ANDOVER — Barry Finegold is hoping to switch his title from state representative to state senator this November.
Finegold, 39, of Andover is the latest to throw his name into the race to replace outgoing state Sen. Susan Tucker, D-Andover. Doing so, means the Andover Democrat cannot seek re-election for the state representative's seat he has held for 13 years.
"I've done a lot of listening from people in the district," Finegold said, "and our current challenges are great, and I think where I can be most effective during these tough times is in the state Senate."
Finegold will be the eighth person to officially pull papers to run for Tucker's 2nd Essex and Middlesex District seat, which represents Andover, Lawrence, Dracut and Tewksbury.
Five of the seven individuals who have pulled papers with the Secretary of State are from Andover and include Democrats Jack Wilson and Deb Silberstein, Republicans Mark Baldwin and Jamison Tomasek, and independent Jodi Oberto.
Democrat John Kelly of Dracut and Republican Patrick Rahilly of Tewksbury have also pulled papers. State Rep. Barbara L'Italien, D-Andover, and former Lawrence Mayor Michael Sullivan, a Republican have also been rumored to have some interest in running.
Finegold began his career as a politician when he was elected to the Andover Board of Selectmen in 1995 at the age of 24 and in 1997 he was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, where he has served the 17th Essex District.
In 2007, he made a failed run at Congress. He ran in a special election created when U.S. Congressman Martin Meehan stepped down to become chancellor of the University of Massachusetts at Lowell.
As a representative, Finegold has worked on issues ranging from the Safe Havens Act to the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Road Map and was recently appointed as the chairman of the joint committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.
Finegold thinks becoming a state senator will give him the opportunity to better serve his local constituents on Beacon Hill. As a state representative, he has worked to revitalize the Merrimack Valley by attracting high technology businesses that create jobs and protect our environment, according to his Web site.
"I've been fighting to make sure jobs stay here and I will continue to fight as senator," Finegold said. He also said he would like to work to create more bio-tech, clean tech and telecommunication jobs within the district.
Finegold said he is not a "rubber stamp" politician and will bring an independent voice and common sense to the position.
"I will continue to be a relentless advocate for the people in the district," he added. "People can always count on me to approach each issue as its own and vote for what's best for the district."
The announcement also opens up his seat in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Sal Tabit of Andover has already pulled papers to run for Finegold's vacant seat, according to the Massachusetts Secretary of State's office
Tabit said he ran for Finegold's seat in 1998 and decided it's time to run again.
"I never thought I'd run again," said Tabit, 41, who's a partner at Broadhurst Tabit LLP in Methuen. "But I don't want to be the guy who in 40 years looks in the mirror and has complained about the government without doing anything."
He said as a Spanish-speaking Cuban-American he will be able to help bridge a gap between the very different communities represented in the district.
"There are two very different communities in this district and I think I can be a voice for both of them," he said.
Finegold has deep roots in the region: His mother taught for 33 years in Andover Public Schools and his father taught for 33 years at Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill.
He is presently a partner with the law firm of Dalton & Finegold, LLP and lives in Andover his wife, Amy, and two daughters.
"I grew up in Andover and I was active in student government at Andover High School," said Finegold, joking that he "hasn't gone very far" in life.
"Public service is in my blood," he said.
