Pangy Won't Run For Re-Election

Yet another state legislator is not running for re-election this year, and it's a biggie: senate Ways & Means chair Steve Panagiotakos of Lowell. Here's the Globe and the Sun with the story.

That makes three open senate Democratic leadership positions come January: Ways and Means chair; Assistant Majority Leader (currently Joan Menard); and Majority Whip (currently Maureen Walsh). Plus, Minority Leader, with Richard Tisei leaving to run for LG.

It'll be interesting to see who gets the promotions -- there are going to be so many 1st- and 2nd-termers in January, there aren't that many veterans to choose from. (Bostonians: keep an eye on Steve Tolman!)

As for possible candidates for Pangy's seat, I'm not an expert on Lowell politics, but I expect former mayor Eileen Donoghue and rep. David Nangle to be among those looking at the opportunity.