SALEM — Longtime incumbent Thomas Driscoll declared victory Tuesday night after early results showed him with a strong lead in the Democratic primary election for Essex County clerk of courts.
Driscoll led challenger James Doherty by a more than 3-to-1 margin after the unofficial results of several communities had been counted, according to the Driscoll campaign. Driscoll’s dominant win over Doherty in Peabody appeared to seal the deal, according to the Driscoll campaign.
“I feel very good,” Driscoll said. “The people of Essex County know the job I’ve done and I’m very proud of what I’ve done. I look forward to going on to the finals and going on to victory for another six-year term.”
Tuesday’s election marked the first time in 24 years that voters had a choice for Essex County clerk of courts. Driscoll had not faced any challengers since he was first elected in 2000.
With the win, Driscoll will advance to the Nov. 5 final election against unenrolled candidate Todd Angilly of Lynnfield and independent candidate Doris Rodriguez of Lawrence.
Driscoll said he has “great respect” for Doherty, an attorney who grew up in Beverly and lives in Salem.
“He’s a fighter,” Driscoll said. “We’re both Democrats, we’re both lawyers and we both believe in fairness and access to justice.”
Driscoll, 65, is an attorney who began his legal career as an assistant district attorney in the Essex County District Attorney’s office. He later went into private practice before running for clerk of courts.
Prior to becoming an attorney, he worked as a deputy sheriff and correctional officer for the Essex County Sheriff’s Department and in the private sector as an account executive and sales manager.
Doherty, 63, is an attorney who works as an assistant clerk magistrate at Boston Municipal Court. He was elected to the board of aldermen (now City Council) at the age of 24 in Beverly, where he grew up. He has served as a delegate to four Democratic state conventions and was the treasurer for the organizing committee of the Democratic National Convention when it came to Boston in 2004.
The clerk of courts is the “keeper of the records and recorder of fact” for all matters before the Superior Court in Essex County, and is responsible for evidence retention, court sessions management and holding money for bails and escrows.
Superior Court handles all major felonies and civil cases seeking damages over $50,000. Essex County has superior court locations in Salem, Lawrence and Newburyport. The clerk of courts position has a salary of $174,532.
Staff Writer Paul Leighton can be reached at 978-338-2535, by email at pleighton@salemnews.com, or on Twitter at @heardinbeverly.