By JOSH RESNEK
The political landscape has been rocked by Councilor at Large Gerly Adrien’s successful fundraising effort.
The first-term councilor at large with more than $61,000 on hand in her political account has transformed her potential for higher office overnight.
“That’s a healthy sum of campaign money to run a citywide campaign,” said Council President Wayne Matewsky.
Although Adrien insists she remains committed to her position on the city council, she has asserted that she is watching the local political landscape carefully, and especially the upcoming citywide election primary in September and the election itself in November.
In the world of Everett politics, anything is possible.
With $61,000 in Adrien’s campaign account and more money being raised in a grassroots effort, she could soon top $100,000.
This would rival the mayor’s present $125,000 balance in his campaign account.
The mayor has not faced a situation such as this in 12 years.
The mayor has not yet announced his intentions to seek another term.
It is certain he will be announcing. Exactly when is another matter.
The mayor has been telling audiences at various hearings and meetings, recently “that I won’t be the mayor forever.”
In private conversations, the mayor and his supporters all agree.
“He can’t be beaten.”
Of course, he can be beaten.
“Any candidate can be beaten,” said Matewsky
The question is, who can beat him?
The more compelling question is this: who will run against him if anyone?
Councilor Fred Capone is believed to be set to announce his candidacy for mayor.
However, Capone is holding such an admission close to his lawyer’s vest.
lose associates of the popular long term councilor claim, “this is his time. He is set to go for it.”
Will he do that?
More importantly, can he win? Many local political handicappers believe he will not run.
If he runs, many of those same people believe he cannot win.
“He will never beat Carlo,” said one of the mayor’s boisterous supporters who wished to remain unnamed.
Right now, Capone has $3,000 in his campaign account.
Will he be willing to finance a winning campaign? To what extent will he commit his own funds to the campaign?
Can he raise funding? Will people stand out in public with him or will they fear the retribution that would come from the mayor if they do and Capone loses?
Councilor Mike Marchese, often regarded as a potential mayoral candidate speaks with an old Everett voice, the knowing voice of a longtime Everett politician from a prominent Everett family.
“If Capone and Adrien both run, then there’s a chance things can change,” he said.
“The old time vote isn’t really there anymore. Most of the older folks are al- ready dead and gone. Their children have moved out. What is there to split?” he asked.
For the mayor, these are troubling times.
Everything about the local political landscape has changed since he became mayor 12 years ago.
He’s still paying a criminal attorney to protect him from his campaign account.
The city’s voter demographic is entirely changed.
Many city employees, police officers, firefighters, school teachers, no longer live in Everett.
Everett is now 60% Black, brown, Hispanic, and Brazilian.
The mayor gets this better than most.
As he’s been saying, “I’m not going to be the mayor forever.”