by Lex Thomas
Republican Dean Tran, who has served as councilor-at-large in Fitchburg since 2006, has won the Senate seat vacated by Jennifer Flanagan in the special election held on December 5. Flanagan resigned as state senator for the Worcester and Middlesex District in August after being appointed to the state’s Cannabis Control Commission by Governor Charlie Baker. The Senate district represents Sterling, Berlin, Bolton, Fitchburg, Gardner, Lancaster, Leominster, Lunenburg, Townsend, Westminster, and precincts 1 and 2 in Clinton. Tran defeated Democratic candidate Sue Chalifoux Zephir, Claire Freda running as an Unenrolled candidate, and Green-Rainbow Party candidate Charlene DiCalogero.
In Sterling, 881 voters turned out at the poll, representing 15.13 percent of eligible voters. Tran received 451 votes, defeating Chalifoux Zephir with 402 votes, Freda with 21 votes and DiCalogero with 7 votes. District-wide unofficial results show Tran with 7,289 votes, Chalifoux Zephir with 6,614, Freda with 1,552, and DiCalogero with 201.
Responding by email following the election, Tran expressed gratitude “for the tremendous support and trust from the people throughout the district. My background and message of honesty and hard work resonated with the voters. I look forward to bringing my record of serving the people to Beacon Hill and represent all residents to the best of my ability.”
Tran added that his first priority will be to review the bills that will be coming before the Senate. “I want to make sure that I fully understand the bills, bring to the attention of my constituents and consider public input before discussing and voting on them.”