Clark to Face Addivinola in General Election
WATERTOWN, Mass. (A.W.)—Despite a strong campaign, in which many Armenian Americans took part, Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian came in second in the Democratic primary of the special election to fill Senator Edward J. Markey’s seat in the US House of Representatives.
The winner of the race was Katherine Clark of Melrose, with 31.6 percent of the vote (21,959 votes). Koutoujian took home 22 percent (15,290 votes), followed by Carl Sciortino with 16.1 percent (11,185 votes).
Koutoujian did especially well in his hometown of Waltham, where he garnered 74 percent of the vote (4,148 votes). He also did well in Watertown, where many Armenians reside, earning 38 percent of the vote (1,815 votes) to Clark’s 14 percent and Will Brownsberger’s 30 percent.
Speaking to his supporters at the Westin Hotel in Waltham on election night, Koutoujian said he was proud of his staff and supporters for the campaign. He thanked those gathered, his wife and children, his staff members, his colleagues at the Middlesex Sheriff’s office who stood by him, and his “Big fat Armenian family.”
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Eastern Region activist Tamar Kanarian said, “We congratulate Peter Koutoujian on a great campaign and look forward to supporting him as he continues his service to Middlesex County, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the people of the United States. We want to share our special thanks to each and every Armenian American who voted, volunteered, or donated to Peter’s campaign, and, together, to reaffirm our collective commitment to seeing more of the sons and daughters of our community elected to the U.S. Congress.”
The ANCA offered congratulations to the winners of the Democratic and Republican primaries, Katherine Clark and Republican Frank Addivinola, respectively.
Over recent weeks and months, the ANCA and Armenian Americans from throughout Bay State supported Koutoujian’s campaign and extensive get-out-the-vote initiatives, participating in door-to-door canvassing and phone calling as part of the diverse fabric of voters who have stood with Koutoujian in his previous successful bids for State Assembly and his current position as Middlesex County Sheriff.
As anticipated, voter turnout was low in this hotly contested Democratic primary, which featured energetic campaigns by seven candidates. The special general election will take place on December 10th, in which Democrat Clark will battle Republican Addivinola to fill the seat vacated by Sen. Ed Markey.
The Massachusetts 5th Congressional District contains the towns of: Arlington, Ashland, Belmont, Cambridge, Framingham, Holliston, Lexington, Lincoln, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Natick, Revere, Sherborn, Southborough, Stoneham, Sudbury, Waltham, Watertown, Wayland, Weston, Winchester, Winthrop, and Woburn.
This is a bitter disappointment. In a district where we have an Armenian population base and a candidate with solid credentials, not to be able to elect him is a huge letdown.
15290 votes is not a big number. Painfully turn out was low.
Despite ANCA’s efforts, something went wrong.
Vart Adjemian