Michael J. Sullivan (Ashcroft Sullivan)

Former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan (R) has announced he will not run in a special election to succeed the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), The Boston Hearld reported yesterday. Sullivan, who has mentioned as a possible Republican candidate for Kennedy’s open Senate seat, served as Massachusetts’ U.S. Attorney from 2001 to April 19. He now is a partner at the The Ashcroft Group.

Sullivan told the paper, “I went back and forth on it,�  adding, “But the deciding factor was I didn’t want to spend my son’s last two high school years like two ships passing in the night.� The Republican field is now narrowed to state Sen. Scott Brown and Canton selectman Robert Burr.

The Democratic-controlled legislature recently passed a law to allow Gov. Deval Patrick (D) to name a successor to serve in Kennedy’s seat until the state can hold a special election on Jan. 19. A state judge ruled that Patrick’s pick — former Democratic National Committee chairman Paul Kirk — could immediately take office, despite the usual 90-day grace-period required before new laws take effect. That ruling has stirred protests from Massachusetts Republicans. Kirk was sworn in as Kennedy’s replacement on Sept. 24. Kirk has said he will not run in the Jan. 19 special election to determine who will finish out Kennedy’s term.

The Democrats who have announced their candidacy for the special election are Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, Rep. Michael Capuano, Boston Celtics co-owner Stephen Pagliuca and Alan Khazei, founder of City Year, youth service organization.

Sullivan predicted the race will be between Coakley and Brown. “Martha Coakley has done a great job as attorney general, and I have a great deal of admiration and respect for her,â€� adding,  “Scott Brown should do extremely well. He’s a very credible candidate and when voters get to know him, they will warm up to him.”

Edward Kennedy (Gov)

As Massachusetts lawmakers mourn the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy (D) they also are preparing for a battle about his replacement. Namely, how that person will be selected and who that person will be. The how is the more pressing matter right now, according to state Senate Minority Leader Richard Tisei (R).

Current state law calls for a special election in the event of a Senate vacancy, but some Democrats are pushing for the law to be changed to allow Gov. Deval Patrick (D) to appoint the next senator. Bay State residents “don’t want to see election laws changed to benefit one person or party … it erodes people’s confidence,” according to Tisei.

The state Republican Party also hopes the current law stays in place, as Patrick would almost certainly appoint a Democrat. “I think it’s wrong for Democrats to change the law for purely self-serving purposes,” state Republican Party communications director Tarah Donoghue said. She added that Patrick has a “long history of making poor decisions in political patronage” in making his appointments.

In the event the law doesn’t change, a special election would be held. Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin on Thursday presented state lawmakers with a proposed election calendar, The Boston Globe reported. The calendar was drafted after Galvin met with state House Speaker Robert DeLeo (D), state Senate President Therese Murray (D), and top Patrick aides. Under his proposed scheduled, the special election would take place either Jan. 19, with a Dec. 8 primary, or Jan. 26, with a Dec. 15 primary.

According to Galvin, Patrick is legally required to choose one of the two proposed special election dates and then notify local officials by early next week. Under state law, the governor must set the special election process in motion “immediately’’ upon a Senate vacancy, The Globe reported.

Michael J. Sullivan (Ashcroft Sullivan)

Among the names mentioned as possible candidates is former Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan. Sullivan has declined to comment on the possibility of running for the seat, although he did release a statement regarding Kennedy’s passing.

While  the state GOP believes it is “too early” to endorse a candidate, according to Donoghue, the state House has scheduled a caucus for Monday to discuss possible candidates, according to state House Assistant Minority Leader George Peterson (R). If former Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey decides to run, she “would be very formidable,” as she would be able to self-finance her campaign, according to Tisei.

Michael J. Sullivan (Ashcroft Sullivan)

The Boston Globe today mentioned former Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan (R) as a possible Republican candidate for the state’s open Senate  The death of Sen. Edward Kennedy (D) late Tuesday means the Bay State will see its first competitive Senate since Sen. John Kerry (D) won election in 1984, the Globe reported.

Sullivan served as U.S. Attorney for most of President George W. Bush’s two terms, from September 2001 until April 17.  He is now a partner at The Ashcroft Group, headed by former Attorney General John Ashcroft. Sullivan was previously the district attorney in Plymouth County, Mass., and he also served in the state house.

However, it’s unlikely a Republican will win the seat in heavily Democratic Massachusetts. If Sullivan ran, it would be more of a favor to the party than as a viable candidate, The Globe indicated. “The party could try to persuade former US Attorney Michael Sullivan to seek the post, but his close association with the Bush administration could burden his candidacy,” The Globe wrote.

As he suffered the final stages of brain cancer, Kennedy last week sent a letter to Gov. Deval Patrick (D) and state lawmakers asking for a change in state law to allow the governor to appoint his replacement, The Associated Press reported. Kennedy had sought to have his seat filled quickly so Democrats would have another vote in Congress for health care reform, one of Kennedy’s signature issues.

Sen. Ted Kennedy

But it doesn’t seem Massachusetts lawmakers are inclined to change the law, which requires the governor to call a special election within 145 to 160 days of the seat becoming vacant, The Associated Press reported. The special election must be held within five months, preceded by a primary five or six weeks before the election.

In addition to Sullivan, others Republicans mentioned as candidates for Kennedy’s seat include state Sen. Scott Brown, businessman Jeff Beatty, former Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey and Chris Egan, former U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Cooperation and Development, The Associated Press reported.

Possible Democratic candidates include Kennedy’s widow Victoria, Kennedy’s nephew former Rep. Joseph Kennedy II, former Rep. Martin Meehan, Reps. Stephen Lynch and Michael Capuano and Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, The Globe reported. Reps. Edward Markey, James McGovern and William Delahunt also have been mentioned as possible candidates.