Landry Falls 27 Votes Short In State House Bid

READING - As the results were filled in at the Reading Cable Television offices on Main Street, Rich Haggerty's big lead over Anne Landry was shrinking. The Reading Precinct vote totals favored the hometown candidate but would they be enough?

As the last precinct votes were added the answer was no. Haggerty had beaten Landry by 27 votes, claiming 35.58 percent of the vote to Landry's 35.04 to win the Democratic Primary race for State Representative in the 30th Middlesex District. The Reading voter turnout was 24.5 percent.

The margin stunned the room of supporters and for a minute, questions were asked. Did it include absentee ballots? Did it include overseas ballots? Certainly something was missing. Holding both a victory and concession speech, Landry held off making any formal statement.

"I thought it would be close," said Landry. "But I didn't think it would be this close."

In some ways it wasn't close enough. By law there would have been an automatic recount if the margin was .50 percent or less. But Haggerty's margin was .54. All that awaits now is the official certification of the results in the coming days to make Haggerty's win official.

Haggerty finished with 1,813 votes, followed by Landry with 1,786, Joseph Demers with 1,020 and Darryn Remillard with 477. Haggerty advances to face Republican Claire M. Malaguti in November. Malaguti ran unopposed Tuesday.

At 9 p.m. Landry made the difficult choice to read the concession speech.

"I could not have done this alone. I did not do this alone," said an emotional Landry, surrounded by her husband/campaign manager Ryan and her parents Jerry and Cindy. "When I asked for your help, you answered the call. Thank you for walking with me and supporting me in this effort. It is time for me to congratulate Rich Haggerty for winning this hard-fought race by 27 votes. And I would like to thank my fellow candidates for running positive campaigns based on issues and on their own strength of character, experience and priorities."

She went on to thank Haggerty and said he is truly is committed to the communities. She thanked her boss, Senator Will Brownsberger, Select Board members Andy Friedmann, Vanessa Alvarado, and Barry Berman who were in attendance, Jeanne Mooney, Kaitlyn Mercurio, her Woburn team, family members and friends, finishing with her mom and dad and husband Ryan.

"The people gathered here are my nearest and dearest and thank you everyone for the effort you've made on my behalf. It means so much to me."

Photo by Bob Holmes