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Koutoujian Leads Pack In Second-Quarter Fundraising

5th Congressional District Democratic candidates, from left: Will Brownsberger, Katherine Clark, Peter Koutoujian, Carl Sciortino and Karen Spilka (Campaign photos)
5th Congressional District Democratic candidates, from left: Will Brownsberger, Katherine Clark, Peter Koutoujian, Carl Sciortino and Karen Spilka (Campaign photos)

Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian raised $308,000 in the second quarter, posting the largest total of any of the five Democrats vying to replace U.S. Rep. Edward Markey in the House of Representatives.

Koutoujian, of Waltham, began raising money about halfway through the quarter.

"The fact that Peter really had the strongest launch of any candidate in the race shows that voters are with him on the issues," said spokesman Alex Goldstein.

State Sen. Katherine Clark of Melrose raised $228,000. About $25,000 of that is only available for the general election, should she emerge from the Democratic primary.

"We're really excited about the support," said Brooke Scannell, a spokeswoman for the Clark campaign. "It's a great number. It exceeded our expectations."

The total was down a bit from the $262,000 Clark raised in the first quarter.

Scannell said the campaign had more than $400,000 in the bank at the end of the second quarter — the largest total of any of the campaigns.

State Rep. Carl Sciortino of Medford collected about $200,000 in the second quarter, building on the $152,000 he raised in the first quarter.

Sciortino's campaign reported about $270,000 in cash on hand at the end of the quarter.

State Sen. Karen Spilka of Ashland, who began raising money in May, took in about $200,000 in the second quarter and had about that much on deposit at the end of last month.

State Sen. William Brownsberger of Belmont took in $130,000.

Spokesman Scott Ferson downplayed Brownsberger's last-place finish in the second quarter money chase. "Unlike the other candidates," he said, "he does not accept [political action committee] or lobbyist money."

Brownsberger has urged his opponents to forego PAC and lobbyist donations, but does not have any takers.

The state senator collected about $256,000 in the first quarter. And he had about $290,000 in cash on hand at the end of the second quarter.

The campaigns are not required to file campaign finance reports with the Federal Elections Commission until Monday.

The official filings will reveal more about where the candidates are collecting checks.

But Koutoujian, a former prosecutor and state representative, has been raising money for years in the district.

Clark has the backing of Emily's List, which encourages a national network of donors to give money to select pro-choice, Democratic women.

A significant financial edge could help the candidates distinguish themselves, through advertising and get-out-the-vote operations, in a crowded field of like-minded contenders.

The 5th Congressional District bends through the suburbs north and west of Boston.

Markey defeated Republican Gabriel Gomez last month in the special election to replace former U.S. Sen. John Kerry. He is set to take the oath of office July 16. Gov. Deval Patrick will then set a special election date.

The general election is expected to take place in December, with the primary coming two months earlier.

In a deep blue district, the winner of the Democratic primary is expected to sail to a general election victory.

This article was originally published on July 11, 2013.

This program aired on July 11, 2013. The audio for this program is not available.

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