In Tuesday's state primary elections De mocrat Deval Patrick won the spot light. His looming matchup with Republi can Kerry Healey sets the stage for a gov ernor's race that is sure to make history.

Either Healey will become the first woman elected to the governor's office or Patrick the first African-American to hold the post. Unless, of course, indepen dent Christy Mihos or Green-Rainbow candidate Grace Ross pulls off something like a miracle.

But the big victor Tuesday in Bristol County was Sam Sutter. He and his grass roots organization engineered a stunning upset of Paul Walsh, district attorney for 16 years, in the Democratic primary. No Republican is seeking the job; Sutter is the DA-elect.

Several local police unions can take extra satisfaction from Sutter's victory. While he ran second to Walsh in this end of the district, police endorsements earned Sutter valuable headlines and TV news time, lent credibility to his low-cost campaign and clearly helped build the groundswell to oust Walsh.

This represents a political debt. Part of the payment should come in the form of not fixing what isn't broken -- Attleboro District Court. It is the gem of the judi cial system in Bristol County. Its reputa tion for effectiveness is a large part of the reason Walsh carried the northern end of the district. Another reason for Sutter not to tinker with the local court: He has bigger fish to fry in the southern end of the district. Frustration with gangs and gun violence in Fall River and New Bedford -- under estimated in our endorsement of Walsh on Sunday, but well proven at the polls -- was the major reason for his victory. To deliver on voter expectations there, he'll need to play an active role in amplifying current efforts by the cities, police departments, churches and social agen cies to combat gangs, guns and drugs.

Another final winner in Tuesday's elec tion is Ann Baldwin, who beat Steven McAffrie 1,951-1,213 for Mansfield select man. She will bring a welcome perspec tive to the board.

The state traditionally has resisted the idea of sending state and local races to the ballot box in the same election. That thinking looks outdated. The BaldwinMcAffrie race may well have drawn more votes than it would have in a spring town election.

Local congratulations are also in order for Democrat Claire Naughton of Foxboro, who won the nod to face Repub lican Jay Barrows in November, and to Democrat Steve D'Amico and Republican Steve Howitt, both of Seekonk, who won their parties' nominations to run for the seat being vacated by Rep. Philip Travis, D-Rehoboth.