The mayor’s race here has some very certain and traditional hidden meanings to it.
There is what is visible and what is not, what is possible and what is not, what will likely happen and what will not.
In boxing terms, Napolitano is a welterweight fighting in the heavyweight division.
Taking on the incumbent mayor in Everett where DeMaria has shown an ability to run the government here without much sense of crisis or chaos, is considered a major accomplishment.
Why?
Because the city of Everett is a very tough place to manage.
With so many politicians and competing constituencies, it is very hard to form a solid majority but DeMaria has done this, and rather effectively.
Napolitano appeals to the disenchanted in this city. He appeals to those on the other side of the DeMaria administration.
In simple terms, those numbers might be in the thousands when all is said and done in the upcoming election.
But it won’t be near to the thousands needed to come away a winner – not unless something dramatic changes in the next seven weeks.
This is the cold, harsh reality Napolitano faces as he campaigns throughout the city.
Unless there is a hidden majority, a so-called silent majority waiting to cast their votes against the mayor, Napolitano’s chance of winning are considered extremely thin.
In strict political terms, DeMaria’s organization far outnumbers Napolitano’s.
But then, this is a difficult year.
Voters all over the nation are uptight about the economy, concerned about the future, and there is virtually no confidence or belief in our national government.
This attitude colors local thinking – and it could color the thinking about every incumbent out asking for votes.
This means DeMaria must work very hard to overcome voter doubt and alienation.
The last thing he wants to do is to take anything for granted and to awaken November 8 to find that Peter Napolitano has been elected mayor.
Stranger things than that happen during elections – and no one should say it can’t happen here because it can.
But all things being equal, it won’t.
Napolitano is fighting DeMaria’s skill and name recognition and his ability to run the city on an even keel. More than that, DeMaria is a naturally likeable and very popular guy.
Anything is possible in Everett politics but Napolitano is fighting a big uphill battle against a very well organized incumbent mayor.
With seven weeks left, he needs the stuff of miracles to pull even and then ahead.