Special election: Dudley Selectman John Marsi in line for House seat after primary win

Dudley Selectman John Marsi will have his name on the ballot March 5, the date set for the special election to fill the seat in the state House of Representatives that was left vacant when Peter Durant, R-Spencer, was elected to fill a vacancy in the Senate in November.

Two Republicans opted to run for the vacant seat in the 6th Worcester District: Marsi and Southbridge Councilor David Adams. There were no Democrats running in the primary, giving Marsi a clear path to the Statehouse.

The total vote count, unofficial, was 1,186 for Marsi and 1,043 for Adams.

"I still have March 5 before we can make it official," Marsi said after announcing his victory on his Facebook page shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday. He called the campaign "a short sprint, but hard-fought."

The March special election will coincide with the state's presidential primary. If Marsi prevails, he will start serving in the House once the vote is certified. The term expires at the end of the year; Marsi will have to win again this fall in order to continue for a full term.

"My priorities as a 12-year selectman have been public safety, local aid and education," Marsi said, adding that those will continue as his priorities if he wins in March.

The district covers all of Dudley and Southbridge, plus Precincts 1, 2, 3, and 4A in Charlton and Precinct 1 in Spencer.

Marsi won Dudley by 636 to 188 votes, while Adams won Southbridge by 607 to 154. In the four Charlton precincts, Marsi won 314 votes to Adams' 215; Marsi won the one Spencer precinct, 82 to 33.

Meantime, Adams spent Wednesday morning reviewing the race and results. He declined to comment when asked if he planned to run again in November.

“Right now, I’m going to breathe,” Adams said. “I had a good team; I have my integrity intact.”

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: John Marsi defeats David Adams in 6th Worcester District GOP primary