State Senator Anne Gobi (D-Spencer) is leaving her position later in June to become the rural affairs director in Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey's administration.
On the Democratic side, state Representative Jon Zlotnik (D-Worcester) is running for the post. On the Republican side, another state legislator will run.
The Massachusetts legislature is considering a bill that would mandate diversity by race, sex, and sexual orientation on public boards and commissions in the state, requiring 50 percent of members to be "female" and 30 percent to be members of an "underrepresented minority" or "LGBTQ+."
The bill would affect government boards, not private boards. But supporters said they'd like to see more diversity in private boards, as well.
