Marasco, Alvarez Get Early Start on 2005 Campaign

Two Merrimack Valley women are getting an early start on next year's election to the Massachusetts legislature.  

According to sources in the State Republican Party, State Committeeman Maria Marasco has been recruited to run against first term Democrat incumbent Barbara L'Italian for the 18th Essex Representative seat.  

Maria Marasco lives in Andover.

Sources said that Marasco is the perfect candidate to take on L'Italian, who also lives in Andover. Representative L'Italian is a Democrat.  

The district includes portions of Andover, North Andover, Boxford, Georgetown, Methuen and Haverhill.  

Last year Marasco unsuccessfully challenged State Senator Sue Tucker (D), Andover, on a conservative platform of lower taxes, less spending and reform of state government.  

In Lawrence, City Councilor (District "C") Nilka Alvarez-Rodriquez announced (only) in the Spanish language press that she will challenge Willie Lantigua (I) for his seat in the legislature. Alvarez is a Democrat.  

Councilor Alvarez was featured in a story posted on Spanish website www.lawrenceinteractivo.com whereby she was identified as the "Puerto Rican" councilor running against "the Dominican State Representative".  

The majority of Lawrence voters in her district are "Latino." The majority of those Latino voters are Dominican.

The usual racial tone of the interactivo article has already set the tone for racial division in the district.  

Alvarez, however, was one of the few Latino candidates earlier this year to reject the "Vote Latino" campaign, which was endorsed and embraced by State Rep. Willie Lantigua.  

Lantigua is a first term incumbent who unseated former friend and confidante Jose Santiago after running Santiago's two successful campaigns for the state house.