House Speaker Backs Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll's Lt. Governor Bid

Salem MA

11 April, 2022

11:33 AM

Description

SALEM, MA —Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll's campaign to become the state's next lieutenant governor got a high-profile boost Monday when House Speaker Ron Mariano endorsed her bid. Driscoll, who announced her lieutenant governor candidacy in January just two months after winning a fifth term as Salem mayor, earned the nod from the party bigwig in a crowded field that also includes state Rep. Tami Gouveia state Sens. Eric Lesser and Adam Hinds. "Mayor Driscoll has an impressive record of accomplishment starting in Chelsea and as a transformative mayor in Salem," Mariano said. "She is the best kind of leader: inclusive, accountable, and focused on results. She will be a valuable partner for our work in the House and the best advocate for the cities and towns of the commonwealth." Driscoll has racked up the endorsements from her fellow municipal leaders over the past few months with 17 current mayors and seven more former mayors signing on to support her, according to her campaign website. "I'm honored to have earned the endorsement of Speaker Ron Mariano in this race," Driscoll said. "As lieutenant governor, I look forward to working with legislative leaders to empower cities and towns across the commonwealth." Driscoll is one of two North Shore residents seeking statewide post— with former Peabody state Rep. Leah (Cole) Allen joining the race last month as part of a Republican ticket with former state Rep. Geoff Diehl. (Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)