School Committee Member Files Papers for State Rep. Run

As we head into 2012, local campaigns will be heating up.

According to the state Office of Campaign & Political Finance, School Committee member Karin Rhoton has filed papers to run for the 14th Essex seat, currently held by State Rep. David Torrisi of North Andover.

Rhoton, vice president of operations and sales at Delphi Technology Solutions, moved to North Andover in 2005 and was elected to the School Committee in 2009.

Rhoton was not able to be reached for comment.

Opportune Moment?

Torrisi has held that seat since 1999 and currently serves on several committees relating to labor, public safety, climate change and auditing. He is also House Chairman of the Joint Committee on Higher Education. Before being elected to the legislature, Torrisi served on the North Andover Board of Selectmen for three years.

With the state's redistricting plan, however, reelection may be more of a challenge for Torrisi. Torrisi won reelection in this seat in 2010 but only got 47 percent of the vote in North Andover. His Lawrence electorate helped him hold onto the seat last year, but the formation of a new Latino district as part of a goal to increase minority-majority districts could make him more vulnerable.

The Essex 14th, which includes parts of North Andover and much of Lawrence, will include parts of the Bradford section of Haverhill as well as Methuen as well. And the district will include fewer parts of Lawrence than before. Methuen and Bradford brought big gains for Republican Lyons in 2010, and Torrisi lost support in North Andover.