James Munchbach did the legwork to run for the 11th Norfolk State House seat, but in the end he didn't have it in his heart to split the Dedham vote in next month's Democratic primary.
Muncbach, of Dedham, picked up nomination papers late - just 26 hours from yesterday's 5 p.m. deadline - but he more than made up for the lost time by collecting 300 voter signatures, twice the required number to be certified to compete for the party's nomination.
Then he decided not to turn in the John Hancocks.
"They (the other candidates) have their campaigns in action. I didn't want to be the guy to split the town," Munchbach said last night. "These (candidates) had already reached out, gotten people to commit. A lot (of people) didn't know I was in the race, and felt free to commit to another candidate."
Now, the field has diminished to eight candidates, although they are not certified.
Those hopefuls want to take the seat of former state Rep. Robert Coughlin, a Dedham Democrat, who vacated the seat in January to take an economic development position with Gov. Deval Patrick's administration.
The 11th Norfolk District includes Dedham, Westwood and a precinct in Walpole.
Thirteen residents in Dedham and Westwood had pulled papers following Coughlin's decision to work for Patrick.
Four Democrats remain - all from Dedham: Stephen Bilafer, a one-time top aide to former state Attorney General Thomas Reilly; Thomas Boncek, a home improvement contractor and Precinct 3 Town Meeting member; School Committee member Joanne Flatley; and Precinct 7 Town Meeting member Cheryl Schoenfeld.
Both Republicans going after the seat, William McKinney of Dedham and Doug Obey of Westwood, had returned signatures last month. McKinney is a member of the Republican State Committee and the Dedham Finance Committee. Obey holds the position of chairman on the Westwood Republican Town Committee.
The race also may feature two independent candidates from Dedham: Paul McMurtry, owner of the Dedham Community Theatre, and Margot Pyle, Precinct 1 Town Meeting member.
"Now the race begins," Dedham Town Clerk Paul Munchbach, brother of James, said.
The field had diminished in the past few days as Westwood Democrat and Board of Selectmen Chairman Anthony Antonellis and Dedham Precinct 5 Town Meeting member James "Seamus" Molloy Jr., also a Democrat, dropped from the race.
Antonellis said that the elected position would not work with his career as a trial attorney for the Boston firm, Sloane and Walsh. Molloy, a stay-at-home parent, decided with his family that he would need the time to watch his children.
By yesterday's deadline for turning in signatures, the field had lost three more potential candidates. In addition to Munchbach, Democrat James O'Brien, a Dedham Planning Board member, and independent candidate Stephen B. MacAusland, an alternative energy consultant, former Dedham Town Meeting member and candidate for Board of Selectmen, failed to turn in papers.
Town clerks need to certify the signatures by March 12, and candidates must file the certified signatures with the secretary of state's office by 5 p.m. on March 13.
Among the eight candidates, only Pyle's signatures and a handful of Boncek's and Flatley's signatures await certification, according to town clerks.
The Democratic and Republican primaries are scheduled for April 17. Independent candidates do not have a primary election. The general election takes place on May 15.
Voters have until March 28 to register for the primary.
Daily News staff writer Greg Duggan can be reached at 781-433-8355 or by e-mail at gduggan@cnc.com.
