Democrat Lori Ehrlich and Republican John Blaisdell yesterday won their party's nomination in the special election to fill the Eighth Essex House seat left vacant by the resignation of Douglas W. Petersen.
Ehrlich, a certified public accountant and environmental advocate from Marblehead tallied 6,214 votes to 2,899 for lawyer Cesar Archilla of Swampscott.
Blaisdell, a retired police officer from Marblehead, defeated Tanya DeGenova of Marblehead, a retired FBI agent who runs a security consulting firm, 2,704 to 1,324.
Blaisdell, Ehrlich, and Independent Mark Barry of Marblehead will vie to succeed Petersen, who is now state commissioner of agriculture.
"I'm elated," Ehrlich said, attributing her strong showing to "the background that I've had bringing the community's issues to the Legislature and to state government."
She said it reflects "not only knowledge and experience but a deep passion for my community."
"I feel overwhelmed and overjoyed" said Blaisdell. "The people know what I'm all about. They know me well and they know I'm fair and honest and hard-working. And I think that was reflected in the vote."
Democrat Katherine Clark, a former Melrose School Committee member, won the Democratic primary in a special election to fill the 32d Middlesex House seat vacated by Michael E. Festa, who resigned to become state secretary of elder affairs.
Clark won handily, picking up 6,578 votes to 2,168 for Alderman Ron Seaboyer, and 1,398 for Guido Federico.
Mark B. Hutchinson ran unopposed in the Republican primary.
"It's just a tremendous night and I feel very humbled by the efforts that my volunteers put forward, and really inspired to go on and really work hard for Melrose and Wakefield around the issues we all care about," said Clark, a lawyer who was until recently chief of the state attorney general's Policy and Government Relations Division.
Kevin Aguiar, a Fall River School Committee member, was the victor in a four-way Democratic primary in the special election to fill the Seventh Bristol seat formerly held by Robert Correia, who resigned after being elected mayor of Fall River last November.
Aguiar picked up 2,294 votes to 1,776 for City Councilor Leo O. Pelletier, 1,236 for fall River firefighter John J. Rodrigues, and 765 for Tony M. Sousa, all of Fall River. Aguilar faces Libertarian Raymond Leary of Fall River in the final.
"I feel great," said Aguiar, a guidance counselor in the New Bedford public schools. "We worked very hard throughout the campaign, and the people of the Seventh Bristol district spoke tonight."
Sean Garballey edged out fellow Arlington School Committee member Jeffrey Thielman in the Democratic primary in the special election to fill the 23d Middlesex seat, which became vacant when J. James Marzilli won a recent special election for the state Senate. Garballey had 4,667 votes to 4,128 for Thielman, and 883 for Andrew O'Brien.
Former Arlington town moderator John L. Worden III was unopposed for the Republican nomination
The balloting in the four districts set the stage for special elections March 4 to fill seats vacated by the resignations of the veteran House members.
In Hudson, voters weighed in on a local matter, casting ballots on a proposed Proposition 2 1/2 debt exclusion to pay for a $4.4 million renovation of the town's senior center.
Globe correspondent Adam J. V. Sell contributed to this story
