Thread: Tough luck, Barney Frank — Gov. Patrick picks ex-aide for Mass. Senate vacancy

Tough luck, Barney Frank — Gov. Patrick picks ex-aide for Mass. Senate vacancy

By Seth McLaughlin
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The Washington Times
Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts, ranking Democrat on the House Financial Services


William “Mo” Cowan, the new senator



Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts has tapped former top aide William “Mo” Cowan on Wednesday to fill the seat previously held by Sen. John F. Kerry, who is leaving the Senate to become President Obama’s secretary of state

.Mr. Patrick, a Democrat, also announced that the special election to fill out the rest of Mr. Kerry’s term will be held June 25 — sounding the starting gun for a five-month race that will draw the nation’s attention.

Mr. Kerry’s term ends in 2014, meaning whoever wins will be back on the ballot again in two years.“I have the great honor, privilege and personal pleasure to appoint Mo Cowan” as the Senate designee, Mr. Patrick told reporters in Boston on Wednesday.Mr. Patrick’s announcement ended a brief lobbying effort on the part of former Rep. Barney Frank, a Democrat who retired this month from his House seat and indicated that he was interested in the interim slot.

Mr. Patrick said it was a “tough” appointment to make because so many of the possible candidates were “very capable,” including Mr. Frank.Mr. Cowan, now a lawyer in private practice, said he has no plans — now or in the future — to run for public office, and said that he will focus on the things that the people of the Bay State care about most: jobs; education; and affordable, high-quality health care.

He also will be the second black senator in the chamber, joining Sen. Tim Scott, South Carolina Republican, and the first black to represent Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate since Republican Edward Brooke lost his re-election race in 1978.

Responding to a reporter’s question, Mr. Cowan said that he does not think it is in “anyone’s interest” to allow the looming across-the-board $110 billion in automatic cuts to defense and domestic programs — known as sequesters — to go into effect without changes.

“If the sequester happens, it is going to have significant impact on Massachusetts,” Mr. Cowan said.Former GOP Sen. Scott P. Brown, who lost his seat in the November election to Democrat Elizabeth Warren, is said to be strongly leaning toward throwing his hat in the ring for the June race.Meanwhile, Rep. Ed Markey, a Democrat who has served in the lower chamber since 1976, plans to run for Mr. Kerry’s former spot.

The announcement came the morning after the Senate confirmed Mr. Kerry to be secretary of state by a near-unanimous vote, with just three Republicans opposing him.


Read more: Tough luck, Barney Frank

I will bet Loretta Sanchez doesn't have a problem calling this Democrat "Mo" like she did with Representative Mo Brooks. She is just so clever....

Ah, Loretta Sanchez seems to only dislike Republicans of all races. JMO

Loretta Sanchez, Race-Baiter