Maureen Dahill, one of the two South Boston-based candidates running for state Senate, has hired a longtime campaign strategist as a consultant. Jim Spencer, who worked as chief strategist on former City Councillor At-Large Sam Yoon’s mayoral campaign in 2009, is the president of the Campaign Network, a firm specializing in direct mail.

Spencer, a Midwest native and former political director for Congressman Joseph Kennedy II, was Mel King’s field director in 1983 when King ran for mayor, a past consultant for Felix D. Arroyo’s run for at-large, and the consultant to City Councillor At-Large Ayanna Pressley’s 2011 reelection campaign. He worked on former City Councillor At-Large Michael Flaherty's unsuccessful mayoral campaign in 2009 after Yoon did not make it past the primary.

Dahill, a South Boston native and local entrepreneur, is running as a Democrat to fill the vacant seat in the First Suffolk Senate District. The seat opened up after Jack Hart, who was elected in 2002, left for a job at a law firm.

State Reps. Linda Dorcena Forry (D-Dorchester) and Nick Collins (D-South Boston) and Joseph Ureneck (R-Dorchester) are also running. Rep. Forry is the wife of Reporter editor Bill Forry.

The primary election is set for April 30 and the special election is scheduled for May 28.