Michlewitz notches close victory in Democratic primary

With all 12 precincts in the Boston district reporting, Michlewitz had 2,116 votes to 1,945 votes for Susan Passoni of the South End in a Democratic primary. Beacon Hill attorney Lucy Rivera and Brian V. Ross of the North End trailed far behind. The 50 percent to 46 percent win was not close enough to force an automatic recount.

The win makes Michlewitz, 30, the prohibitive favorite to follow his boss into office in the heavily Democratic district. He faces David Trumbull of Beacon Hill, who was unopposed in the Republican primary, and independent candidate John A. Keith, a real estate agent from the South End, in the June 16 special election.

"This race was not easy, and we earned it," Michlewitz said at his victory party at The Living Room restaurant in the North End last night. The district "is definitely going younger," he said. "This campaign wasn't about the past, it was about the future. It brought old and new together."

The young professionals in baseball caps celebrated alongside longtime political operatives in sport coats, while hip hop music blared overhead. Holding court in the middle of the room was DiMasi.

The retired speaker lavished praise on his former staff member. He said that Michlewitz had worked closely with him over the last five years to address issues in the district. "Aaron is a great example of the changing district," DiMasi said. "He's young, he's energetic, and he doesn't just represent one community."

The Third Suffolk district, represented by DiMasi for 30 years, includes the North End, the South End, Chinatown, Beacon Hill, Back Bay, and portions of Roxbury. Just 15 percent of registered voters showed up at the polls yesterday, a typically low turnout for a special primary election, despite clear skies and warm weather most of the day.

From the start of the campaign, Michlewitz demonstrated the strength of his North End connections and the good will he had garnered in all corners of the district as constituent services director in DiMasi's office.

"He comes from the neighborhood, and he was a really terrific constituent guy when he was with the speaker," said Ellen Parker, who voted in the North End yesterday. "He's young, he's smart, and he's progressive."

Michlewitz's burgundy campaign signs adorned the windows of shops and cafes up and down the narrow streets of the North End; and he overwhelmed his opposition by collecting $115,000 in contributions in just three months of campaigning. The second-highest fund-raising total belonged to Passoni, who raised $50,000, including $17,000 of her own money.

"I'm very proud of the support that was given to me, and it didn't just come in the big checks," Michlewitz said in an interview outside a waterfront polling place at Christopher Columbus Plaza Apartments in the North End. "There was also the smaller checks. Especially in this tough economy, the small checks were really so meaningful because it showed that with people not having too much to give they still wanted to participate."

But Passoni commanded a strong base of support in the South End, where she was a familiar name. A former research analyst for an investment banking firm, she had run unsuccessfully twice for City Council.

"She has a combination of skills that are really useful at this time," said Alice Andrus, a Passoni supporter who voted in the South End yesterday. "Her financial background, her analytical skills, her technology sector knowledge are all a big part of what goes on here in Massachusetts. It's her third race, and I like that persistence."

The four Democrats had all pledged to continue the progressive policies of DiMasi, a staunch advocate for gay marriage and universal healthcare as leader of the House, while also promising transparent, ethical leadership following DiMasi's exit under an ethical cloud. DiMasi resigned in January, after 30 years in office, amid broadening state and federal inquiries into the business dealings of his friends and associates. He was replaced as speaker by Representative Robert A. DeLeo of Winthrop.

One Michlewitz supporter said that while she was disappointed in the way DiMasi's legislative career ended, she saw Michlewitz's connection to the former speaker as positive.

"Sal was a great state rep," Jane Siegel of the South End said after voting outside William McKinley South End Academy. "Sal had courageous stances on things - against casinos, for gay marriage - before it became popular. He was very gutsy, represented the community, and I respected that in him. And I hope Aaron will do the same."

John C. Drake can be reached at jdrake@globe.com.