Politics – Everett Leader Herald

McLaughlin suspends campaign; Asks McGonagle to do the same

Hoping to resume campaign in May

By Josh Resnek

Councilor Mike McLaughlin has suspended his campaign for state representative and he is asking Rep. Joe McGonagle to the same – at least until May, until the coronavirus situation has hopefully leveled off and things can return to normal.

“I have decided immediately to suspend my campaign for State Representative for the 28th Middlesex District. I call on State Representative Joe McGonagle to join me until Monday, May 4th, 2020 in doing the same. If a turn of events occurs in which Coronavirus declines we can immediately revisit this timeline,” McLaughlin told the Leader Herald.

“I would respectfully ask Representative McGonagle to notify the residents of Everett of his decision to join me through the news media. On the week of Monday May 4th or sooner if reasonably safe to do so both campaigns can revisit the situation and move forward accordingly leading into Primary Day on Tuesday, September 1st 2020,” McLaughlin added.

McGonagle has not yet gotten back to McLaughlin.

Continue reading McLaughlin suspends campaign; Asks McGonagle to do the same

To change how councilors are elected or not?

01112020_gerly_JP_21 — Newly elected Everett City Councilor Gerly Adrien speaks to the room during her election celebration party at Braza Bar And Grill in Everett, Ma on Saturday January 11, 2020.

By Josh Resnek

Councilor Wayne Matewsky said the way Everett elects its ward councilors under the present City Charter is undemocratic, a statement that drew the positive interest of many of his colleagues Monday night at city hall.

Matewsky’s plea for the city council to change how ward councilors are presently elected with a citywide vote to how it was done in the past, with only at-large candidates standing for election by a citywide vote, is considered sensible by most of the council and by voters in general.

The nuance is a wide divide, according to discussions among the councilors and for the city solicitor, who said she was awaiting comments and legal guidance from outside counsel as well as the Attorney General’s office about whether or not the city can return to voting for ward councilors with a ward only vote.

How to do it, if legal and right, is the rub, according to the city solicitor.

Because of the city solicitor’s caution, Matewsky’s motion was put off for a month for the city solicitor to receive the guidance she needs to make a legal and just rendering to the council on the matter.

“If you live in the ward and run for the seat, you should live in the ward and be elected by the voters in the ward,” Matewsky argued.

Continue reading To change how councilors are elected or not?

McLaughlin believed to be running against McGonagle

By Josh Resnek

Fresh off a stunning victory sacking a powerful opponent for a council seat in November, Councilor Mike McLaughlin is said to be planning a run for Everett’s seat in the House of Representatives.

Talk in political circles about such a possibility was rife Monday, preceding the mayor’s mid-term address.

The mayor fed the political frenzy surrounding the possibility that McLaughlin will be running when he mistakenly referred to Rep. McGonagle as Rep. McLaughlin during his speech.

The mayor was visibly perturbed by misnaming McLaughlin as the representative.

The mayor was forced to correct himself, causing a number of people in the packed council chamber to note the gaffe with loud expressions of surprise as well as with hearty laughter.

Screen Shot 2020-01-08 at 5.40.53 PM.png — City Councilor Michael J. McLaughlin
(Photo by Josh Resnek)

McGonagle who seemed disoriented when delivering brief remarks before the mayor began his speech, appeared emotionless about the mayor’s mistake in identity.

In fact, many people in the large throng attending Monday night’s mayor’s speech and inauguration of the new council, were made uneasy by the long gaps

in the exceptionally brief and somewhat incoherent remarks made by Mcgonagle.

Continue reading McLaughlin believed to be running against McGonagle

Looking at Politics

The Dancing has Begun

By Josh Resnek

With the results of the recent municipal election comes the new configuration of what works, what might work and what might not work at all.

Let’s start at the top.

Councilor Fred Capone has his eyes on the mayor’s office.

Whether he wants to publicly admit to this or not, his thinking, according to those who know him best, has him running against the mayor in a little less than two years.

Capone’s way of looking at it – whether he wins or loses – is that this is his time to make a move.

After many years on the council, his time has arrived.

His huge vote count in the election proves his citywide popularity and viability.

Standing in the way of this is the mayor.

The mayor just suffered through a dreary municipal election where every one of the candidates he aided or supported outright lost. His stranglehold on the political community has cracked. The damage is evident. He knows it.

His supporters know it. He is facing a brave new world.

Continue reading Looking at Politics

Adrien tops at-large, McLaughlin hammers Lattanzi, Martins beats Marcus, Tri Le buries mayor’s write-in, Capone scores biggest vote Unopposed

Del Isola dumped from at-large, Murray defeats Ela for School Committee, Cardello tops school committee at-large, Sarnie and Lambert win at-large school Seats

By Josh Resnek

Gerly Adrien scored a stunning victory, topping the ticket in the at-large race becoming the first woman of color and ethnicity to serve on the city council.

Adrien, who is Haitian, ran a highly organized disciplined campaign and was aided by professional organizers and a cabal of Everett supporters.

Her election and topping of the ticket is an eye-raiser for the mayor.

Another eye raiser – a certain sign of a changing political landscape – is the drubbing Councilor Mike McLaughlin gave to the mayor’s friend and closest supporter, businessman Al Lattanzi.

The mayor invested heavy political capital in Lattanzi’s race, which seemed headed for a victory except for McLaughlin’s dogged grass roots campaigning from door to door.

The mayor’s help in this instance was thoroughly rejected by voters with Lattanzi’s drubbing. Continue reading Adrien tops at-large, McLaughlin hammers Lattanzi, Martins beats Marcus, Tri Le buries mayor’s write-in, Capone scores biggest vote Unopposed