By Richard Gaines
Staff writer

Be not confused, as Mayor Carolyn Kirk said she was, and as others undoubtedly were, too.

Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray has not endorsed Anthony Verga in his Democratic primary campaign contest for re-election to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, appearances notwithstanding.

Michael Cohen, Murray's political spokesman, issued the non-endorsement statement this week in response to a query from the Times. The question was inspired by a mailed political invitation.

The recipients, about 1,500 of the registered Democrats in the 5th Essex District that Verga has represented for seven two-year terms, were invited by Verga's re-election committee and the lieutenant governor to "join us" for a campaign kick-off, birthday celebration and fundraiser on Saturday, April 26, at 7 p.m. The district comprises Gloucester, Rockport and Essex.

Kirk told the Times she read the invitation and assumed that Murray was choosing sides. She said she found it a bit surprising and confounding. Kirk said she is looking forward to the campaign and deciding later whom to vote for.

The Verga-Murray event at Cruiseport Gloucester suggests contributions between $25 and $500.

The soon to be 73-year-old Verga faces his most difficult political test in a three-way primary that had anguish for Democrats written all over it, even before Murray got involved -- casually, at Verga's request, according to both politicians.

All three candidates, Verga, Astrid afKlinteberg and Ann-Margaret Ferrante, are bona fide, longtime Democratic activists. Both of Verga's opponents are lawyers. Verga is a former fisherman and city fisheries official.

AfKlinteberg, a 42-year-old former city councilor, was an early supporter of Deval Patrick's campaign to take the governor's office back from a string of four Republicans, three of whom left the state as they left office.

By Edward Mason
Staff writer

BOSTON -- Gloucester parents and school officials came to Beacon Hill yesterday to ask state lawmakers to spend millions to be raised from proposed new corporate taxes on education.

The local contingent visited Beacon Hill as House lawmakers prepared for today's unveiling of their version of the state budget, one they say will be lean to reflect a lean year.

Beth Morris, a Gloucester mother of two, said she was at the Statehouse to urge lawmakers to boost Gloucester's Chapter 70 education money.

"Unfortunately, we're still not back to the levels of 2002," Morris said. "There's a long way to go."

Gloucester received $6.55 million in fiscal 2002. Lawmakers are proposing to send Gloucester $6.2 million in fiscal 2009, which begins July 1.

"We need to keep the pressure on, so there's a continuing commitment to accelerate the rate at which Chapter 70 funds are restored," Morris said.

The House budget is supposed to contain more than $100 million in spending cuts. Lawmakers have warned local officials the state budget will be lean. But Roger Garberg, a Gloucester parent and a candidate for School Committee last year, said he's not sympathetic with state budget concerns.