The Lineup Is Set

The dance card is printed for this fall's state rep campaign. Four candidates -- Democrats Stephen DiNatale, Mary Whitney and David LeBlanc, and Republican Edward Niemczura -- are in the hunt. No surprises from yesterday's nomination form deadline.

Here's what is surprising in the end: Where's the future of Fitchburg in this campaign? Where's the young upstart who can be a vibrant, energized voice for the city on Beacon Hill? Where's the candidate you look at and think he or she is the political future of the city?

Not to say there are no good candidates in this race -- no one will outwork (or outspend) DiNatale. But is he really the future of the city? He's 53. While experience is a good thing, there is no one in this race who can be identified as the future of the city.

Coming shortly off a big victory in last year's City Council election, DiNatale effectively scared off any other strong challengers. Whitney and LeBlanc have had their time, and Niemczura doesn't appear (at least right now) to be a legitimate challenger. Hell, Whitney still hasn't created a campaign finance committee, a delay that points to somewhere between disinterested and clumsy.

It would have been nice to see someone young, well-connected, and able to raise money take on DiNatale. Someone who could create a "New Fitchburg-Old Fitchburg" battle to see where the city really stands. Instead, this appears to be nothing but a walk-through for DiNatale. He may end up being a great representative for Fitchburg, but good campaigns can energize and focus both candidate and community. That doesn't appear likely here, and that's Fitchburg's loss.