The political scene is heating up in Beverly where the possible departure of Mayor Bill Scanlon after 2011 and the perceived vulnerability of Democratic Rep. Mary Grant due to her support for a sales-tax increase, have potential candidates jockeying for position.

One knowledgeable insider says Paul Guanci's announcement this week that he will run for an at-large seat on the City Council in November was almost certainly prompted by concern that former state representative Mike Cahill would have a leg up on him in the mayoral race should Cahill succeed in his at-large bid.

Scanlon, the city's longest-serving chief executive, will likely get a free ride this November; but many expect he will be ready to retire after opening the new high school in his next term.

There are no sure things in the at-large council race, however, even with Tim Flaherty — another potential mayoral candidate in 2011 — opting not to run for re-election. Incumbent Patricia Grimes will be a strong candidate, and challenger Elliott Margolis is well known for having spearheaded the successful effort to defeat a Proposition 21âÑ2 override last year.

Those are four strong candidates for three seats, and incumbent Bill Coughlin, has yet to decide whether he will seek another term. (He'll make the announcement within the next couple of weeks, and the betting here is that it will be yes.)

And, of course, the candidate getting the most votes becomes council president.

Meanwhile, Republican City Committee member Brett Schetzsle has emerged as chief spokesman for those critical of Grant's legislative votes, including the one this week in favor of raising the sales tax to 6.25 percent from its current 5 percent. Don't be surprised to see him emerge as a challenger for Beverly's 6th Essex seat in the next election.

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Senate Majority Leader Fred Berry, D-Peabody, is among those members of the upper chamber taking the maximum five days without pay this year.

"We are in the midst of the most difficult economic downturn I have seen in my career. Everyone out there is hurting, and as public servants we have an obligation to make our own sacrifices in order to address the commonwealth's growing budget deficit," Berry declared in a statement Wednesday.

In addition, Berry says he's donated this year's automatic pay raise to three local charities.

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Salem's Jeff Conley, a former alderman and mayoral candidate in Beverly, is retiring after three decades as director of the Boston Finance Commission. The agency was created by the state to keep an eye on the city's finances and Conley's watchdog role often brought him into conflict with both politicians and union officials through the years.

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It seems concerns about the potential cost of a regional 911 system have increased considerably since it was revealed Essex County Sheriff Frank Cousins would be running the show. He might want to ask himself why that is.

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Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll can breathe easier now. School Committeeman Jim Fleming has been telling people he won't be a candidate for the corner office this year after all.

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Speaker Robert DeLeo is hosting a fundraiser for state Rep. Barbara L'Italien, D-Andover, at Boston's Oyster House restaurant Tuesday, May 5. Suggested donation is $50-$500.

L'Italien's district includes part of Boxford.

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Nelson Benton writes on North Shore politics.