Koutoujian, Addivinola Favored by Local Voters

State Sen. Katherine Clark won the Democratic special election primary for the Fifth Congressional District that includes the town of  Winthrop.

Clark received 32 percent of the vote in the district to defeat Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian (22 percent) and five other candidates, State Rep. Carl Sciortino, State Sen. Karen Spilka, State Sen. William Brownsberger, Martin Long, and Paul John Maisano.

Koutoujian, who was endorsed by Speaker of the House Robert A. DeLeo, took first place in Winthrop with 658 votes. Clark finished a strong second with 496 votes, followed by Sciortino (163), Maisano (51), Spilka (43), Brownsberger (26), and Long (5).

Clark thanked her supporters at an event held at the Knights of Columbus in Melrose.

Clark also thanked the other Democratic candidates. “Every one of them has dedicated themselves to public service and the people of Massachusetts. We are a better Commonwealth because of their service. I applaud them for bringing important issues to the forefront of this race and for running strong, positive campaigns.”

Clark will face Republican Frank Addivinola Jr. in the Dec. 10 general election. Addivinola defeated candidates Michael Stopa and Tom Tierney in the Republican primary. Addivinola received 228 votes in Winthrop. Tierney was second with 39 votes while Stopa was third with 27 votes.

Town Clerk Carla Vitale said that 1,741 Winthrop voters cast ballots in the election. The winner of the Dec. 10 election will fill the Congressional seat previously held by Edward J. Markey, who was elected to the U.S. Senate.