Politics & Government

Peter Koutoujian Announces Run for U.S. Congress

Koutoujian made the announcement in a YouTube video on Monday.

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By Ryan Grannan-Doll

Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian has announced he will run for the 5th U.S. Congressional seat soon to be vacated by Ed Markey.

Koutoujian, a Waltham native and resident, made the announcement in a YouTube message on Monday.

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“We are facing major challenges in Washington: on immigration, on health care, on women’s rights and the environment.  And we need a strong, progressive leader who will stand up for us on those and other issues,” Koutoujian said in a statement announcing his run. “And we need to know that the next representative hears the voices and sees the faces of those that they represent – and most importantly -- can get things done to make their lives better. I have dedicated my life to doing just that and I am ready to bring those progressive values and a lot of hard work to Washington.”

Koutoujian, who was appointed as the Middlesex Sheriff in 2011, started his public service career when he became a prosecutor at the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office. In 1997, Koutoujian was elected to the State House of Representatives. During his time there, Koutoujian was an advocate for health care, financial services and public safety, he said in the video. During his time as sheriff, Koutoujian created programs to have inmates appropriately reenter society and bring more transparency to the agency, he said in the video. 

No date has been set for the election yet.

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