For weeks, speculation has abounded that Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray is at least exploring potential opportunities aside from running for reelection.  Beacon Hill rumors have centered around Murray insiders questioning the chances of a successful Deval Patick-Murray reelection, and the departure of Murray Chief of Staff Jim Leary only solidified those rumors.

Today, both the Boston Herald and Boston Globe ran stories questioning Murray’s plans; the Globe hinted Murray might be looking at a federal office (say, Ted Kennedy’s seat, should he leave), while the Herald focused on Murray’s intentions to run for either AG or Treasurer.

From the Herald:

Several legislators and other Beacon Hill operatives said Murray – frustrated by his low-key role in Patrick’s administration – has put out feelers and even discussed a run for treasurer with a fund-raiser.

“He’s been talking with people about it,” said one high-ranking legislator, who added Murray doesn’t attend many leadership meetings. “This guy seems to be completely out of the loop.”

…“I think he sees the writing on the wall with Patrick, and he’s trying to graciously exit,” said another legislator. “He knows he’s on the Titanic.”

Of course, both articles featured strongly worded denials from Murray or associates.  Murray Spokeman Michael Cohen told the Herald the rumors were “completely untrue,” while Murray himself told the Globe he was “110 percent” focused on running for reelection in 2010.

Yet, observers couldn’t help but be reminded of Murray’s comments when he was still running for reelection as Worcester’s Boy Mayor, when he consistently sidestepped rumors he was running for state office.

“”I’m running for re-election as Mayor,” he told us in March of 2005, as rumors of a Lieutenant Governor campaign surfaced.  It was just one of several identical comments leading up until his statewide campaign kickoff after his last successful mayoral race in late 2005.  Famously, Murray people were denying (or at least not admitting) his run even after that kickoff was scheduled, and its intentions known.

The hot courthouse and political rumor the past two days has been word that Councilor Rick Rushton was getting ready to drop out of the election to go for an open clerkship position.

Not so says Rushton.  While collecting signatures at La Scala on Shrewsbury Street,  Rushton claims to be “excited” and “energized” for the upcoming race, and flatly denies he’s dropping out.

We’ll see soon: According to the most popular version of the story, Rushton was planning on dropping out towards the end of the month, right before final nomination papers are due.

Joe O’Brien is in the mayor’s race, officially announcing his candidacy in a Dianne Williamson column as this paper hits the stands. O’Brien’s in an interesting situation as a candidate: He’s long been respected as a political campaigner and organizer, but hasn’t always been successful himself. The former School Committee member, rumored to run for mayor in 2006 before officially stepping out, finished in dead last place in 2003 for School Committee, and lost a memorable 1998 State Rep. race against Vincent Pedone. But despite running Tim Murray’s Lieutenant Governor campaign and working for Congressman Jim McGovern, O’Brien’s been out of the political limelight for a few years now, and will have to raise his general profile beyond the Democratic Party faithful.

Trying to steal O’Brien’s thunder is Gary Rosen, who contacted both Kate Toomey O’Brien – and Telegram columnist Nick Kostopolous at the same time – telling the two other candidates to drop out of the race in an article that ran Wednesday. Rosen’s rationale is based on the conventional wisdom that it’ll be near impossible for any of the three to beat incumbent Konnie Lukes in a four way race. O’Brien has also made overtures asking his opponents to back-off; Toomey has maintained that the right to run is hers, as she’s been in this race the longest, though she’s holding off her official announcement until September. That leaves what amounts to a staring contest between three stubborn pols, all who feel they have earned the right to run.

The other problem with a four person race? The votes will be divided so much that we could be looking at a mayor winning with no more than 35% of the vote; in a low turnout year, that could be around 11,000 votes.

The hearing on Thursday (as this paper hits the streets) for an alcohol license at Green Hill Golf Course raises an interesting question: Will a citizen board go along with the city’s wishes, or cave to advocates? The city is so steadfast in its support of alcohol at the golf course’s clubhouse, it is requiring operator Savvas Fotiadis, owner of the Manor Restaurant to secure an alcohol license if he wants to keep the lease. The License Commission has supported alcohol at the course before, approving a one-day tournament license as a trial run, and is expected to approve Fotiadis over the ongoing hum of opposition from those who feel parks should be alcohol-free. Some of those opponents are expected to show at Thursday’s hearing, despite the likely victory of a 3+ year battle by DPW Commissioner Bob Moylan, City Manager Michael O’Brien and others to secure a “real” clubhouse.

Last week, President & CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care head Charlie Baker threw himself into the gubernatorial race, immediately establishing himself as the most legitimate Republican candidate to announce thus far, and thus the front-runner for that party.

Immediately, there’s the matter of whom he’ll run with, if anyone.

For all intents and purposes, save for the minor detail of actually being asked, Republican State Representative Karyn Polito of Shrewsbury is all-in. She’s already expressed her desire for the job, and on Tuesday’s Jordan Levy Show, interviewed by Levy, Lacombe and this reporter, Polito sounded the full-fledged candidate, hitting her talking points on issues and on the direction of the party.

“We need to get back to being the party of good ideas,” she said at one point.

Polito was clear on her desire, (“I do think I’m an attractive candidate for him to consider,”) and gushed about her would-be (if he’ll have her) boss, saying about Baker, “I like his style. [He is] one that can turn around a problem.”

Of course, beyond her political qualifications, Polito would make sense for Baker to choose for another reason. Save for 1992, every winning gubernatorial slate – and at least one on the losing side – has featured a candidate from Central Massachusetts. Polito would potentially offer an electoral draw for regional residents looking for a familiar face who is anyone-but-Tim Murray.

So far, speculation has rested on what Polito would do with Baker, not on her own. Would she consider a solo run, should Baker decide not to campaign as a ticket? Polito tactfully says that the “team approach streamlines the message and conserves resources,” but the truth is, Polito would have a harder time establishing a statewide profile without Baker than with him. Fundraising would also be easier, though Polito ended 2008 with a respectable $138,000 in the bank.

Polito allows she has given some thought to running as an independent candidate, but allows it would bring a whole other set of challenges.

To date, Polito says she hasn’t talked to Baker about the possibility of teaming up.

The not yet launched InsideWorcester – no relation to the old mag of the same name – continues to grow its staff, adding yet another long time/old time Telegram staffer to its masthead.  Ken Moynihan, the patriarch of Worcester political reporting, joins Editor and Founer Rod Lee, Ann Keegan, Lynne Ahlberg Boyd, Dick Broszeit, and Sandy Bowles.  Former Worcester Magazine staffer Steve Jones-D’Agostino, and Christina Andrianapoulos round out the collection of well-knowns at the mag, set to launch in August.

We’re on a horse driven wagon, driven by Bob Largess, riding through Washington Square as part of a Narragansett Beer promotion

Yes, horses in Washington Square. We’re confused too.

Even as the mayor’s race heats up, many of the other races in the city have remained fairly quiet.

That’s especially true for the School Committee where, with only 19 days remaining before nomination papers are due, only 5 candidates have turned in enough signatures for the 6 member(plus the Mayor) board.

Robert Bogigian, Robert Diaz, John Monfredo, Mary Mullaney, Tracy Novick are official candidates; Jack Foley hasn’t turned in enough signatures as of today.  And incumbents Dorothy Hargrove and Brian O’Connell haven’t handed in papers at all.

This could be an easy win for everyone.

There are few politicians in the state raising money as fast as Lieutenant Governor and former Mayor Tim Murray these days. In June alone, Murray brought in over $61,000. But he’s also proven to be a fast spender. During the same month, Murray had just over $52,000 in expenses. So where does $50,000+ in one month go? Murray’s largest single expense was $5,053.31 for mileage to the Commonwealth; his next was $4,500 for consultant Kellie O’Neill. Consultants Taylor Harris Communications also took in $2,500. Murray paid $2,900 to Moody Street Pictures, the company behind locally-based The Legend of Lucy Keyes, for video production. There was $7,812 combined to Quick Stop printing for printing and mailing costs, and $1,643 to a T-shirt company. And at least 8 staffers or interns appear on Murray’s expense list for payroll/intern pay. Murray’s most expensive event in June? $1,451.40 on food at the Atlantic Beer Garden in Boston.

Former Worcester City Manager Tom Hoover has been on a serious job hunt for months now, dating back to before he left his position at the helm of Royal Oaks, Michigan. The search was centered mostly in Florida, where Hoover was named as a finalist for a few jobs before losing out to other candidates in each case. Now, he’s landed on his feet, albeit someplace a lot cooler—and closer. Coventry, Rhode Island, a town of about 34,000, hired Hoover at the end of June on a 3-0 vote by the town council.