Lyons, Dunne Plan to Enter Peabody State Rep Races

The state election this fall is going to be spirited as is with a full-on governor's race and Republican Richard Tisei now signaling another run at Congressman John Tierney, but Peabody voters will likely have two other animated local elections to decide as well.

Peabody Republican Tom Lyons released an announcement Wednesday, saying he will kick off his campaign Feb. 13 at Supino's Restaurant in Danvers to challenge longtime state Rep. Ted Speliotis.

Speliotis, a Democrat, represents West Peabody, Danvers and part of Middleton now in the 13th Essex District and is one of the most senior members of the Mass. House of Representatives. He's served nearly 30 years in the House.

Lyons lives in West Peabody, but is a Danvers native and graduated from Danvers High in 1981. He owns C.K. Lyons Plumbing & Heating Co. and is a Lt. Colonel in the Civil Air Patrol and commander of the Beverly Composite Squadron at Beverly Airport.

The past two elections Speliotis successfully fought off challenges from Danvers Republican Selectman Dan Bennett. It remains to be seen how Lyons' ties to both Danvers and Peabody play out in the race.

Meanwhile, Peabody Democrat and longtime School Committee member Beverley Griffin Dunne says she does intend to run again for the 12th Essex District seat held by Republican Leah Cole. That district covers most of the city and one precinct in West Peabody.

Cole edged out Dunne by 73 votes in a three-way special election last April with city councilor and local businessman Dave Gravel. Dunne said then she planned to run in 2014.

The election chose a successor to Peabody Democrat Joyce Spiliotis, who died in office in November 2012.

Cole, who lives in South Peabody, has not officially said at this point whether she intends to run in 2014. Her ward councilor, however, is contemplating entering the race.

Barry Osborne, who is among the city's majority of unenrolled voters and a state employee with the Mass. Bay Commuter Railroad, tells the Salem News he's thinking about running for the seat as an unenrolled or independent candidate.

Osborne has been the Ward 1 Councilor since 2000.

No potential candidates have surfaced yet to indicate whether they will mount a challenge to state Sen. Joan Lovely for the 2nd Essex District.

Nomination papers won't be available until Feb. 11 and must be filed by May 27 for district races. The state primary will be held Sept. 9.