Casey defeats incumbent Brien
September 12, 2012
WOONSOCKET — In a stunning upset, city firefighter Stephen M. Casey defeated incumbent State Rep. Jon D. Brien last night in the Democratic primary for District 50, the winner’s first political outing.
The unofficial tally at press time had Casey with 704 votes to Brien’s 654. It was close but numerically too far a bridge for Brien to cross on absentee ballots, with just 48 distributed in the district, according to local canvassing authorities.
“I’m not surprised,” Casey told The Call during a victory celebration at Ciro’s Restaurant, where he was surrounded by friends and family members. “We worked hard. We’re in a climate that people are looking for new ideas and new people to help out at the State House.”
Across town at Kay’s Restaurant, Brien stared at a placard listing the poll numbers with an expression of grim disbelief.
Read more in our print edition.
