By Joseph Domelowicz Jr.
A low voter turnout favored most of the incumbents seeking re-election on Tuesday, but three prominent members of the City’s first City Council under the new form of government found themselves dismissed from office, including two who had served in city government for decades.
Ward 3 City Councilor Michael Marchese, a veteran critic of this and past administrations and Ward 6 Councilor Salvatore Sachetta both found themselves losing to challengers, and veteran at-large councilor Cynthia Sarnie found herself just outside the top five in the wide open at-large race.
Overall, just 4,223 voters cast ballots in this year’s election, which saw Wayne Matewsky top the at-large ballot in his bid to city politics with 2,041 votes.
However, Ward One Councilor and current Council President Fred Capone was the top overall vote getter, cruising to a 2,965 to 1,238 vote win over challenger Kenneth P. Giannelli.
Rounding out the rest of the contested races here are the totals. Vote totals are in parenthesis.
In the race for Councilor At-Large Wayne Matewsky (2,041), John F. Hanlon (1,973), Richard Dell Isola (1,759), Michael Mangan (1,6,64) and Peter Napolitano (1,639) all won election to the council.
Falling just behind them in the at-large race with 1,279 votes and 1,271 votes respectively were Sarnie and newcomer Daniel Skerritt, a first time candidate. Catherine Tomasso Hicks lost her battle to return to the Council, garnering just 1,180 votes, as did Joseph Paul Marchese with 1,124 votes and Leo J. Barrett with 679 votes.
Skerritt, a newcomer, said he was proud of his performance given the experience in the field.
“It was a tough race, a good process,” said Skerritt. “Everyone worked very hard and I am proud of the race I ran. I am excited for the winners, I think they’ll do a good job and I am proud of the city of Everett and for the people who supported me.”
In the Ward 2 Council race Stephen Simonelli beat back former Councilor Jason Marcus to hold on with a 2,124 to 1,810 vote win.
As mentioned earlier, Marchese lost his bid for re-election to Ward 3, falling to Anthony DiPerro 2,354 to 2,011. In Ward 4 John Leo McKinnon beat back a stiff challee from Carmine DeMaria, the Mayor’s brother, winning 2,325 votes to 2,092 votes.
“It was a very good race, a very clean race and I congratulate my oppo
At-Large Councilor Peter Napolitano and Ward 4 Councilor John Leo McKinnon congratulate one another on their victories at City Hall on Tuesday night.
nent for running such a good campaign,” said McKinnon. “Now it is time to move the city forward.”
Incumbent Ward 5 Councilor Rosa DiFlorio beat a challenge from Joseph Pierotti Jr., 2,341 to 1,710, leaving DiFlorio as the only woman holding elected office in the city.
Finally, in Ward 6 former Common Councilor Michael McLaughlin beat Sachetta by a vote count of 2,140 to 1,916.