Van Campen wins mayor; Capone, Nguyen and Matewsky win council seats

By Neil Zolot

Ward 5 Councillor Robert Van Campen defeated incumbent Carlo DeMaria in the election for Mayor on Tuesday, November 4. “I told the people of Everett it was time for a change and they agreed,” he told The Advocate at his victory party at the Village Bar & Grill after the election. “It’s time to write a new chapter in the city and I’m ready to lead.”

Predictions of a close race were inaccurate, with Van Campen receiving, unofficially, 4,118 votes and DeMaria, 3,440. “We had a feeling we would win because we worked so hard, but not by how much,” Van Campen’s campaign manager, Chris Connolly, said. “It was a huge victory.”

In s statement released by the mayor on Wednesday, it stated, “The election didn’t go the way that we had hoped, but I am proud of the record of accomplishments we have built over the past 18 years. The city has been positioned well and has a solid financial standing that will make things easier for the next administration. The City of Everett is my hometown and now that I will be able to step back and be able to enjoy my time with my family, I will be watching to make sure that the progress we have achieved continues because that is what the residents of Everett deserve.”

Unlike in other communities, terms on the City Council and School Committee are not staggered, so each seat is subject to an election every two years. In the race for five City Council seats at-Large, incumbent Stephanie Smith led the field with 3,210 votes, followed by fellow winners incumbent Guerline Alcy Jabouin with 2,779; incumbent Michael Marchese with 2,656; Wayne Matewsky, who gave up his Ward 1 seat to run at-Large, 2,452, and incumbent Katy Rogers, 2,427. Unsuccessful City Council at-Large candidates were incumbent John Hanlon with 2,206 votes; Matthew Costello with 1,680; Tina Olivieri, 1,923, and Jean Daniel, 1,803.

Early, informal returns from the precincts had Rogers on edge because they indicated Hanlon was ahead of her, but the final tally proved otherwise. “I’m in,” Rogers exclaimed.

With Van Campen running for Mayor and Matewsky running at-Large, Ward 1 and 5 seats were open. In Ward 1, Michele Capone defeated former Councillor and current Assistant City Clerk Peter Napolitano, 619-292. In Ward 5, its former Councillor, Vivian Nguyen, who was defeated by Van Campen in 2023, defeated Joseph Gaff, 656-560.

In Ward 2 current Councillor Stephanie Martins got 822 votes running unopposed. In Ward 3 incumbent Anthony DiPierro defeated Maria Bussell, 786-587. In Ward 4 incumbent Holly Garcia defeated Cynthia Salazar, 772-443.

“I enjoyed my first term and am looking forward to the second,” Garcia said.

In the Ward 6 rematch of the 2023 election, incumbent Peter Pietrantonio defeated former Councillor Alfred Lattanzi, 626-566.

For three School Committee seats at-Large, incumbent Samantha Hurley led the field with 2,885 votes, followed by fellow winners Joseph LaMonica with 2,577 and former School Committee member Mille Cardello, 2,321. Unsuccessful candidates were incumbent Kristin Bairos with 2,146 votes, Darren Costa with 2,048 and James Booker, 1,105.

In Ward 1 incumbent Margaret Cornelio got 662 votes running unopposed. In Ward 2 incumbent Joanna Garren defeated Jason Marcus, 575-446. In Ward 3 incumbent Jeanne Cristiano got 986 votes running unopposed. In Ward 4 incumbent Robin Babcock got 982 votes running unopposed. In Ward 5 incumbent Marcony Almeida Barros got 819 votes running unopposed. In Ward 6 incumbent Joseph D’Onofrio narrowly defeated former School Committee member Thomas Abruzzesee, 554-534.

A total of 7,627 voters participated — a 30% turnout — close to what City Clerk Sergio Cornelio predicted. Precinct wardens reported good business. “A lot of people are turning out,” Ward 3, Precinct 1 warden Ruthy Dottin said at 21 Whittier Drive.

“It’s been busy and steady,” Ward 4, Precinct 1 warden Laurence Arinello said at the Lafayette School.