he fall campaign season in Massachusetts moves into high gear tomorrow when voters across the state cast ballots in primary elections for Congress, the Legislature, and regional offices.
With no primary contests in the race for US Senate and only three low-key US House races, this primary season has been relatively lackluster. But several contests have claimed some local attention.
In the First Worcester District, State Representative Harriette L. Chandler and Joseph D. Early Jr., both of Worcester, are battling for the Democratic nomination in the race to succeed retiring state Senator Robert A. Bernstein. Early is the son of former congressman Joseph D. Early.
Former Weymouth selectman James M. Cantwell and Ted LeClair, a cranberry grower and political newcomer from Marshfield, are competing in a Democratic primary in the Plymouth and Norfolk District. The winner will face Republican state Senator Robert L. Hedlund of Weymouth in November.
Several House primary contests have also been lively, notably in districts with open seats.
In the Sixth Middlesex District, Selectman Christopher J. Petrini and town meeting member Debby Blumer, both of Framingham, are competing in the Democratic primary in the race to succeed retiring state Representative John H. Stasik, a Framingham Democrat.
In the Ninth Essex District, Selectman Christie ''Chris'' Ciampa Jr. and town meeting member Mark V. Falzone are dueling in the Democratic primary in the race to succeed outgoing state Representative Steven V. Angelo, who is now Saugus town manager.
Four Worcester residents are vying for the Democratic nomination in the race to succeed Chandler in the 13th Worcester District. They are housing activists Harriett S. Lebow and Robert Spellane, School Committee member Brian A. O'Connell, and local attorney Joseph W. Spillane.
In the Ninth Middlesex District, two Waltham residents, City Councilor at Large Thomas M. Stanley and community activist Mila Ruth Tarallo are competing for the Democratic nomination in the race to fill the seat vacated by the resignation of state Representative David F. Gately, now mayor of Waltham.
Two Hingham residents are competing for the Democratic nomination in the race to succeed retiring Cohasset Republican Mary Jeanette Murray in the Third Plymouth District: Garrett J. Bradley, who lost to Murray in the last election, and former selectman Michael P. Hogan.
A two-way Republican fight is under way in the race for the First Bristol District seat of retiring Republican state Representative Barbara C. Hyland of Foxborough. In the running are Foxborough Selectman Michael J. Coppola and former selectman Edward J. Tartufo of Mansfield.
The recent resignation of House Majority Whip Barbara Gardner has triggered a three-way Democratic fight in the Eighth Middlesex District. Contending are former assessor Edward J. Mills of Hopkinton, former finance committee member Robert S. Cassidy of Holliston, and former local newspaper columnist Kelly Roney of Southborough.
A two-way Democratic primary is under way in the 38th Middlesex Distric race to succeed Democratic state Representative Anthony P. Giglio of Medford, who is retiring. Vying are Medford City Council president Paul J. Donato and one-time city council candidate John F. Carey.
There are also some spirited primary challenges being mounted against Democratic House incumbents. In the 15th Norfolk District, freshman incumbent Representative Ronny M. Sydney of Brookline is challenged by Brookline School Committee member Frank Israel Smizik. In the Sixth Essex District, incumbent Michael P. Cahill of Beverly is opposed by former School Committee member Stella Mae R. Seamans of Beverly. In the Third Essex District, incumbent Brian S. Dempsey of Haverhill and former Lawrence city councilor Michael J. Early of Haverhill are in the running. Incumbent George Rogers of New Bedford and City Councilor Paul Koczera of New Bedford, are battling in the 12th Bristol District.
In the Sixth Suffolk District, veteran incumbent Shirley Owens-Hicks of Mattapan has opposition from Shirley Shillingford of Mattapan, president of Boston's Caribbean Festival. And in the Sixth Worcester District, incumbent Mark J. Caron is battling Southbridge School Committee member Scott S. Lazo. Caron edged Lazo in a special election race to fill the seat last year.
In congressional primaries, four-term Democratic US Representative Martin T. Meehan of Lowell squares off against first-time candidate Joseph F. Osbaldeston of Ayer and Thomas P. Tierney of Framingham, who has lost previous bids for Congress and the Legislature. Six-term Democratic US Representative Richard E. Neal of Springfield is challenged by one-time school committee candidate Joseph R. Fountain of Springfield. And two Lynnfield Republicans are vying to oppose Democratic US Representative John F. Tierney in the Sixth District: attorney Frederick T. Golder and broadcast consultant Paul McCarthy, both of whom have lost previous bids for office.
Several Democratic races for Governor's Council have been animated. In the Fifth District, incumbent Patricia A. Dowling of Lawrence, who is also mayor of that city, is opposed by Peabody attorney Mary-Ellen Manning. In the Third District, incumbent Marilyn Petitto Devaney has opposition from Ruth E. Nemzoff of Newton. Both Manning and Nemzoff were runners-up in 1998 primaries for those seats.
Some county races are also drawing interest. Among them is a Democratic bout for clerk of courts in Worcester County between incumbent Loring P. Lamouerux of Worcester and Worcester Mayor Raymond V. Mariano.
