Herman Ends State Rep Bid

ORLEANS – Michael Herman announced this week that he is ending his run for the seat that will soon be vacated by longtime state representative Sarah Peake.

Herman, a Democrat, is one of three candidates who have taken out papers for the Fourth Barnstable District seat. Peake announced in January that she would not seek re-election to the post she has held since 2006.

On Monday, Herman said while the decision to end his bid was not easy, he will instead put his full energy into serving on the town’s select board.

“I just think for me personally and the community it’s the right decision,” he said.

Herman was first elected to the select board in 2021 to finish a term vacated by Cecil Newcomb. He was elected to his first full term in May 2022 and recently finished a year-long stint as board chair.

“I love serving,” he said. “I love Orleans. I love what I do. I think I can be more effective locally.”

In a letter to his supporters, Herman said officials should be working together to help the district and the Cape address its many different ongoing issues. A “divisive primary,” he said, would be counterproductive to those efforts.

“Today, when our democracy is being threatened across the country, it is more important than ever to support each other — not divide our resources — here at home,” he said. “We have so many challenges, from the environment, to housing, and much more. We should be working together — not against each other — to deliver solutions to big problems. Unity matters.”

Hadley Luddy, who is also running as a Democrat, is the CEO of Homeless Prevention Council in Orleans, a position she’s held since 2016. Herman said he’s told her of his plans to withdraw his candidacy.

“I’ve known Hadley for decades, and I think she’ll be a great choice,” he said.

“I’ve known Michael for more than 30 years,” Luddy, an Orleans resident, said when reached by phone Tuesday. “He’s a very good person. He will continue to offer our community thoughtful leadership in his role on the Orleans Select Board.”

Looking ahead to the Democratic primary in September and the November general election, Luddy said she will soldier on with her “grassroots driven” campaign. She said she’s held six meet and greet events to date with residents across the district, which runs from Harwich to Provincetown, and that there are more still to come.

In talking to residents, Luddy said there’s concerns over Peake’s departure from her long-term seat. But there’s also concerns on a variety of other fronts as well.

“They’re concerned about the housing crisis,” she said. “They’re concerned about our environment. It’s generally sort of the general themes that we talk about all the time in all of our community efforts and activities. I know we’ve found that there’s a great connection between my priorities as a candidate and what the community needs are.”

The deadline for returning signed papers for the September primary was Tuesday at 5 p.m. Debra O’Malley, a spokesperson with Secretary of State William Galvin’s office, said that a third candidate, Andrew Cattano, has taken out papers as an independent candidate for the Fourth Barnstable seat but had yet to return them as of Tuesday morning.

Email Ryan Bray at ryan@capecodchronicle.com