Tolman to Resign After Casino Vote; Dates for Senate Elections Soon

, State Sen. Steven Tolman will be holding onto his seat just a bit longer, announcing that he will resign after taking a vote on bringing resort casinos to Massachusetts.

If that vote occurs today, Thursday, Oct. 13, as many who have been following the issue believe will occur, it is expected that the Massachusetts Secretary of State's office will quickly release the dates for the primary and general elections for the 2nd Suffolk and Middlesex Senate seat.

Those dates could be released as early as Friday, Oct. 14.

The only announced candidate for the seat so far is, the state representative whose district includes Belmont and some precincts in Arlington and Cambridge.

Yet it is anticipated that Watertown/West Cambridge state rep. Jonathan Hecht will quickly announce his candidancy once Tolman's resignation is made official.

At an event earlier today with Massachusetts Treasurer Steven Grossman in Waltham, Hecht said he would make an announcement "soon" on a possible run for district that comprises Watertown, Belmont and parts of Cambridge, Allston-Brighton, the Fenway and the Back Bay.