Mayoral Election – Everett Leader Herald

— Eye on Everett —

The mayor forever is on the ropes

By JOSH RESNEK

“Hey. Are you OK?” I asked the Blue Suit. “You look like you’re going to throw up. What’s up with you?”

“I didn’t sleep well over the weekend at all. Carlo wore me several times. That’s not good if you’re me. Even though he wore me, he didn’t bother with a tie. How do you wear your best Blue Suit without a tie?”

The Blue Suit shook his head from side to side. He couldn’t look at me. It was difficult for him to focus.

“Josh, you can’t believe what went on after Gerly and Fred announced on Saturday. It was as if the Abbott Street mansion had been visited by brain-eating zombies, the kind that makes Romero films so exciting and scary. It was like Gerly and Fred were exercising mind control over Carlo. Carlo didn’t know what to do. He went from shock to amazement, to inertia, to depression, to overeating all in one great swoop that ruined Saturday and Sunday. It continued like that inside the mansion like a perpetual rainstorm into Monday and Tuesday. I mean the mayor was all twisted up. You have no idea how Carlo’s world has been turned upside down by Gerly Adrien and Fred Capone. Carlo is absolutely out of his mind with fear and worry. He isn’t the same guy this week I’ve known. He’s in a sweat. It isn’t yet the sweat of his life, but I can feel that coming,” the Blue Suit told me unequivocally.

The Blue Suit and I met up at Common Ground in the Pioneer on the Parkway. We sipped Brazilian coffee and ate vegetable wraps at one of the tables in the hallway connecting the huge apartment house to the café. No one noticed us which is just as well. Who needs the hassle of being noticed!

Time for new leadership

Mayor Carlo Demaria, and Councilors Gerly Adrien and Fred Capone are all running for mayor.

This presents Everett with the first real and unique mayoral primary in almost 30 years.

There are many firsts in this upcoming primary election.

Adrien is the first Black woman to run for mayor in the city’s history. Her run comes at a seminal moment in the history of the city and the nation when it comes to race, equity, and justice.

Race, color, religion, gender, party are key components for all of the above in this contest.

However, Adrien’s color and gender separates her from the pack.

She will attract a great deal of attention as a Black woman attempting to break the glass ceiling in Everett politics, again.

Capone is a lawyer. He brings to this political contest a highly professional, successful, measured, articulate intelligent persona, that of a longtime politician in this city who understands how the world turns.

Contender spotlight: Gerly Adrien

**GERLY ADRIEN**
(Photo by Joseph Prezioso)

By JOSH RESNEK

Gerly Adrien’s weekend announcement that she is running electrified the Everett political community and caused a stir among her friends like Kim Janey, the mayor of Boston, Rachel Rollins the District Attorney of Suffolk County, and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley.

Adrien’s announcement included going online with a full social media platform.

All the material she put out can be accessed by going to her election website: Gerlyadrien.com.

That being said, Adrien’s video was intended to speak to those who feel overlooked and left out of government.

“If you are overlooked, left out, and unheard if you must depend on others to get through the day…I offer the power of us,” Adrien said in her video, which showed her in a variety of poses and places throughout the city.

“This is the hometown I love…Everett is ready for a change…I have spoken up. I did it loud.”

Contender spotlight: Fred Capone

By JOSH RESNEK

Fred Capone’s announcement was specific and to the point. Residents are being pushed aside.

We should be working for a committed government that is transparent.

Our government must be honest, accessible, and transparent.

Together, we will build a better Everett, he said.

Capone itemized a variety of hot issues he feels are left undone or mismanaged or not managed at all by the present administration.

He identifies what he believes the mayor has overlooked: public safety, and especially that no firefighters have been hired since 2016, accountability, affordability, inclusion, education, senior benefits, and the support of local businesses.

His video was both eloquent and incisive.

He presented the persona he will run on, that of a hard-working, sensible, honest, transparent public figure.

Gerly Adrien announces historic candidacy for mayor of Everett

Everett City Councilor Gerly Adrien. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso)

SPECIAL TO THE LEADER

Today, Gerly Adrien released a video to announce her candidacy for the 2021 Everett Mayoral election. As a long-time Everett Resident, small business owner, and At-Large City Councilor, Adrien has spent years fighting for Everett residents, and is running a grassroots powered campaign to bring new leadership to Everett’s executive office.

“Everett residents have been fighting for change from our local government before the pandemic began,” said Gerly Adrien. “In this moment of crisis, it’s time to follow their lead and elect bold leadership to reimagine city hall for a better Everett.”

In November 2019, Gerly Adrien was elected as the first Black, Haitian-American female City Councilor At-Large of Everett, landing in the number one spot, beating out two incumbents. Since then, Adrien has fought, introduced, and pushed for policies that help all individuals and families have access to the resources they need to have a better life. As Mayor, she will continue the fight to improve education, economic development and quality of life for the people of Everett.

“Over the past few years, I have been honored to work in partnership with the community and residents to envision a city that provides wealth building opportunities for everyone,” said Adrien. “Together, we can provide affordable housing and pathways to homeownership, spur economic growth through workforce development and supporting our local businesses, and create a City Hall that represents all of us, by building public trust and improving transparency in local government.”

“I am ready to take on the challenge of changing the status quo and meet this moment for change,” said Gerly Adrien.

Gerly Adrien will be hosting a series of community events throughout this month to engage with Everett residents.

Adrien will be available to engage with the media at her campaign launch rally on Sunday, May 2nd at Rivergreen Park, 1 Rivergreen Drive, Everett, MA 02149 at 4PM. Please RSVP by emailing info@gerlyadrien.com.

To learn more about Gerly Adrien and her campaign, visit www.gerlyadrien.com/ or connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.