TUESDAY, MAY 22 -- Beacon Hill insiders have been wondering for months what sort of reward State Representative Brian Golden of Brighton, a conservative pro-life Democrat, would get for his cross-party endorsement of President George W. Bush last October, and his subsequent sojourn to Florida to count votes for the Republicans. Well, now they have their answer. The Phoenix learned yesterday that Golden will be appointed first assistant US attorney in Massachusetts, a prestigious second-in-command post to the state's US attorney, who represents the federal government in lawsuits. Two knowledgeable sources say that Golden could take the post as soon as next month, but more likely by August or September.

Golden, 36, attended Harvard University and the College of William and Mary Law School. As a member of the Army's Judge Advocate General (JAG) corps of lawyers, he served as an assistant attorney general in 1994 and 1995.

Golden wouldn't comment on whether he'd been offered the post. But he acknowledged that he's been in talks with the Bush administration: " I know that the White House is considering me for a position, and I've been in discussion with them ever since the election was over, but absolutely nothing is firm. " He notes, however, that " if something comes along that allows me to be of greater service to people, I'll certainly entertain it. "

Attorney General John Ashcroft is in charge of appointing assistant US attorneys, but the power to name each district's first assistant US attorney falls to the state's US attorney - the appointee's immediate boss. Although former governor Paul Cellucci has recommended Plymouth County district attorney Michael Sullivan for the US attorney job, Sullivan has not been formally nominated by Bush and must be approved by the Senate. Golden and Sullivan have a good relationship, however, and one inside source has confirmed that the White House is insistent that Golden get the number-two post.

If Golden leaves his seat in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Speaker Tom Finneran may decide to call a special election, a move that must be approved by the House. (The other option is to leave the seat unfilled until the regular election in November 2002; the district's senator and adjacent representatives would assist with constituents.) Finneran spokesman Charlie Rasmussen says it generally takes three or four months between the time a special election is called and the time it is held. " The goal of course is to fill the position as soon as possible, " says Rasmussen, " and to make sure people are represented, but you have to balance if it's going to be a short amount of time the person is going to be serving before the next election. "

If Golden were to leave his post next month, the Speaker would probably call a special election, given that he is already planning one to replace departing majority leader William Nagle of Northampton, who intends to resign to become the clerk magistrate of Ware District Court. But if Golden's appointment were pushed back to the late summer or fall, it's an even bet whether an election would be called. Says Rasmussen, " My sense is, if the election is going to be in February or March, then the Speaker would probably be less likely to want to do that unless there was tremendous pressure coming from the district. "

Early favorites if a special election were to be called include Brookline selectman Gil Hoy and Boston City Council staffer Michael Moran, both of whom finished close behind Golden during his first bid for the House in 1998; and Jerry McDermott, who narrowly lost two races for the Brighton district seat on the Boston City Council.

Issue Date: May 22, 2001