It's Naughton vs. Barrows
in November runoff

WINNING SMILE — Claire Naughton of Everett Lane had some help from Richard Conroy of North Street in her strong win in a three-way race for the Democratic nomination for state representative in the 1st Bristol District. Naughton took more votes than her two opponents combined. (Photo by Frank Mortimer)

By Frank Mortimer

By a wide margin, Claire B. Naughton on Tuesday won another shot at election to the State Legislature in the 1st Bristol District.

Naughton will face Republican Fred J. ”Jay” Barrows of Mansfield in the November 7 state election. Barrows was unopposed in Tuesday’s primary for the Republican nomination.

In the Democratic primary, Naughton took more than 60 percent of the Democratic votes cast in a three-way race with Paul R. Feeney, who finished second, and Matthew J. Donovan.

All three Democrats are Foxboro residents.
The district includes Foxboro and parts of Mansfield and Norton. ”It’s tough after working this hard not to come out on top” Feeney said. ”This has been an amazing experience for both my wife and I.” Feeney said he plans to actively support Naughton when she faces Barrows in the fall.

Feeney, who gathered with supporters at the VFW hall on Cocasset Street, called Naughton Tuesday night at her victory party in the America Legion hall on Mechanic Street.

Districtwide, Naughton had 2,592 votes, Feeney 1,210, Donovan 487.

In Foxboro, Naughton had 1,233 votes, Feeney 702, Donovan 261.

Among Foxboro’s 10,217 registered voters, 2,665 cast ballots Tuesday’s state primary, a 26.1 percent turnout. Polls closed at 8 p.m. and election warden Dave Pignato read the results at about 9:25 p.m.

Incumbent Virginia Coppola is not seeking reelection. In a special election last Feb. 7, she beat Naughton for the right to complete the term of Coppola’s late husband, Rep. Michael Coppola.

In Tuesday’s gubernatorial primary, Foxboro Democrats matched the statewide order of finish, giving Deval L. Patrick 960 votes, Christopher F. Gabrieli 753 votes, and Thomas F. Reilly 617 votes.

In the Nov. 7 state final, Sen. James E. Timilty (D-Walpole) will be challenged by Republican Michael L. Atwill of Mansfield. Both were unopposed in the primary.

Foxboro’s results in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor: Deborah B. Goldberg: 877, Timothy P. Murray 820, Andrea C. Silbert, 448.

For secretary of state: incumbent William Francis Galvin, 1,822, challenger John Bonifaz, 258.

Foxboro’s results in the Republican primary from senator in Congress (the only race in the GOP state primary): Kenneth G. Chase: 126, Kevin P. Scott: 143.