Sen. Brewer: 'It is time'
BOSTON — State Sen. Stephen M. Brewer, the Central Massachusetts Democrat who rose from chairman of the Barre Board of Selectmen to become one of the state's most influential legislators as chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, will not seek re-election.
Mr. Brewer, 65, who was a prominent advocate for open space conservation, farmers, sportsmen and veterans, was elected to five terms in the House of Representatives and is currently serving his eighth Senate term.
"Anyone who knows of my work ethic knows that I truly love the people I serve. No one has ever enjoyed public service more. I will truly miss the terrific people I have met at hundreds of events each year," Mr. Brewer said in announcing his decision.
Two Republicans, James P. Ehrhard of Sturbridge and Michael J. Valanzola of Wales, both members of the Tantasqua Regional School Committee, had already announced plans to run for the seat held by Mr. Brewer since 1997. Mr. Brewer's announcement is also expected to trigger a scramble among Democrats over who will run for the open seat in what is the second largest Senate district in the state.
The district includes 28 cities and towns in four counties in Central and Western Massachusetts.
At the Statehouse Thursday some lawmakers said they expect Rep. Anne M. Gobi, D-Spencer, will run for the Senate seat. She did not respond Thursday to a request for comment.
Mr. Brewer's decision to leave the Senate follows a behind-the-scenes competition last summer with fellow University of Massachusetts at Amherst graduate and Senate Majority Leader Stanley Rosenberg, D-Amherst, to succeed outgoing Senate President Therese Murray, D-Plymouth. Mr. Rosenberg got a majority of senators at a July 30 Democratic caucus to support his bid to succeed Ms. Murray next year.
There has been speculation over whether Mr. Brewer would seek re-election ever since.
But Mr. Brewer said that competition had nothing to do with his decision to leave politics. "The Senate presidency or having opponents has had no bearing on my decision. There will always be challenges, be they physical or political. Thirty-five years commuting to Boston is a pretty significant factor in and of itself," he said.
Four years ago, after serving three years as vice chairman, Mr. Brewer became the first chairman of the Ways and Means Committee from Central Massachusetts in 50 years.
He earlier served as the first chairman of the Senate Veterans and Federal Affairs Committee and was a key supporter of the state's Welcome Home Bill, which provides an array of benefits to service members returning to civilian life. He has also been a strong advocate for state aid to municipalities, supporting increased allocations in local aid and regional school transportation funding.
Having grown up on a farm in Barre, he has maintained connections with local farmers in his district and worked each year on legislation and funding to help small farmers survive. He played a key role in adoption of the state Dairy Farm Preservation Bill.
After being named to the Ways and Means Committee Mr. Brewer assumed a high profile role on Beacon Hill and was seen as a steady hand when it came to managing some of the most difficult state budgets in the years following the 2008 recession which saw state revenues fall.
"He has had a wonderful career here and he is a wonderful man and he is going to be missed," Ms. Murray said.
Even Republicans said they would miss him, Sen. Majority Leader, Bruce E. Tarr, R-Gloucester among them.
"There's no doubt it is a loss to the Senate. He certainly has been a resource for all of us in the Senate regardless of whether we agree with him or disagree with him. He will be missed," Mr. Tarr said. "He is someone who you can say has a conscience and is guided by things other than political considerations and I think that is an important thing in this era."
State Rep. George N. Peterson Jr., R-Grafton, said he and Mr. Brewer found common ground on many issues over the years that were of special interest to Central Massachusetts. Both fought numerous attempts by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority to limit public access and recreational activities in the Quabbin, Wachusett and Ware River watersheds, and also advocated in support of hunting, fishing and open space over the years.
"We have had our battles back and forth on different issues but he has been a great guy to work with. I give Steve a great deal of credit. He would go to all the different events. He wouldn't send staff. He would go to seven or eight places a night sometimes for his district. He really cared about the district and worked it hard. He is, I would say, a class act," Mr. Peterson said.
Sen. Jennifer Flanagan, D-Leominster, who now serves as vice chairman of the Ways and Means Committee with Mr. Brewer, said he has helped guide her as she transitioned from the House to the Senate.
"He's been a great mentor and someone I have been able to rely on. It's been interesting writing the budgets with him with lots of long days and telephone calls," she said.
She said he remains a unique politician. "If you go to his district office he is in hiking boots and corduroys and a flannel shirt. He's not pretentious. He cares about his constituency beyond all else. He loves Barre and his constituents, I think, more than Beacon Hill," she said.
Mr. Brewer, who will turn 66 in two weeks, and his wife, Valerie, have two daughters, April and Audrey. The couple live in the same house on Pleasant Street his grandfather bought 91 years ago.
The veteran lawmaker maintains a keen interest in history and cites Abraham Lincoln, John F. and Robert Kennedy as figures who inspired his career in public office.
Thursday while addressing reporters outside the Senate chamber, Mr. Brewer told them he hopes he can instill an interest in public service in those coming up behind him.
He was first elected to town office in 1973 and has served 26 years in state office after working for eight years before that as a legislative aide at the Statehouse. After 40 years of public service, he said, "It is time," before explaining some of his plans for life after politics.
"I believe I have an opportunity where I can teach. I am a child of the '60s. I want to inspire another generation of people to follow public service to make a difference in people's lives," the senator said.
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Mass. state Sen. Brewer to retire at end of term
BOSTON — Massachusetts Sen. Stephen Brewer, one of the state's most influential and veteran legislators, has decided not to seek re-election in November.Chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, the Democrat from Barre announced Thursday he would retire at the end of his current two-year term, his eighth in the Senate after five terms in the House.
"I'm honored, simply honored to be in this building every single day," Brewer said. What a privilege and an honor it has been."
Brewer, 65, first came to Beacon Hill as a legislative aide when Jimmy Carter was in the White House. He noted that his tenure has spanned seven governors.
Brewer said falling short of his recent bid for the top leadership post in the Senate was not a major factor in his decision to retire. Sen. Stanley Rosenberg of Amherst won the nod for Senate president and will succeed Therese Murray, who is prohibited by term limits from serving as president beyond next March.
The Ways and Means Committee is responsible for developing the Senate version of the state budget, a process that will begin in earnest next week when Gov. Deval Patrick delivers his proposed spending plan to the Legislature.
Brewer, who said he considers public service a "noble cause," said he hopes to do some teaching after leaving office and will spend more time with his wife and family. The couple has two adult children.
A University of Massachusetts graduate, Brewer also told reporters he wants to learn how to play the banjo.
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Gobi announces run for Brewer's seat
By John J. Monahan TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
BOSTON — State Rep. Anne M. Gobi, D-Spencer, announced this morning that she will run for the state Senate seat held by Stephen M. Brewer, D-Barre, who announced Thursday he will not run for re-election.
Ms. Gobi , a lawyer who has held the 5th Worcester District House seat since 2001, praised Mr. Brewer's long service in elective office and said she hopes to succeed him in what is one of the state's largest Senate districts, one that covers 28 towns in Central and Western Massachusetts.
"I am grateful for his friendship, his support and the fine example of the public service he continues to set," Ms. Gobi said in a campaign announcement. "I am fortunate to live in this beautiful area with so much to offer. I welcome the opportunity and accept the challenges to work for and represent this Senate District," she said.
Ms. Gobi, whose House district includes 11 of the 28 towns in the Senate district, currently is House chairman of the Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture. She is a graduate of Worcester State College and the Massachusetts School of Law.
Two Republican candidates are also running for the seat. James P. Ehrhard of Sturbridge and Michael J. Valanzola of Wales, both members of the Tantasqua Regional School Committee, had already announced plans to run.
Mr. Brewer has held the Senate seat since 1997. Ms. Gobi had $4,366 in her campaign account as of Dec. 31.
Ms. Gobi , a lawyer who has held the 5th Worcester District House seat since 2001, praised Mr. Brewer's long service in elective office and said she hopes to succeed him in what is one of the state's largest Senate districts, one that covers 28 towns in Central and Western Massachusetts.
"I am grateful for his friendship, his support and the fine example of the public service he continues to set," Ms. Gobi said in a campaign announcement. "I am fortunate to live in this beautiful area with so much to offer. I welcome the opportunity and accept the challenges to work for and represent this Senate District," she said.
Ms. Gobi, whose House district includes 11 of the 28 towns in the Senate district, currently is House chairman of the Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture. She is a graduate of Worcester State College and the Massachusetts School of Law.
Two Republican candidates are also running for the seat. James P. Ehrhard of Sturbridge and Michael J. Valanzola of Wales, both members of the Tantasqua Regional School Committee, had already announced plans to run.
Mr. Brewer has held the Senate seat since 1997. Ms. Gobi had $4,366 in her campaign account as of Dec. 31.
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