Published February 5, 2020
By MARK SARDELLA
YESTERDAY’S SPECIAL PRIMARY election voting took place in the Galvin Middle School gym. (Mark Sardella Photo)
WAKEFIELD — The next State Representative for the 32nd Middlesex District will not be from Wakefield, as Melrose City Councilor-at-Large Kate Lipper-Garabedian rolled to an easy win over Wakefield Town Councilor Ann Santos and Malden’s Mathew Helman in yesterday’s Special Democratic Primary Election.
The 32nd Middlesex District consists of the city of Melrose, Wakefield precincts 4, 5 and 6 and Malden’s Ward 5, Precinct 2.
In the district-wide vote count, Lipper-Garabedian garnered 2,580 votes. Santos finished second with 866 votes and Helman third with 342.
There was no Republican candidate on the ballot, but Melrose Republican Brandon Reid ran a write-in campaign in hopes of getting the necessary 150 votes to qualify to appear on the ballot for the March 3 Special Election that will decide who the next State Representative will be. A total of 247 write-ins were cast on the Republican ballot district-wide. It appeared at press time that at least 152 of those write-in votes were cast for Reid. Assuming that result holds, he will qualify to appear on the March 3 ballot as Lipper-Garabedian’s Republican opponent.
Election results for Wakefield
Special Primary 32nd State Representative
In fact, Reid was being encouraged this morning by Secretary of State William Galvin’s elections people to travel to Boston to accept the Republican nomination and to fill out an ethics form.
In Wakefield’s three precincts, Santos crushed her opponents with 506 votes to Lipper-Garabedian’s 159 and Helman’s 49.
But in Lipper-Garabedian’s home territory of Melrose, it was Katie bar the door, as she handily defeated Santos and Helman in every ward and precinct. Santos finished second in every Melrose precinct but two. Helman finished second in Ward 5, Precinct 1 and Ward 7 Precinct 1, the precincts near Malden.
Lipper-Garabdeian also took Ward 5, Precinct 2 in Malden, garnering 80 votes. Helman finished second with 50 and Santos pulled up the rear with 18.
Last night, Lipper-Garabedian thanked her supporters.
“I am immensely appreciative of the tremendous effort of all of the volunteers that helped out on the campaign trail,” she said. “There were endless calls made and just as many doors knocked to reach voters. Together, we worked to ensure that the 32nd Middlesex District is represented by someone who believes passionately about the role government can play in supporting individuals and their families. Thank you to my husband Mark and my two sons Harrison and Oscar for their constant love and encouragement.”
She also thanked the voters.
“Thank you to every single resident of Malden, Melrose, and Wakefield who took the time to vote in this election in hopes for a strong future for our District,” Lipper-Garabedian said. “Tonight’s result means that our seat will be held by someone who listens carefully and works hard and by someone who will get things done. I am humbled and excited by your support, and I will work hard to continue to earn it.”
This morning, Santos wished Lipper-Garabedian well and thanked her own supporters and voters.
“I first want to congratulate Kate Lipper Garabedian on winning the Democratic primary for State Rep,” Santos said. “She ran a thoughtful and respectful campaign and I am grateful that we were able to discuss issues important to our towns without any rancor. I also want to thank those that supported me by taking time out of their lives during the campaign and for all of the kind messages I received.
“This race will always be numerically difficult for a Wakefield candidate running against a strong Melrose candidate based on how our town is divided into 2 districts,” Santos noted. “Hopefully, in 2022 when redistricting is revisited, we can advocate to have full representation in the State House by virtue of a State Representative that is dedicated to all of Wakefield, as it used to be. Until then, I look forward to working with Kate as a Town Councilor and am encouraged that she will be sensitive to concerns that uniquely affect Wakefield, such as Chapter 70 funding.”
Helman also offered his congratulations to Lipper-Garabedian, while thanking his own supporters and the voters.
“I congratulate Kate Lipper-Garabedian on her victory in the special election’s Democratic primary,” Helman said. “I hope she will use the office to advocate for more transparency and accountability in state government, beginning with a restoration of Speaker term limits, as well as working to take important debates about legislation and the budget out from behind closed doors and back into the public eye on the floor of the House. I humbly thank all of my supporters, volunteers, and donors across the district and the Commonwealth; and, and I thank everyone who turned out to vote to take part in this exercise in democracy.”
On the Republican side, Reid also thanked his supporters.
“First and foremost, I’d like to thank each and every voter who took time out of their day to go out and write me in on an otherwise blank Republican ballot,” Reid said. “This was a big ask, and it means a lot to me that so many people showed up. I truly appreciate it. I’d also like to thank everyone who has offered their support during this campaign process, and the local news publications, including the Wakefield Daily Item and Melrose Weekly News.
“As for the results, I am beyond pleased to announce that I will be the Republican nominee on the ballot on March 3rd!” Reid said. “I also would like to mention, that three votes determined the result of this primary election. Every vote truly counts! The voters wanted a real race for this seat, and I look forward to the challenge.
“Lastly, I want to congratulate all three Democratic candidates for their hard work and efforts,” Reid said. “A special congrats to Kate, who is a very deserving Democratic nominee.”
Yesterday’s Special Primary did not draw much interest locally, with only 714 of Wakefield’s eligible 8,193 voters (8.78 percent) showing up to cast ballots. About 15 percent of eligible voters in Melrose participated in yesterday’s election. About 150 (6 percent) of the 2,287 voters in Malden’s Ward 5 Precinct 2 showed up to vote.
Yesterday’s Special Primary Election and the upcoming Special Election were necessary due to the vacancy in the 32nd Middlesex seat caused by the resignation of Paul Brodeur, who was elected Mayor of Melrose last November.
