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A Democrat who is a former officeholder in Massachusetts endorsed state Representative Steve Xiarhos (R-Barntable) in his re-election bid.
Xiarhos, a former police chief on Cape Cod, recently announced an endorsement from Guy Glodis, the former state legislator and former sheriff of Worcester County.
"Rep. Xiarhos has become the point person for public safety and corrections in the Commonwealth," Glodis said in a press release from the Xiarhos campaign. "His advocacy, support, and knowledge are omnipotent."
Glodis served as sheriff of Worcester County from 2005 to 2011. Before that, he was a member of the Massachusetts Senate from 1999 to 2005 and served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1997 to 1999.
Here is a list of notable endorsements touted by the Xiarhos campaign, according to the press release:
Xiarhos has represented the Fifth Barnstable District on Cape Cod since 2021. His district includes Sandwich, plus parts of Barnstable (Precincts 10, 11, and 12) and Bourne (Precincts 1, 2, 3, 5A, and 7).
Xiarhos is seeking re-election in a race against Barnstable Democrat Owen Fletcher.
Xiarhos ran unopposed in 2022, but had a competitive race in 2020, when he defeated then-Sandwich school committee member James Dever 52.1 percent to 47.8 percent in 2020, according to the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office.
The Republican lawmaker is best known for sponsoring a bill, known as Nero's Law, that allows injured police dogs to ride in an ambulance. The bill, which then-Governor Charlie Baker signed into law in 2022, stems from the shooting in April 2018 of a police officer and his dog during an attempted arrest in Yarmouth; Xiarhos was the police chief in Yarmouth at the time.
The police officer, Sean Gannon, died. Meanwhile, the police dog, Nero, survived. However, state law at the time prevented the dog from being transported in an ambulance meant for people.
When Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito endorsed Xiarhos last month, she touted Nero's law.
"As Lieutenant Governor, I had the privilege of collaborating with Steve Xiarhos on initiatives to make Cape Cod a better place to live, work, and raise a family," Polito said in a written statement. "Together, we addressed many local issues where Steve played a key role in bridging the gap between state and local officials, ensuring critical projects moved forward. He was a trusted partner in our administration, and I greatly appreciated having him in the Legislature. For example, during his first term as a Representative, Steve successfully worked across party lines and united legislators to pass Nero's law — a remarkable and rare accomplishment in today's political landscape. It speaks volumes about Steve's character and leadership."
More information on the Xiarhos campaign is available at www.XiarhosForRep.com.