State Senator Susan Moran, a Plymouth and Barnstable Democrat, is not running for re-election in 2024, and instead plans to run for clerk of Barnstable County Superior Court in next year’s general election.
Moran told the Independent that her decision was motivated by the 2022 election of Democrats Donna Buckley as Barnstable County sheriff and Robert Gallibois as Cape and Islands district attorney. She said she sees the clerk’s position as one that can work with the sheriff and the district attorney on mental health and addictions treatment. She cited her background as an addictions counselor and attorney.
“It’s an opportunity to make real visible difference in my neighborhood and community,” Moran said.
It took some time for her to reach this decision, she said, adding that it involved “a lot of soul-searching.”
But in the end, the final decision appeared to come quickly. Moran cancelled a campaign event for her Senate re-election bid that was scheduled for Wednesday night.
“I was in full re-election mode,” Moran said, when she realized that she wanted to run for the court clerk position and did not want to mislead her supporters.
She said her proudest accomplishment in the state Senate has been working with state legislators, U.S. Senator Ed Markey, and other members of the Congressional delegation and to stave off dumping of wastewater from the spent nuclear fuel pool of the closed Pilgrim nuclear power station into Cape Cod Bay.
Earlier this year, state regulators prevented Holtec International, the company charged with decommissioning the Plymouth, plant from dumping 1.1 million gallons of wastewater from the plant.
Moran said it is too early to say whether she will endorse a successor.
Moran, then a Falmouth selectman, was elected to the State Senate in a special election in 2020, after Vinny deMacedo stepped down to take a job at Bridgewater State University.
She narrowly defeated Plymouth Select Board member John Mahoney in the Democratic primary.
Her departure may create a second opportunity for Mahoney.
“Susan’s done a wonderful job of representing the Plymouth and Barnstable district as a state senator for the last four years,” he said.
Mahoney said his phone had been ringing all day Thursday with people asking whether he is going to run again. He said he would consult with family and friends before making a decision.
Thomas Moakley, of Falmouth, Becky Coletta, of Pembroke, and Michael Palmer, of Plymouth, also ran in that 2020 Democratic primary.
Moran defeated Republican James McMahon III in the general election.
That year, state Representative Mathew Muratore, a Plymouth Republican, decided not to run.
“I’ve enjoyed working with her,” Muratore said of Moran.
Muratore now says he is considering running for Moran’s seat. He said he has already received dozens of phone calls and texts encouraging him to get into the race.
“I’m seriously taking a look at it,” Muratore said. A decision, he said, will be made by next week.
Fred Thys can be reached at fred@plymouthindependent.org.