Tarsky Secures State Rep. Primary

September 4, 2024
• The Needham resident, veteran and school principal rose above three other Democratic candidates in the state primary Sept. 3.

In a crowded primary, Josh Tarsky emerged as the definitive Democratic choice for the 13th Norfolk District. Across Needham, Dover and part of Medfield, the former Green Beret Tarsky outpolled business owner Patrick Gatto in all but one precinct, earning 51% of the vote.

Tarsky earned a total 2,736 votes to top the ticket, 2,067 of which came from Needhamites, according to unofficial results. Gatto, also a Needham resident, placed second with 2,047 total votes, while 2018 Needham High School graduate Ken Ruetenik earned 577. Write-in candidate and pharmacist Bhuren Patel, also of Needham, received 117 in Needham. There were just a dozen other write-in votes tallied across the district.

Come November, Tarsky will face off against unenrolled candidate Bill Dermody, a Needham Realtor. There are no Republican or Libertarian candidates.

On Tuesday afternoon, Tarsky gathered members of his camp to the Needham Town Common, where they held signs and waved to passers-by. It followed an already hectic day of travel across the district, beginning at 7 a.m., before Tarsky himself voted at Newman Elementary School.

At the time, Tarsky felt “cautiously optimistic.”

“It’s a major endeavor to run a campaign,” Tarsky said. “Props to Kyle [McGrath] (his campaign manager), all the people who have volunteered and have just believed in the campaign from the start. It’s been wonderful. It’s humbling actually to see the responses we’ve gotten.”

If elected in the general election, Tarsky will eye affordable housing and its access for first-time homebuyers, seniors looking to downsize and municipal employees who could live and work in town. The Democrat has previously discussed his commitment to combating climate change and improving the state’s education system.

In a message to supporters Wednesday, Tarsky reveled in the win.

“The campaign has worked incredibly hard in these last few months, and though it was difficult, we’re happy to see that our message resonated with so many people,” he wrote in an email. “We’ve learned important lessons in this primary, and we’re looking forward to using that knowledge to come back stronger in the general election campaign. ”

Tarsky is the current principal of Holbrook Middle High School but plans to step away from the role should he win in November.

The contested primary followed longtime Rep. Denise Garlick’s announcement she would not seek reelection. Garlick, who has served for 14 years, has not endorsed a candidate in the race.

Tarsky supporter Oscar Lopez, of Swansea, secured a corner by the Town Common for most of the day. Lopez works for Advocates for Massachusetts Charter Public Schools, which helps candidates like Tarsky get elected, he said.

Lopez described Tarsky as “a man of service” — his military background, experience creating two schools abroad and leading a public school makes him the best choice, he said.

“I think you’d want someone like that representing the interests and the concerns for Needham at the State House,” Lopez said Tuesday afternoon. “He’s not quitting. He’s got his coffee. He’s got a pep in his step.”

Reflecting on the last few months, Tarsky said he’s proud of the campaign he’s run.

“It’s been a good campaign. We’ve stayed positive, we focused on issues and messaging, and it’s been a good experience,” Tarsky said to Needham Local. “I’ve made a lot of new friends, lost a couple pounds, and I’ve had a good experience throughout.”

Before casting his ballot at Rosemary Recreation Complex, Gatto — a fifth-generation Needhamite — also kept busy traveling between polling places across the district. Prior to the polls closing, Gatto expressed admiration for his campaign team.

“We put in a good lot of good work. I’m proud of our team we put together,” Gatto said. “We have a lot of good people around the table, and we’re passionate about the issues and the things that are important to the district. We’re doing it, not for me, but for the people of this district, so that we can put our best advocate up there.”

As the youngest candidate on the ballot, Ruetenik staked his campaign on the importance of civic engagement, particularly among young voters. In an email, Ruetenik stressed the need to participate in every election.

“Voting is the primary means in which we can voice our opinion as to how we want our society to function and our community to be shaped. It’s of upmost importance that we go to the polls every time we’re able to,” Ruetenik wrote. “Remember, every vote counts.”

Patel was not available for a comment.

In her bid for a fourth term on Beacon Hill, Sen. Becca Rausch secured her Democratic nomination. With no Republican challenger, Rausch will very likely be reelected in November.

In the race for Governor’s Council, Needham’s Dave Reservitz lost to Stoughton’s Tamisha Civil, according to results provided by the Associated Press. Reservitz, however, earned more than 2,000 votes over Civil in Needham alone. Civil will run against Republican Francis Crimmins Jr., of Stoughton, in November.

Current Norfolk County Register of Deeds Bill O’Donnell also appears to have bested challenger Noel DiBona. In Needham, O’Donnell earned 3,373 votes to DiBona’s 697.

The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 5.