State Primary: Marilyn Devaney Wins 13th Term, But It Was Close

CHELMSFORD, MA — Marilyn Petitto Devaney will have a 13th term on the Governor's Council after narrowly defeating Mara Dolan in Tuesday's District 3 Democratic primary.

There was no candidate on the Republican side to challenge Devaney in November's general election.

The results of the race between Devaney, of Watertown, and Dolan, a public defender from Concord, were not known until Wednesday, and the race was close.

According to the Associated Press, with 100 percent of precincts reporting, Devaney got 50,391 votes (50.9 percent), while Dolan received 48,689 votes (49.1 percent). The difference was just 1,702 votes.

The Governor's Council provides advice and consent on gubernatorial appointments, pardons and commutations, and warrants for the state treasury. It includes eight councilors and the lieutenant governor.

Devaney will return to the council, but only after some controversy during the campaign.

According to WGBH, in live appearances and on her website, Devaney highlighted endorsements from Congressman Jim McGovern and Democratic nominee for auditor Chris Dempsey.

However, McGovern and Dempsey's representatives said those endorsements had not happened.

Throughout the campaign, Devaney touted her accomplishments on the council, like establishing the very first Governor's Council website and determining the Parole Board had not been in compliance for 30 years because it only featured prosecutors. Devaney said she worked to change the makeup of the board.

On Wednesday, Dolan wrote on social media that she had called Devaney to concede.

"What a great race! We flipped at least 13 towns, even Watertown. Only 1,400 votes out of over 98,000 made the difference," Dolan wrote, when 1,400 still was the difference separating the candidates. "I have called to concede to the incumbent. This race was a joy and a labor of love. I'm not stopping."

Later, Dolan told Patch that she was glad to educate voters about the work of the Governor's Council, which she called the gateway through which everyone must pass before they serve in our judicial branch.

"(The campaign) was also (a chance) to shine a light on our courts, where far too often people who suffer from substance use disorder receive punishment instead of support. This race shows how much support there is for the kind of change only a public defender can bring," Dolan said.