By Seth Daniel
The names just keep coming out of the woodwork in the City Council-at-Large race this year.
Late last week, Pines resident Linda Rosa announced that she is retiring from the office of State Sen. Anthony Petruccelli (D-Eastie) in order to mount a run for City Council.
Rosa was the first and only woman to ever be elected to a citywide City Council seat, having served on the council from 1988 to 1993.
After losing an at-large race by 24 votes in 1993, Rosa moved on to work at the State House for Sen. Robert Travaglini (D-Eastie) and, after his retirement, for Petruccelli.
Asked if she was ready to re-join the rough and tumble world of Revere politics, she said, “I’m wondering if they’re ready for me. I’m ready. I’ve always kept myself prepared. I’ve been in training up [at the State House] for 15 years. I know a lot of people…I’m really looking forward to this race.â€
Rosa said right after she took out her papers, she went to Revere Beach to the Farmer’s Market and began collecting signatures. By Monday, she had enough signatures to get on the ballot, showing some early organizational strength.
Meanwhile, Tuesday was the deadline for signatures, meaning it was the last day for candidates to get their name on the ballot.
With Rosa’s last-minute entrance into the at-large race, it assured that there would be enough candidates for a citywide preliminary election, if, in fact, the state doesn’t allow Revere to get out of holding the election.
Other candidates certified in the at-large race include:
•George V. Colella, Wentworth Road
•John Correggio, Graves Road
•Robert Haas, Fenley Street
•Dan Rizzo, Roland Road
•Anthony Zambuto, High Street
•Victoria Laws, Randall Road
•Ed O’Hara, Beach Street
•Richard Penta, Crest Avenue
•George Rotondo, Fenno Street
•Al Terminiello Jr., Eastern Avenue
Jean Licata Sacco of Reservoir Avenue took papers out, but withdrew, while John D’Olimpio of Wolcott Road hadn’t returned nomination papers by press time.
In the other citywide vote, that of School Committee, there appeared to be nine candidates up for election to six seats.
They included:
•Michael Ferrante, Burbank Street
•Dan Maguire, Pearl Avenue
•Donna Wood Pruitt, Endicott Avenue
•Ann Raponi, Malden Street
•Fred Sannella, Goodwin Avenue
•Carol Tye, Endicott Avenue
•Charles Guiffrida, Randall Road
•Joseph Nichinello, Broadway
•Stacey Rizzo, Mountain Avenue
Candidate Mathew Cogliandro withdrew from the race recently, and Richard Ireton hadn’t returned any papers by press time.
In the ward races, perhaps the hottest race will be in Ward 4, where there are three viable candidates vying for Councillor Rotondo’s position.
Rick Freni of Madison Street, Joe Lavino of Rand Street and Stephen Reardon of Vane Street are all out and running strong, organized campaigns. If a preliminary election is held, there would be an election in this ward.
In other wards, there is some competition, but not enough for a preliminary.
Only Ward 6 Councillor Charlie Patch escaped without an opponent making the ballot. Councillor Jim Kimmerle appeared to not have an opponent, because candidate Leah Singer of Bellingham Avenue hadn’t returned papers by late afternoon.
In Ward 2, incumbent Councillor Ira Novoselsky will battle challenger Steven Morabito in a race that really began last fall. Frances Davis Jr. of Arlington Avenue had jumped in the race originally, but withdrew several weeks ago.
Ward 3 Councillor Arthur Guinasso will square off against former Ward 3 Councillor Brian Vesce. This was a race many believed might happen several years ago, when Vesce first entered the political arena. However, Guinasso, instead, took an unsuccessful crack at an at-large run. Vesce chose not to run again after one term, and Guinasso came back to win Ward 3, unopposed. This will be a battle because not only is it a heated neighborhood race, but also a squaring off between two families that reportedly don’t like each other – and that’s been documented in court cases in which a Suffolk Superior Court judge told the families several years ago to just stay away from one another. That may be hard to do this year.
Ward 5 will see incumbent John Powers facing Boulevard resident Todd Braid, who ran an unsuccessful bid for At-Large City Council a few years ago.
Any preliminary election would be held on Tuesday, September 15, while the general City Election will take place with certainty on Tuesday, November 3.
9 comments for “Rosa enters Council race; ballot is finalized”