Waltham's Sean Durkee Joins Race for 10th Middlesex State Rep Seat

Make that three candidates running for the 10th Middlesex state representative seat.

Waltham resident Sean Durkee, a Democrat, has announced he is running for the seat, which includes part of Waltham, Watertown and Newton. Interim Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian vacated it late last year when he was appointed to his post.

“We need a fresh voice – my voice – a financial analyst who understands both the reality of the costs of government, and a homeowner that feels the strain of taxation on the taxpayers,” Durkee, 42, said in a Sunday, Feb. 13 statement announcing his candidacy.

Durkee joins Waltham City Councilor Gary Marchese and Watertown Town Councilcor John Lawn in the race to replace Koutoujian. The primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, April 12, while the general election is scheduled for Tuesday, May 10.

Durkee currently works as a business manager for a defense contractor and serves in the Massachusetts Army National Guard. He has served abroad in Iraq, and several other countries.

Durkee stressed several priorities of his campaign. He said, in his statement, the state should focus on creating high-tech jobs by attracting investments for “increased productivity.”

About healthcare, Durkee said the state should stress the use of preventative health care in order to lower costs.

“The cost savings far outweigh the alternative to not doing so,” Durkee said.