ATHOL — State Rep. Susannah Whipps, an Independent, said Wednesday she wasn’t really surprised by her margin of victory over Democratic challenger Will LaRose in Tuesday’s balloting.
“I was expecting a solid victory,” Whipps said.
The results, with 94 percent reported, for the 2nd Franklin District are: Whipps, 13,609, and LaRose, 6,725. The district includes Athol, Warwick, Orange, Erving, Gill, Wendell, New Salem, Phillipston, Royalston, Templeton and Belchertown (Precinct A).
“I’m so grateful to the voters who voted for me, and humbled,” Whipps said. “I’m very grateful to Mr. LaRose, who called me and was very gracious. I appreciate he and I having a model campaign, which showed you can have different opinions and still not be disagreeable and unpleasant to each other. Will LaRose is a class act.”
Whipps said she was also “incredibly grateful to the town clerks and all of the poll workers, who ensured a safe and accessible election for everybody. They worked really hard.”
She said one issue is currently at the top of her priority list heading into another term on Beacon Hill.
“It’s ensuring the health and well-being of the people of the district,” she said. “We have a great deal of economic recovery that we have to focus on, but we also have to maintain and build up the mental health and the physical health of all of the folks in the district. COVID-19 has made it a really difficult year for people.”
Whipps said the pandemic necessitated foregoing an active campaign in order to concentrate on her job in the Legislature.
“We really didn’t campaign much. We’ve been working all along, and we just continue to work to make sure we’re providing excellent constituent services for the people of our district,” she said. “I’m up today and back to work and just incredibly grateful, just incredibly grateful.”
“Let’s call it what it is — it was a pretty big defeat,” LaRose commented. “Congratulations to Rep. Whipps for a great victory. I appreciate that it was a civil campaign. It didn’t get personal. It wasn’t toxic or divisive. So, I commend her for that, and wish her and the district all the best over the next two years.”
Asked if he might run for the seat on the Athol Selectboard being vacated by long-time member Lee Chauvette, LaRose said he hasn’t yet considered that option.
“I’d have to look at it,” he said. “I think there are a number of ways I could help out the area. That’s certainly one I would consider, but I’m not going to make that decision now.”