State Rep. Denise Andrews beats 3 challengers for 2nd Franklin District Democratic nomination

Andrews, who was elected in 2010, said she still ha a lot of work to do before the November election.

State Rep. Denise Andrews, D-Orange, beat out her three Democratic challengers for the 2nd Franklin District in Thursday’s primary.

With all 18 precincts reporting, Andrews had 1,657 votes to Rebecca J. Bialecki’s 1,174, Jim White’s 471 and Genevieve C. Fraser’s 156.

Andrews said she still has a lot of work to do between now and the November election.

“How I’m feeling right now is a mix of emotions. I’m thrilled, humbled, very proud. I have an amazing team and I’m very excited,” Andrews said.

Andrews will face Republican Susannah Whipps Lee and independent Richard F. Schober Jr. in the Nov. 6 election.

Andrews was elected in 2010. The district, due to redistricting, now includes the towns of Athol, Erving, Gill, New Salem, Orange, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Templeton, Warwick, Wendell and Belchertown’s precinct A, a change which takes effect in January. Previously, the district included six communities, Athol, Erving, Gill, Orange, Greenfield and Warwick. Greenfield was lost through the redistricting.

Bialecki and Fraser are also from Orange; White is from Phillipston.

In her hometown of Orange, Andrews captured the most votes with 369, compared to Bialecki’s 305 votes, Fraser’s 29 and White’s 45. In a recent interview, Andrews said her main priority is creating more job opportunities for the region, and that she wants to build upon the relationships she has made on Beacon Hill. Andrews has said she has 30 years private experience – she worked for Procter & Gamble previously – she puts to use as a state representative. She also has said that she is working with U.S. Rep. John W. Olver’s office to accelerate an east-west commuter rail, something she thinks would increase property values in the region “overnight.” Andrews also received the most votes in Belchertown with 110, followed by Bialecki’s 45, White’s 38 and Fraser’s 12. Said Bialecki, “We made Denise work for it and that was well worth every minute of it. I just hope she works as hard on the job as she did campaigning.” Bialecki said she does not plan to run again, but was pleased with her second place finish. “We definitely held our own,” said Bialecki, the executive director of the North Quabbin Community Coalition. Fraser, an author and online communications professor at the University of Phoenix, said she didn’t think she would win against Andrews, or Bialecki, as they are long-time Orange residents. Fraser said she will not run again, and said her campaign was more about introducing the renewable energy “bio-park” concept to the public. White, who could not be reached for comment, works in customer service for Verizon.