Politics – Page 6 – Everett Leader Herald

Where Is The Divided City Headed Following Divisive Mayoral Campaign?

By Josh Resnek

Mayor Carlo DeMaria will take the oath of office in January for another four years following his 210 vote victory over Councilor Fred Capone.

Nearly everything about the electorate is different this time from the last time DeMaria took the oath of office.

Nearly half the voters who came out to be heard in November, did not vote for the mayor.

Nearly half the voters rejected him.

Two hundred and ten voters does not a majority make in the modern world.

In the post Trump era, losing a close political match can be perceived and is, as being the same as winning.

Here’s the modern thinking.

Because 50 million voted for Trump, his cries that he won when he clearly lost hold a great deal of power and fascination over those who voted for him.

Continue reading →

All out effort by mayoral candidates for votes

By JOSH RESNEK

In the pouring rain over the weekend the Capone and DeMaria camps both ignored the weather to pursue last-minute visibilities to bring out the vote Tuesday.

The crowds of competing sign holders in Everett Square were something to behold.

It is difficult to imagine such a display takes place in the modern world, which has become so immune to vestiges of the past when it comes to political campaigns.

Several observers of these last-minute visibilities said it was a miracle that the sign holdings between the competing parties didn’t lead to a total scene of mayhem.

There were not only visibilities but food distributions to seniors.

Both Capone and DeMaria distributed food to the elderly in last-minute efforts to shore up the belief that one of them was going to get the important elderly vote.

It was generally agreed by political observers that the most important events media-wise over the weekend were Gerly Adrien’s.

Continue reading →

Outrage growing as Mayor collects $40K longevity bonus

Everett City Hall. (Photo By Jim Mahoney)

Concern voiced over yearly payroll bonanza calculations

By JOSH RESNEK

The mayor’s $40,000 a year longevity bonus is a made-up bonus placed in the city budget by CEO Eric Demas and approved by the city council.

The payment at most should be at maximum, $10,000 a year, not the $40,000 a year the mayor has been receiving, according to city hall higher-ups who spoke with the Leader Herald on the condition of confidentiality.

“If the city council challenged this payment to the mayor and the state attorney general approved of the action, the mayor would have to pay back everything he has received as a longevity payment except what he was by law supposed to receive for the past 14 years.

Continue reading →

Vivian Nguyen hoping second time Running for Ward 5 is the charm

Rosa DiFlorio facing stiff opposition

By JOSH RESNEK

Two years ago, Vivian Nguyen, a 19 year old Linden Street resident at the time, ran against Councilor Rosa DiFlorio.

Nguyen lost by 29 votes.

This time around, Nguyen, now 21, and a senior at Babson College, is working hard to bring home the bacon to her ward.

During a recent kick-off event that drew more than 100 ward residents

Nguyen says the ward is a changed place since the last election.

“Many people have moved out or are being pushed out by rising rental prices, and many newcomers have moved in,” Nguyen told the Leader Herald during an interview at Common Ground Café Saturday morning.

Nguyen described what most residents are feeling and seeing – a new Everett forming out of the changing times.

Although she didn’t say it, she believes the ward has changed enough that Councilor Rosa DiFlorio’s re-election could be in serious question.

Continue reading →

Primary candidates ready to go

High level of excitement for local pols

By JOSH RESNEK

A total of 43 candidates for public office are now certified by the Election Department and are ready to go.

With a major mayoral race between Gerly Adrien, Fred Capone and the mayor, the primary on September 21 will prove to be exciting, and in large part, with an outcome right now in question and unknown.

Early intensity has marked many races, and especially the mayor’s race.

The mayor has not been challenged with two candidates in a primary in 14 years of political life as mayor.

Former Councilor Robert Van Campen was the last to challenge the mayor some years back.

Van Campen ran a tepid campaign.

The mayor beat him convincingly.

Adrien and Capone present a different scenario for the mayor this time around.

All three candidates have been campaigning hard throughout June and July.

Continue reading →