By Josh Resnek
At the end of summer now comes the revving up of everyone’s political machinery – at least among those who are serious candidates.
The citywide sign war going on is unabated, with clusters of political signage literally everywhere – and more going up from week to week.
The Lattanzi-McLaughlin race in Ward 6, which really isn’t a Ward 6 race because all councilors are now voted for citywide, is likely the political highlight of the municipal vote coming up.
Both candidates are extremely aggressive.
From the very beginning, this has been dubbed a fight to the finish.
There is little doubt it will be exactly that.
McLaughlin has been seen door knocking everywhere all the time.
This type of effort almost always works affirmatively for a popular candidate – and McLaughlin is a popular candidate.
Lattanzi hasn’t been as active in the door to door effort but then, he’s more than 30 years older than McLaughlin and besides, he’s got the support of the mayor’s errand boys, chief among them, Councilor Anthony DiPierro.
DiPierro is Lattanzi’s sign chief of staff.
Kidding aside, DePierro’s ability to place signs for Lattanzi is a big advantages in a citywide race.
McLaughlin has matched all of Lattanzi’s sign efforts to date and will likely continue to do so.
The door to door campaigning by McLaughlin is what makes the race interesting.
McLaughlin’s strength is the person to person touch, the one on one dialogue.
He listens. He takes notes. He keeps records of where he’s been and what the people say to him.
This has essentially become a match between a first timer supported by the mayor versus an incumbent with many friends, but basically making a hard run alone.
It is a classic small city match up of a popular, well to do, highly connected businessman versus a popular, much younger incumbent councilor.
Most Everett political observers agree, this race will not won in Ward 6.
It will be won with the citywide balloting.
One thing is for certain, who among these two has more signs up is not the determining factor in who wins.
The signs mean a lot, and visibility is important, but the signs don’t vote.
These are two very eager beavers wanting to win.
Whomever comes out the victor will show the true political tenor of the city at this time.
The other race of some interest is Stephanie Martins versus Jason Marcus.
Martins just had her campaign kickoff.
She is running a methodical campaign intended to insulate herself from the back.
That is to say, she wants to be known for running on her own and for wanting to do exclusively her own thing.
Her desire to be independent is unique.
Marcus, on the other hand, is a very popular longtime politician who can never be counted out of a race.
He enjoys widespread support throughout the city with one of the most recognizable names on the ballot.
Martins will be relying on those voters who want someone new and as well as those voters who don’t want to vote for an old timer connected with the political scene.
Marcus’ relationship with the political scene is valuable.
Being a so-called “old timer” doesn’t hurt in the present political environment as most “old timers” get out and vote while many younger people don’t.