Mr. White issued a press release last week announcing the switch, noting that “many of my peers in the Occupy movement are supporting (Democrat) Elizabeth Warren for US Senate and my grassroots democracy key value moves me to respect their wishes that I not oppose her in her campaign to replace Senator Scott Brown.”

Instead, Mr. White will take his third shot at Congress, running for the Ninth Congressional District. He’s run for Congress twice before, the first time in 2006, coming in third in a three-way race, and again in 2010, but he dropped out midway through the campaign.

***

Ah, but when the political gods close a door they open a window, and that window’s name is William Cimbrelo. He has been running as a non-party candidate for US Senate since October, although I didn’t hear about him until this week, when he issued a press release touting his “Hyannis ties” in the form of parents who retired to Hyannis.

(And stretch and reach…)

Mr. Cimbrelo is the creator of www.jobaction.org, an online message board for job seekers, and the founder of IndependentSurge.org, which is dedicated to aiding third-party candidates for elected office.

***

Is he or isn’t he?

More precisely: is Ronald R. Beaty Jr. of West Barnstable running for Barnstable County Commissioner or not? The answer: maybe.

Mr. Beaty issued a press release this week in which he says he’s “only contemplating a run” for county commissioner, but included with that release a copy of a Citizens for Limited Taxation-created “Taxpayer Protection Pledge” that he signed “Ronald R. Beaty Jr. – Candidate for County Commissioner.” He also has a blog titled “Ron Beaty for Barnstable County Commissioner” (linked above).

According to the release, Mr. Beaty is waiting to acquire his nomination papers and should have a 100-percent-official announcement soon.

Now, there is one other factor that could come into play here, and that’s Mr. Beaty’s criminal background. In 1991, Mr. Beaty — and this has been verified by the man himself — spent time in prison after he was convicted of sending threatening letters to President George H.W. Bush, US Senator Edward M. Kennedy, and then-State Senator Lois Pines. You can read more about that here and here.

Mr. Beaty is seeking a presidential pardon for those offenses, but regardless of how that turns out, you can bet that if he enters the race, this will become an issue.

Political news and announcements may be e-mailed to Michael Bailey, senior political reporter, at bailey@capenews.net.