Stanley Rosenberg’s Fiancé Is Seeking Office In A District Where He’s Not Registered
When State Senator Anthony Petruccelli announced his intention to leave office for the more lucrative waters of lobbying, it set off the usual special election jockeying—some pols were in, some were out, and others were on the fence.
On Monday, Bryon Hefner, the fiancé of State Senate President Stanley Rosenberg, told Politico Massachusetts that he is exploring the possibility of running for Petruccelli’s seat.
Hefner shares a Beacon Hill condo with Rosenberg. The two have been romantically involved for over seven years and got engaged in February; a date has not been set for what is expected to be a small private wedding.
“I am strongly considering running to maintain the seat at the table for the First Suffolk and Middlesex District,” Hefner told Politico.
Hefner, if he is able to run, would join what appears to be a growing field of potential candidates, including already-declared State Rep. Jay Livingstone and East Boston attorney Lydia Edwards. Outgoing Revere Mayor Dan Rizzo, State Rep. Adrian Madaro, and Asian-American Women’s Political Initiative founder Diana Hwang are among the other rumored candidates.
Unlike Hefner though, these potential candidates are registered to vote in Petruccelli’s district.
A Boston review of voter registration information found Hefner is registered to vote as a Democrat in Amherst, not Boston. Hefner’s registration file indicated he is an active voter there and has voted in every election since 2009. According to records, Hefner pulled a Republican primary ballot in 2010, but otherwise has consistently pulled Democratic ballots in primaries.
According to state elections officials, Hefner is not legally blocked from running for the Petruccelli seat as long as he is an inhabitant of the district on Election Day.
In short, Hefner’s registration conundrum is not illegal, but it does create a potential political headache for him, with its suggestion of carpetbagging.
Multiple attempts to reach Hefner for comment were unsuccessful. Rosenberg’s office declined comment.
Hefner has created numerous headaches for Rosenberg in the past. In 2014, Rosenberg, 65, admonished Hefner, 28, for bragging about their relationship and his potential to influence state politics. The very public row led to Hefner leaving his job at the prestigious Regan Communications public relations firm last December.
