NEW: Keefe Takes Worcester’s 15th

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Wednesday, November 07, 2012

GoLocalWorcester Politics Team

Democrat Mary Keefe has come out on top in the race for State Representative in Worcester's 15th District.

Keefe defeated Republican Brian O'Malley, and she will take the open seat of former Rep. Vincent Pedone, who resigned his office in January, to represent the city's first minority-majority district on Beacon Hill. The 15th and 16th Districts are the only two in the area that consist entirely of the City of Worcester proper.

Keefe, a founding member of the Progressive Democrats of Massachusetts, has spent the past 10 years working as the Director of the Pleasant St. Neighborhood Network Center, and she enjoys strong support from community and labor groups.

The progressive community organizer emerged victorious from a heated five-way Democratic primary in September where she bested School Committee member Dianna Biancheria, City Councilor Kate Toomey, local businessman Frank Beshai and apprentice plumber Ralph Perez.

Campaign manager Kevin Ksen told GoLocalWorcester this is only the beginning.

“We’re excited. It feels great," Ksen said. "We’re thankful to all the people who worked hard today. It wasn't easy; we spent a lot of time knocking on doors all around the district."

"This is the first step," Ksen added. "We’re looking forward to putting everyone in the district and moving forward on issues."

Observers had touted the importance of the primary race in the heavily-Democratic district, as the winner was expected to cruise through the general election straight to the State House, and those predictions proved true on Tuesday.

Former State Rep. Pedone, who resigned his office in January, had occupied the seat in Boston for nearly 20 years, and it was held for nearly 30 years by his predecessor. Now that Keefe is headed to Beacon Hill, observers say she may hold onto the office, like the 15th's forebears, for many years to come.