfield School Committee member.
In Beverly, Democratic incumbent Michael P. Cahill faces Republican Kerry Murphy Healey, whom he defeated in 1998; Libertarian Dean E. Cook, whom he defeated in 1996; and Independent Donato H. Paglia. All are from Beverly.
