U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch will temporarily step in as the top Democrat on the powerful House Oversight Committee, his office confirmed Monday.
Lynch, D-8th District, will soon take the reins for the current top Democrat, U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, of Virginia, who’s stepping aside to deal with a recurrence of cancer.
The online news site Axios was the first to report the news.
Connolly assumed the role as the committee’s ranking Democrat just four months ago, according to Axios.
He announced the news to his constituents in an open letter posted to his congressional website on Monday.
“The sun is setting on my time in public service, and this will be my last term in Congress. I will be stepping back as Ranking Member of the Oversight Committee soon,” he wrote. “With no rancor and a full heart, I move into this final chapter full of pride in what we’ve accomplished together over 30 years. My loving family and staff sustain me. My extended family – you all have been a joy to serve.”
If the committee’s name sounds familiar, that’s because it’s the one that heard testimony last month from Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and three other big city mayors on their respective immigration policies.
Lynch’s spokesperson, Molly Tarpey, told MassLive that Lynch, of South Boston, a former union leader, will serve as the committee’s ranking Democrat until a permanent replacement is named.
U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-7th District, also serves on the committee.
Connolly, 75, announced last November that he had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer, according to Axios. He beat out U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., to take the key leadership post.
Connolly succeeded U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., who previously did battle with cancer.
In his letter to his constituents, Connolly said that when he announced his diagnosis, he had promised “full transparency.”
“After grueling treatments, we’ve learned that the cancer, while initially beaten back, has now returned,” he wrote. “I’ll do everything possible to continue to represent you and thank you for your grace.”
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