Last Stretch: Koutoujian Garners Key Endorsements as Election Day Nears
By Weekly Staff // October 12, 2013
WALTHAM, Mass. (A.W.) – With only days remaining until the Democratic
primary in the Fifth District Congressional race on Oct. 15, Middlesex
Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian – who describes himself as a `kid from
Waltham’ – garnered some key endorsements, as he campaigned to succeed
Edward J. Markey in the US House of Representatives.
Since this will be a special election, the candidate who is able to
move more voters and get them to the polls will win the primary.
The 52-year-old Koutoujian’s campaign is likely to get a boost with
state House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo’s endorsement on Oct. 9.
Commentators expect DeLeo’s endorsement to go far in this race where a
low voter turnout is expected. DeLeo, who represents Winthrop and part
of Revere, is a political heavyweight in the state, and his support
for Koutoujian – a former state representative – is likely to help lift
voters’ and donors’ confidence in the Sheriff, say observers.
`I know how important it is for a district to have a strong dedicated
and intelligent representative always willing to do what is in the
best interest of his or her constituents,’ DeLeo said in a statement
released by the Koutoujian campaign. `Peter will be that person for
the Fifth Congressional District…. I am proud to endorse my friend
Peter Koutoujian for Congress.’
The Boston Herald also endorsed Koutoujian on Oct. 8. `Sometimes it’s
hard to look at the dysfunction that is now Washington, D.C., and not
marvel that anyone would want to be a part of it. And frankly a number
of the candidates currently in the race are such committed ideologues
of the left that it is hard to imagine them doing anything but
contributing mightily to that dysfunction. But one of those Democratic
contenders, current Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian, by
virtue of his experience, his integrity and his work ethic has the
potential to actually make a positive contribution and the Herald is
pleased to endorse his candidacy,’ read the editorial.
Others who have endorsed the Sheriff include State Senator Warren
Tolman of Watertown and former Director of the White House Office of
Women’s Initiatives and Outreach Betsy Myers.
During his campaign, Koutoujian has said that the big issues matter to
him as much as the smaller ones, as both impact people’s lives. As a
state representative, he has worked on a school nutrition bill,
stalking legislation, workplace smoking ban, and is an outspoken
supporter of the Affordacle Care Act.
On education, Koutoujian believes there should be a fixed rate
established on college education loans. On gun safety, he calls for a
ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines, saying, `No
responsible gun owner needs a weapon that shoots 100 bullets a
minute.’ He also calls for expansion of mental health services, as
well as universal background checks for firearm purchases. He wants
Congress to end tax subsidies for oil companies, while increasing
investment in alternative sources of energy. As the grandchild of
immigrants, Koutoujian believes immigration reform is a must to help
undocumented immigrants become legal citizens. On Social Security,
Koutoujian says he will not compromise: `We cannot solve the nation’s
deficit problem on the backs of our seniors while billionaires and
corporations are not paying their fair share. Our senior citizens have
spent their entire lives paying their fair share and we owe it to them
to hold up our end of the bargain.’ Like the other candidates,
Koutoujian is pro-choice, and believes that women should receive the
same compensation as their male counterparts in the workforce.
Koutoujian has said his Armenian heritage and his experience as a
descendent of Armenian Genocide survivors informs certain positions on
issues. For instance, during a televised debate between the Democratic
contenders, Koutoujian was asked whether he would have supported
military intervention in Syria. `I’m the grandchild of Armenian
genocide survivors and everything in my being wanted to go there and
protect those people because I know what happened to my people,’ said
the Sheriff. `But when I really considered it in line with the lack of
support of the larger international community and the failure of a
long-term vision, not just for entrance, but for exit with regard to
Syria, really made me realize … that we can’t go in there.’ He also
added that in case of Genocide, he would absolutely vote for an
intervention.
Six other Democrats are also vying to get the Democratic nomination in
this race, four of whom – like Koutoujian – hold elected office. All of
the candidates describe themselves as `progressive.’ Since this will
be a special election, the candidate who is able to move more voters
and get them to the polls will win the primary.
According to a poll conducted by the Emerson College Polling Society
in Sept., Koutoujian’s main contenders are State Senator Katherine
Clark, 50, who is ahead, and State Senator Karen Spilka, 60, behind
him.
Clark, who is a resident of Melrose, is endorsed by state Attorney
General Martha Coakley, as well as EMILY’s list, a national
organization that supports pro-choice female candidates. She has
promised to be a voice for women’s rights in Washington, is advocating
for universal pre-kindergarten in the country, and has vowed to fight
`radical’ and `extremist’ Republicans in Congress.
`I’m tired of hearing radical Republicans talk about family values
when they don’t actually focus on what’s best for our families,’ Clark
was quoted as saying on her campaign site. On Oct. 10, the Boston
Globe endorsed Clark. `[Of all the candidates] the one who has best
articulated a strategy for navigating the bitterly divided House is
state Senator Katherine Clark of Melrose, whose warmth and
intelligence are complemented by a sharp understanding of the issues
and a shrewd legislative game plan. The Globe is pleased to offer her
its endorsement in next Tuesday’s Democratic primary,’ read the
statement. As a State Senator, Clark represents Malden, Melrose,
Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield, and Winchester.
Ashland-resident Spilka, a former social worker and labor lawyer, is
enjoying endorsements from most labor unions. Spilka, who has been a
state senator since 2001, has focused her campaign on health
issues – including rights for the mentally disabled. She is a champion
of labor unions, and says job creation is a top priority of hers.
State Senator Will Brownsberger, 56, from Belmont has made
transparency a focal point, priding himself on being the only
candidate to refuse any financial contributions from PACs or lobby
groups. He has made his email and cell phone number available to the
public, and vows to do the same if elected. Brownsberger, who is often
described as `professorial,’ says he is not someone to shy away from
unpopular votes. `…It really takes courage to vote against the tide.
And I’ve been willing to do that too…. Sometimes, a legislator needs
to do something that is unpopular and trust that constituents will
respect his explanation of his vote,’ he noted on his campaign
website.
State Representative Carl M. Sciortino Jr., 35, from Medford has made
cooperation a running theme in his campaign, with an ad in which he
embraces his father who is a Tea Party supporter. Sciortino, a
self-described `Massachusetts liberal,’ has asserted his unyielding
and principled approach to issues, a trait critics view as
counterproductive in a bipartisan environment.
Two other Democratic candidates are also in the race. Arlington
Democrat Martin Long, 52, hopes to solve the issue of bipartisan
non-cooperation, and has called for the decriminalization and taxing
of marijuana. Paul John Maisano from Stoneham, 59, who describes
himself as a conservative, hopes to find `harmony’ between Democrats
and Republicans in Congress, and is championing the cause of fighting
cyber-terrorism.
The general election will take place on Dec. 10.
To read The Armenian Weekly’s interview with Koutoujian on issues
concerning Armenian Americans, click here.
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/10/12/last-stretch-koutoujian-garners-key-endorsements-as-election-day-nears/
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/07/12/bringing-the-ian-to-congress-an-interview-with-sheriff-koutoujian/