Low-turnout primary decides Nov. 3 ballot, Diehl to face Brady, Raduc
Two area state representatives will face off, along with unenrolled candidate Anna Grace Raduc of Halifax, on Tuesday Nov. 3 as they vie to fill the 2nd Plymouth and Bristol District seat left vacant by the death of state Sen. Thomas P. Kennedy, D-Brockton, in June. this positions Geoffrey Diehl to face Michael Brady and Anna Grace Raduc.
State Rep. Michael D. Brady, D-Brockton, handily defeated businessman Joseph Lynch, also of Brockton, in the Tuesday, Oct. 6 special state primary. Brady took about 90 percent of the Democratic votes.
State Rep. Geoffrey Diehl, R-Whitman, was also on GOP ballots, but faced no opposition. There were no candidates listed on either the Green/Rainbow or United Independent Party ballots in Tuesday’s primary.
“For me, today was just another day on the campaign trail,” said Diehl as he chatted with Whitman selectmen Dan Salvucci and Brian Bezanson who were working a Diehl sign-holding post across the street from the Whitman Town Hall polling place. “My focus is November.”
Voters may also have been looking ahead to November as both Whitman and Hanson saw a turnout of about 3 percent of registered voters cast ballots.
In Whitman, where 384 of the town’s 9,631 voters cast ballots, Democrats backed Brady with 141 votes to Lynch’s 29. Hanson saw 232 of about 7,000 voters turnout to give Brady a 115 to 15 win over Lynch.
The margin was similar throughout the district.
Brady garnered 2,533 votes in Brockton, 94 in Easton, 88 in East Bridgewater, 49 in Halifax, 219 n Hanover and 18 in Plympton. Lynch received 355 Brockton votes, 12 in Easton, 8 in East Bridgewater, 7 in Halifax, 33 in Hanover and 2 in Plympton.
Neither Brady nor Lynch were available for comment on the primary result, but Diehl, who received 96 votes in Hanson and 208 in Whitman expressesed gratitude to voters.
“The response to the campaign has been overwhelming,” Diehl stated. “When I am door-knocking people are thanking me every day for repealing automatic gas tax hikes.”
He also stressed the differences between his tenure as a representative for the 7th Plymouth District he has served since 2010 and Brady — the 9th Plymouth representative for seven and a half years.
“I am the only candidate in this race who has cut people’s taxes,” Diehl said. “My opponent has voted to increase taxes every time. He doubled tax on alchohol, raised the gas tax, sales tax, utility taxes, supported increasing income taxes, and voted for higher fees.”
Diehl pointed to his accomplishments, including the automatic gas tax repeal and work against legislative pay raises and opposition to taxpayer contributions to balance cost overruns for the Olympics.
While Brady is strong in Brockton where he has served on the school committee and 13 years as a city councilor, Diehl’s best chance is considered by political observers to be centered in the surrounding suburban communities.