A New Take on an Old Mayoral Tradition

In 1838, Leverett Saltonstall, the first Mayor of Salem, was elected as United States Representative from the 2nd Massachusetts District. Little did he know, he was beginning a small local tradition.

There has been much recent conversation regarding the possibility of Kim Driscoll opposing Scott Brown for the Senate in the next election. While no one who has ever served as the Salem Chief Executive has ever served in the U. S. Senate, there have been a few who have moved on to higher office. Saltonstall was the first albeit in another district.

Charles Wentworth Upham served as Salem's Mayor from 1852 to 1853 and then served in Congress for one term from 1853 to 1855.

William Cogswell, who served two separate terms as Salem's Mayor, also served as a Congressman for four terms from 1887 to 1893. 

The most recent Mayor to move on to the House of Representatives was George J. Bates, who served as Mayor for the years 1924 to 1937. In 1937, he was elected to the 75th Congress and served until his untimely death in an airline crash in 1949.

Others have moved on to appointed positions. Henry K. Oliver, who served both Lawrence and Salem as Chief Executive, later became the Treasurer of Massachusetts. In 1973, Samuel E. Zoll left the Salem corner office to become a Special Justice of the Massachusetts District Court, and was later appointed the Chief Justice by Governor Michael Dukakis.

A Senate run by Driscoll would be a new twist on this old tradition. No Salem mayor has ever served as a U. S. Senator. Keep in mind, however, that prior to 2006, no woman had ever served as Mayor of Salem.

Brown, with his huge war chest and fresh battle scars from his fight with Martha Coakley, would be a tough nut to crack. Assuming that he is just the product of voter anger is a miscalculation. That anger may still seethe, but it may be that voters truly felt that after all these years, change was needed. In this regard, it should be noted that Driscoll is no fundraising neophyte. She has demonstrated clear and intimidating prowess on a local level.

The national political landscape, which has been fairly stable in these parts for a long time, seems on the verge of multiple seismic shifts. The old richter scale may not be able to handle the tremors caused by the rupturing political faults.

Will John Tierney stand for another term? Recent developments seem to suggest that he may not run again. 

National pundits are speaking of John Kerry moving in to replace Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. His office has issued denials, but seldom do these sorts of rumors start without a reason behind them.

At the state level, more than a few are eyeballing Fred Berry wondering about his future plans. If he retires, a scrum will begin for his Senate seat.

Anyone of the aforementioned trying to move on or up could create a fascinating line of political dominoes.

If Driscoll is seen as a viable contender against incumbent Brown, how strong a candidate would she be in a race to replace Kerry where there is no incumbent?

Over the last ten years, more than one political opponent has underestimated the woman who now serves as our Chief Executive. It happened when she ran for the Council in Ward 5 and again when she ran for Mayor in 2005. 

Listen not to those who profess to know her heart and mind, but hear this —whether it be Scott Brown or someone else, if Kim Driscoll throws her hat in the ring, whoever she opposes had better be ready when the bell rings.