Trane: Sciortino’s claims don’t pass ‚Äúsmell test for credibility‚Äù

By George P. Hassett

The incumbent state representative for Somerville and Medford will be seeking re-election without his name on the ballot.

State Rep. Carl M. Sciortino, D-Somerville, said he will not continue his appeals to try and get a spot on the ballot. Sciortino submitted 114 signatures to the Secretary of State’s office, 36 shy of the 150 required to appear on the ballot. According to Sciortino the remaining signatures were stolen from his State House sometime before May 6. Two judges refused to allow him on the ballot.

Sciortino said he would tout “four years of accomplishments” to Somerville and Medford voters. It is the second time in four years that an incumbent will mount a write-in campaign in the 34th Middlesex District. After Sciortino upset Vincent Ciampa in the Democratic primary for the seat in 2004, Ciampa ran an unsuccessful write in campaign during the general election.

Sciortino’s opponent, Ward Seven Alderman Bob Trane released a statement this week in which he said, ‚ÄúI think the Court and the people of the district would have had more sympathy for his problems had Rep. Sciortino simply been man enough on day one to have admitted he simply lost or misplaced his nomination papers, rather than suddenly calling the police on May 20 to report a ‘crime’ that he claims he knew had been committed on May 6. One simply needs to read the affidavit Sciortino filed in court, and the police report to realize his actions do not come close to passing the smell test for credibility.‚Äù

Trane said Sciortino’s ‚Äúfailure to even get his name on this year’s primary ballot‚Ķhas clearly demonstrated why our legislative district needs and deserves new leadership."