State Senate forum in Southie cancelled

A state Senate forum in South Boston has been cancelled, an organizer said in an email sent Monday evening. The forum, put together by various civic groups based in South Boston, was scheduled for Thursday night at the Lithuanian Club.

The forum had already been postponed from last week, after the bombings at the Boston Marathon.

Gary Murad, who would have been the moderator, said they could not guarantee the presence of all the candidates on Thursday night because the House budget debate could stretch into the evening.

“I am very sorry that this didn't work out. I am extremely disappointed South Boston residents will not have an opportunity to hear from the candidates in the type of Forum we proposed but obviously it is out of our hands and quite frankly attributable to the uncontrollable events we witnessed last week and responsibilities that come with being an elected official,” Murad wrote in the email.

The House recessed last night just after midnight, according to the State House News Service. Earlier in the night, the budget debate caused a DotOUT forum in Savin Hill to be cut short, as the two lawmakers in the race – state Reps. Linda Dorcena Forry (D-Dorchester) and Nick Collins (D-SouthBoston) – had to dash back to the State House. The third Democrat in the race, Maureen Dahill of South Boston, stayed at the Savin Bar and chatted with attendees.

The three candidates are facing off in a Democratic primary on April 30. The winner will face Dorchester Republican Joseph Ureneck in a general election on May 28.