Mahon not running Jack Hurd, an Arlington selectman since 1997, has announced he is a candidate for state Senate in the Democratic primary in September. Meanwhile, supporters of Sen. Jim Marzilli are circulating papers for his reelection, and newly reelected selectman Diane Mahon says she will not run.
In a statement to the Arlington e-mail list April 11, Hurd wrote that he informed a small group of friends and supporters on the evening of April 5. The seat is held by fellow Democrat Marzilli, who has been accused of assault, a complaint filed with police early April 6.
The timing of Hurd's announcement and the incident involving Marzilli appear to be coincidental.
YourArlington inquired with Hurd about his run, and he answered via e-mail April 11:
Asked where he made his announcement April 5, the date of the Town Election he wrote, "at a postelection gathering here in town."
Among those present, "to name a few," he wrote, were Marie Krepelka, who is the administrator to the Board of Selectmen; state Rep. Sean Garballey; and Nanci Ortwein, a teacher at Arlington High School.
Hurd said he has not yet named a campaign manager or treasurer. Known for his work on traffic and parking issues, among others, he is in the final year of his fourth term on the Board of Selectmen.
He was asked April 12 the reasons he is seeking Marzilli's seat. On April 13, Hurd wrote that he would answer that query but not immediately. He also wrote that had been seriously contemplating this recent decision for the past two months.
Last September, YourArlington heard a rumor that Hurd might seek the Senate seat after longtime senator Robert A. Havern stepped down in August to join a lobbying firm. Asked about this at the time, Hurd wrote:
"I'm ... flattered and encouraged that many people have suggested I run for Bob Havern's open Senate seat. I can tell you, I am seriously considering it. The district falls out very well for me overall in terms of friends, relatives and supporters. I am currently discussing it with my family."
In the end, Hurd chose not to run at that time.
In the first public announcement, Hurd wrote: "I would like to inform list members of my decision to run for the 4th Middlesex District Senate seat in the Democratic Primary on September 16, 2008.
 "Over the past two months I have carefully considered this decision with family and advisors and announced it to a small group of friends and supporters last Saturday evening after the conclusion of our town elections.
"Yesterday, I took out nomination papers to begin the process. I look forward to discussions on the important issues in the coming months that we face here in Arlington and in the 4th Middlesex District."
With Hurd's announcement, speculation began April 11 on the Arlington list. Dean Carman offered his analysis:
"With or without the current allegations, Jim is extremely vulnerable this fall. I expected announcements this past Monday and actually think he exercised discretion by waiting until Friday [April 11].
"Jim's margin in the primary [last November] was as follows:
"Marzilli = 6,631 (NOTE: 4,386 from Arlington, finished in last place in Billerica, Burlington, Woburn)
"Donnolly = 4,438 (won Billerica)
"Murphy = 3,574 (won Burlington
"Natale = 2,594 (won Woburn)
"Now, if you looked at the vote totals by town, you'll see that Marzilli gets all of his margin from Arlington. He finished in last place in Billerica, Woburn and Burlington, but there weren't enough voters to overtake Arlington's large turnout as the votes were split among the other three candidates.
"This makes Jim vulnerable to an Arlington candidate who can take margin from him in Arlington and then beat him in the other towns. To do this would require the challenger to get into the race early and start rounding up support throughout the district.
"It's a very good strategy but you need to get in by, well, this week. Town elections are over and the organizing needs to start.
"I would also guess that Jack is afraid of Diane Mahon. I think she could mitigate Jim's Arlington margin and crush him outside the district. This way he gets a jump on her with rounding up support.
"NOTE: I have no clue if she's running, I just see her as the strongest candidate."
Asked to comment, Mahon wrote in an e-mail April 14:
"I will not be seeking election as our state senator. Like [state Rep.] Jay Kaufman, I'm really in a good place right now doing what I'm doing (Selectman, coaching and mom stuff), so I'm grateful for that. What the future holds down the road, who knows?"
In contrast to theories put forth by others in postings to the Arlington list, local historian Richard A. Duffy raised the fact that Hurd is not only a well-known family name in Arlington, but also on the opposite end of the district, in Billerica.
Further, Carman's listing of votes fails to mention the tally in Lexington, where Marzilli led, with 1,558 votes, followed by Donnelly, with 367.
Marzilli supporters were circulating petitions April 12 to include him on the September primary ballot.
Signature papers are due April 29. Marzilli supporters say they want to have 500 names by April 20.
Ken Donnelly of Arlington, who was a candidate for Senate last fall, has taken out nominations papers, but he said he has not yet decided whether he will run again.
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