By Josh Resnek
There is a general feeling shared among those working the highly contested councilor at large race. First, there is a growing belief that candidate Gerly Adrien is going to score a seat for herself.
The belief is that her time has come, that her last race against the rep showed her citywide possibilities for scoring a good vote.
Finishing among the top five at-large candidates in the recent primary also helped her reputation as the person to watch.
If Adrien is to win, one of the chief contenders for re-election has to lose.
The big question, the eternal ultimate question never answered until all the votes have been counted on election day – who will not be returned to their at-large seat to make way for Adrien’s expected entry.
The big question, the eternal ultimate question never answered until all the votes have been counted on election day – who will not be returned to their at-large seat to make way for Adrien’s expected entry into citywide politics?
Most observers believe Council President Richard Del Isola could fall.
In the same breath the same observers believe At-Large Councilor Peter Napolitano could suffer the same fate.
In other words, the expectation is that one or the other will be elected but not both if Adrien is to gain a seat.
Del Isola and Napolitano finished literally next to one another at the bottom of the finishers last time around.
Something like 6 votes separated the two with Del Isola barely winning a seat.
Del Isola has a big family and the support of the mayor and his crowd, which could make the whole difference.
Napolitano has been getting around but with a clear difference.
This time around he is being supported by the mayor’s enforcers, mainly Councilor Anthony DiPierro.
He is also being supported by the rep, who was seen recently in Everett Square wearing dark sunglasses and a ball cap holding a Napolitano sign.
“They own him after the election if he makes it,” said one observer who wished to remain unnamed.
Observers claim former mayor and councilor at large John Hanlon will make it easily as will Councilor at Large Mike Marchese.
Then of course there is the perennial ticket topper Wayne Matewsky.
The former rep and councilor at large topped the ticket in the recent primary.
Barring the great surprise of Gerly topping the ticket, Matewsky will likely finish in a better position than most of his colleagues because of his wide base of support among the demographic that matters, senior citizens.