The lieutenant governor has been hospitalized after marching in several parades in 90-degree heat over the Independence Day weekend and becoming ill.
Lt. Gov. Tim Murray, who marched in five parades during a busy three-day holiday weekend, felt under the weather and decided to seek medical attention Monday evening, spokesman Kyle Sullivan said.
Murray, a Democrat who's in his early 40s, was spending the night at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester, about 40 miles west of Boston, for observation and was in good spirits, Sullivan said. A hospital spokeswoman wouldn't comment on his condition early Tuesday.
Murray is a former three-term mayor of Worcester, the state's second-largest city. Since taking office with Gov. Deval Patrick in 2007, Murray has been tasked with maintaining the administration's relationship with cities and towns and leading outreach efforts to homelessness and veterans groups.
He has worked with Patrick, who is seeking re-election, to promote job growth while reforming ethics, education, pensions and the state transportation system and has made protecting local aid a priority for the Patrick administration, his website says.
Nationally, Murray has taken leadership roles on the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association and the National Lieutenant Governors Association Executive Committee.
One of Murray's roles as lieutenant governor is to take over from Patrick when the governor is unable to serve, as he did for three days last fall when the governor had hip replacement surgery.
Patrick, a friend of President Barack Obama, faces independent candidate Timothy Cahill, Republican Charles Baker and Green-Rainbow Party candidate Jill Stein in the gubernatorial race. Patrick has rebounded from early lackluster fundraising and leads in polling. Murray is set to partner with him again for the November election.
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