Moulton takes the Sixth

SALEM – Political newcomer Seth Moulton is headed to Washington, D.C. as the new congressman from the 6th District after soundly defeating Richard Tisei Tuesday.Moulton was leading Tisei by a comfortable 14-point margin with almost two-thirds of precincts reporting.Months of campaigning that included Election Day stops in Lynn for Moulton, 36, ended just before 9:30 p.m. when Tisei conceded after unofficial results from Lynn gave Moulton 69 percent of the vote in the city compared to 26 percent for Tisei.By 10 p.m., with his family surrounding him, Moulton stood at the podium in the Salem Waterfront Hotel and thanked supporters.”I am humbled by your trust and faith. We’re all here to come together as Americans to get to work to ensure our future is brighter than our past. You have put your faith in me and, for that, I am forever grateful,” Moulton said.Moulton received 14,055 votes in Lynn to 5,297 for Tisei and 750 for Independent Christopher Stockwell. The results did not surprise former City Councilor Robert Tucker.”Lynn was a huge victory for him with a massive get-out-the-vote effort. We came out big for him,” Tucker said.Long-time Moulton supporter and City Councilor Rick Ford said Lynn’s Democratic City Committee worked hard to get the roughly equal number of registered Democrats and unenrolled voters to vote for Moulton.The turnout in Lynn was 42 percent.Moulton won 51 percent of the vote in the primary on Sept. 9 to defeat U.S. Rep. John F. Tierney even though he was routed by Tierney in Lynn. Tierney beat Tisei in the 2012 final election thanks to a convincing win in Lynn.Moulton wasted no time laying out an agenda that includes small-business tax relief, education reform, pay equality for women and better services for veterans.”Veterans should receive the best care our country can offer,” said Moulton who served as a Marine for four tours in Iraq.Within weeks Moulton said he will convene a summit to find ways to bring “innovative businesses” to Lynn and other district “gateway cities.””We can extend the Blue Line to Lynn and update our infrastructure everywhere,” he said.Moulton’s pledge to push pay fairness for women resounded with Lynn resident and union activist Ana Perdomo, who was on hand to hear his victory speech.”We need people in power who can provide opportunities. It’s power for a new generation,” she said.Ford met Moulton early in the campaign when Moulton stopped into the Little River Inn, owned by Ford and his wife, Tina, to meet voters.”When he left people asked, ?Who’s that?’ Everyone liked him,” Ford said.Katherine McCarthy of Lynn counted herself a Moulton supporter before the Sept. 9 primary election that saw him defeat 18-year incumbent Tierney. She credited Moulton for focusing on Lynn’s waterfront as a future area for successful development.Ford said Moulton can work successfully to bring additional work to General Electric’s River Works plant. “He knows what Lynn needs,” Ford said.Moulton’s resounding win surprised McCarthy but not veteran state Rep. Lori Ehrlich, who said she spoke to Moulton supporters on Tuesday who were voting for the first time.Moulton wrapped up his 9-minute speech by talking about how his win affected his family.”One of the most exciting things for my mom and dad is that, after a year and a half, I finally have a job,” he said.