Everett Election 2025

Here’s an update on the 2025 political races as time is running out to put your name on the ballot

By Neil Zolot

With the 2025 elections fast approaching, a number of candidates have already pulled papers for collecting signatures. The deadline to return them is Wednesday, July 16, exactly two months to the day before the primary is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, Sept. 16, followed by the General Elections on Nov. 4.

All eyes will be on the mayor’s race this year. Carlo DeMaria, who has been Everett’s leader since 2007, is once again running for reelection. Current Ward 5 Councillor Robert Van Campen will, unofficially, be challenging him in the mayor’s race. “It is likely I will pull papers to run for mayor on Thursday, June 12,” Van Campen told The Advocate before press deadline. “I won’t run to denigrate what anyone has done, but to bring change to how things are done. I’ve heard from a lot of residents who would support my candidacy. Over the past several months, I have been asked about my plans for the upcoming election in November. Many have expressed their support and have urged me to run for mayor. I am overwhelmed and humbled by the outpouring [of that support].”

If Van Campen had decided to pull papers yesterday (June 12), that would leave the Ward 5 seat wide open, but no one has pulled papers as of yet.

Peter Pietrantonio pulled papers for mayor.

Current Councillors John Hanlon, Guerline Alcy Jabouin, Michael Marchese, Katy Rogers, Stephanie Smith and Wayne Matewsky have pulled papers to run for the at-large seats, along with Matthew Costello, Millie Cardello and former Ward 3 Councillor Darren Costa. With Matewsky running for an at-large seat, his Ward 1 seat is up for grabs and is currently being contested by Michele Capone and Asst. City Clerk Peter Napolitano, who both have already pulled papers.

Matewsky was a Councillor-at-Large from 2016 to 2021, immediately after his two-year term as a state representative. Prior to that, he served the residents of Ward 1 as its councillor for many years, before stepping down from that position for health reasons. He became the Ward 1 Councillor once again in 2022, when then-Councillor Fred Capone ran for mayor.

Matewsky ran for the Ward 1 council seat once again, because the campaign was less strenuous, but now he says, “I’m feeling much better, and the response that I’ve received has been fabulous throughout the city.”

Costello, a 2011 Everett High School graduate who starred on its football team, attended Princeton University, where he played on its football team while earning a Bachelor’s degree in political science. He currently works as a financial services professional for an insurance company. “I want to help make the city a better place for people to live in,” Costello said. “I want people to feel like they have someone who has their interests in mind.”

In other races, Ward 2 Councillor and Council President Stephanie Martins is running for reelection. “I am running again,” Martins said, “because the work is just beginning.”

Balwinder Singh Gill has also pulled papers for the Ward 2 seat. Mr. Gill, a 31-year resident of Everett, is the president of the Sikh Temple in Everett and is very well-respected member of Everett’s Hindu and Nepalese community.

In Wards 3 and 4, current Councillors Anthony DiPierro and Holly Garcia have pulled papers. In Ward 3, Maria Bussell has pulled papers. In Ward 6, Alfred Lattanzi, who once represented that district, is a candidate for that seat, as is Peter Pietrantonio. Pietrantonio is currently its ward councillor.

For the School Committee at-large seats, current members Kristin Bairos, Samantha Hurley and Joseph LaMonica have pulled papers, as have James Booker, Darren Costa and Millie Cardello. In Ward 1, current officeholder Margaret Cornelio is the only one who has pulled papers to date. In Ward 2, current officeholder Joanna Garren and Jason Marcus have pulled papers. Wards 3, 4, 5 and 6 representatives Jeanne Cristiano, Robin Babcock, Marcony Almeida Barros and Joseph D’Onofrio have pulled papers for reelection. In Ward 3, Leonard Henry Jordan has pulled papers. In Ward 6, Thomas E. Abruzzese has pulled papers.

Of note, only Matewsky and Rogers have returned their papers with the required number of registered voter signatures. A total of 500 is required for the mayoral race, including at least 25 from each ward; and 250 is needed for the at-large councillor and school committee seats; as well as 100 for the specific ward seats.