By John Laidler, Globe Staff, 07/18/99

In another sign of his emerging strength in Massachusetts, Democratic presidential candidate Bill Bradley has picked up the endorsement of a prominent north of Boston legislator.

State representative Douglas W. Petersen, a Marblehead Democrat who is House chairman of the Joint Committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture, said last week he has decided to support the former New Jersey senator in his primary contest with Vice President Al Gore.

''I've always liked Bill Bradley ... I like the way he thinks through issues,'' Petersen said. ''I'm particularly impressed with his stand on campaign finance reform. That's near and dear to my heart. I think he's more of a process guy than the other entities in the race.

''Plus, I think frankly he may be more electable than Gore. I think voters may be looking for someone fresh, someone apart from the current system,'' added Petersen, one of a number of state legislators who met with Bradley during the latter's visit to Boston several weeks ago.

He said his decision was not an easy one given Gore's strong record on the environment, ''another issue near and dear to me.'' But, Peterson added, ''Certainly, Bradley has given no indication that the environment won't be high on his agenda as well.''

The Marblehead lawmaker, meanwhile, was recently named by the National Conference of State Legislature to serve on its Assembly on State Issues' Science, Energy and Environmental Resources Committee.

Saugus's Angelo

maintains two jobs

Veteran state Representative Steven V. Angelo isn't giving up his seat - just yet.

When he was appointed permanent town manager in Saugus by the Board of Selectmen in January, Angelo said he planned to resign his seat in the spring following completion of the budget process.

But last week, Angelo said he had changed his mind about relinquishing his legislative seat, and would instead hold onto it until his term expires in January 2001. His district includes Saugus and parts of Lynn and Lynnfield.

Angelo said the delay in the completion of the budget had prompted his decision. He said he had anticipated leaving by June 30. That would have allowed for a special election to fill the seat to be held by early November, coinciding with municipal elections. But with the budget process dragging on, Angelo said the special election would have to be scheduled in late November or December, which, because of the holidays, would ensure a poor turnout. Special elections are rarely held in the same year as regular elections.

Angelo, who has been donating the net proceeds of his $46,410 legislative salary to charity since he became acting town manager last July, said he would continue to do so until the end of his term. He earns $80,000 as town manager.

As for balancing the two jobs, Angelo said, ''I've done it for 13 months.''

End of county

government hailed

The official end of Essex County government June 30 has brought a smile to the face of Mark DiSalvo.

It seems like ancient history now, but DiSalvo headed a 19-member charter commission that in 1988 recommended the abolition of the county government. Maneuvering by procounty legislators prevented the charter panel from ever making it to the ballot. But last year, it was lawmakers themselves that voted to accomplish what DiSalvo and his forces had proposed so long ago.

''I'm delighted,'' DiSalvo, of North Andover, said of the end of county government. Most remaining county functions were taken over by the state.

DiSalvo said the county government had a reason to exist for perhaps the first 100 of the 356 years that it was in place. ''But thereafter, it was an anomaly, an anachronism,'' he said.

The many years it took to finally pull the plug on the government ''proves two things,'' DiSalvo reflected. ''One is the intransigence of the political establishment and the apologists for county government that has existed for so long. Number two, in the end, after an inordinate amount of time and reasoning, that goodness and good judgment wins out.''