Barrios Resigns from Senate

Mass. State Senator Jarrett T. Barrios ‘89 said this afternoon that he will resign from the Senate in July to become president of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation, according to the Associated Press, capping off a political career that has spanned nearly a decade and included stints in both houses of the legislature.

Barrios’s departure could lead to a special election between several Cambridge politicians to fill his spot—which represents Cambridge—including Councillor Anthony D. Galluccio, who has received the most top votes by a large margin in city council elections since 1997.

Galluccio said in an interview that he is “seriously considering” running for Barrios’s seat and has received many calls from supporters.

“This is happening very fast, and it’s something I want to take a serious look at,” Galluccio said, “but it’s obviously an excellent opportunity.”

Elected to the Massachusetts House in 1998 and Senate in 2002, Barrios is known as a champion of gay rights and other progressive issues, such as expanding medical coverage for low-income individuals and providing emergency-room interpreters for non-English speaking patients. His district, which covers Middlesex, Suffolk, and Essex counties, is among the most progressive in the state.

Barrios has sat on the Foundation’s board since it was founded in 2001. Barrios told the AP that his salary is still being negotiated.

Check www.thecrimson.com for more updates throughout the night.

—Staff writer Paras D. Bhayani can be reached at pdbhayani@fas.harvard.edu.

—Staff writer Nicholas K. Tabor can be reached at ntabor@fas.harvard.edu.