Morin Wins Unofficial Count in Dist. 49 Special Election Primary

Editor's note: This report did not originally reflect the unofficial nature of the count of ballots late Jan. 21. The story has been updated to include that information.   

Woonsocket firefighter Michael Morin defeated fellow Democratic challengers Douglas T. Brown and Mark L. Chenot in an unofficial count at Tuesday's primary, making him the sole candidate on the Feb. 25 Special Election ballot to fill the Dist. 49 seat. There are 52 absentee ballots uncounted, which could still decide the primary.

The Providence Journal reports Morin won 344 votes, to Brown's 307, gaining the support of 52 percent of the voters who showed up at the polls. 

Assuming Morin's victory withstands the official count, he could still face a write-in challenger for the seat vacated in November when former Rep. Lisa Baldelli-Hunt resigned her post after a successful run for Mayor.

Morin, who ran against Baldelli-Hunt in the 2012 primary, had since won the support of both Baldelli-Hunt and Speaker of the House Gordon Fox. Morin said he had made peace with Baldelli-Hunt since the last primary and wants to serve as State Representative to support Mayor Baldelli-Hunt’s agenda to turn the city around. 

Chenot, of 400 Gaskill St., is a Physical Therapist at Rhode Island Hospital.

Brown, of 324 Harris Ave., is chairman of the Redevelopment Agency.