Sheriff's race costly in Worcester County

Glodis, the challenger, spent $425,555 to Flynn's $234,414, although he spent $45,792 of that before he entered the race in March. Glodis also raised $191,936, including $108,161 since he declared his candidacy, while Flynn, a 17-year incumbent, has raised $173,741, according to records at the Office of Campaign and Political Finance.

Pamela Wilmot, executive director of Common Cause Massachusetts, a government watchdog group, said she was surprised the Worcester race had been more costly than the one in Suffolk.

But Glodis is known as one of the Senate's strongest fund-raisers. And incumbents like Flynn typically can draw on longtime supporters.

''It has been a bitter race between two very well-known politicians with good fund-raising connections who both desperately want the seat," Wilmot added.

Denis Kennedy, spokesman for the campaign and political finance office, said the campaign for Worcester County sheriff is probably one of the most expensive county races in state history.

Glodis, who is giving up his Senate seat to run for sheriff, most recently served as Senate chairman of the Insurance Committee. After he launched his sheriff's campaign in March, Glodis was able to transfer $263,099 from his Senate campaign coffers to his new account.

A Flynn spokesman, Scott Bove, said the campaign knew Glodis would set a torrid fund-raising pace. ''He raised a large portion of his money from the insurance lobbyists," he said. ''It certainly gives the impression of some impropriety. . . . It's legal and he can do it, but while our insurance rates are going through the roof, he's sitting back and taking all their money."

A spokesman for Glodis did not return a telephone call seeking comment.

Unlike legislators, whose terms last two years, county sheriffs have six-year terms.

Six years ago, Flynn spent $165,306 in defeating Frank Beshi, who was a Republican but is now running for the same office as an independent candidate.

The winner of the Democratic primary faces Worcester Republican William McCarthy, who lags far behind in fund-raising.

In August, for instance, McCarthy started the month with $521 in his campaign account, raised $3,171, spent $2,290 and ended the month with $1,215 on hand.