Malden Councillor-at-Large race: Luong is in, Spadafora out in upset

Record low turnout (just 15%) as all other incumbents turn back challengers; newcomer Piazza claims open Ward 6 School Committee seat

By Steve Freker

Malden political forecasters peering into their crystal balls expected something had to give in a closely watched Councillor-at-Large race on Election Day Tuesday. Few probably predicted what did actually happen. On a day when Malden saw a record low turnout for a municipal election at the polling places, the city’s political scene also witnessed a major upset as longtime Councillor-at-Large Craig Spadafora finished fourth and out of the running in the six-candidate race.

Claiming the third seat for Councillor-at-Large in her first try in the City Council race was Michelle Luong, a former School Committee member from Ward 7. Finishing first and second and reelected to their third terms were fellow Councillor-at-Large incumbents Karen Colón Hayes and Carey McDonald. Hayes drew 3,236 votes for a first-place finish, the top vote-getter in 20 of 27 Malden precincts. McDonald received 3.052 votes for second place and reelection to a third term. Luong was third with 2,970 votes and was elected to the third Councillor-at-Large seat.

Spadafora, who was first elected to the City Council in 2003 and was seeking a 12th consecutive term, finished fourth and out of the running with 2,272 votes. Rounding out the at-Large field, political newcomers Mohammad Abu-Taha (1,038 votes) and Solomon Davidoff (775 votes) finished fifth and sixth, respectively.

Aside from the result of the Councillor-at-Large race, all of the other challenges to incumbent elected officials for City Council and School Committee were turned aside and all were reelected. In Ward 1, Councillor Peg Crowe prevailed to win her eighth two-year term, 354-233 votes over challenger and political newcomer Brynn Garrity. In another City Council challenge, Ward 6 Councillor Stephen P. Winslow breezed to reelection to a third term over challenger Jerry Leone, taking 64 percent of the votes, 567-315. It was a rematch of the 2023 election.

In the School Committee races, incumbent Ward 1 representative Michael E. Drummey was reelected to a seventh term in Ward 1 in a close one — just 14 votes — 274-260, over challenger and political newcomer Kimberly M. Gillette. It was the closest finish on the Malden ballot Tuesday. Gillette did win the largest of the three Ward 1 precincts, 1-3, by a 116-111 vote total, with Drummey earning the most votes overall in the other two precincts.

In another School Committee challenge, incumbent Ward 4’s Dawn Macklin was reelected to a third consecutive term, defeating first-time candidate Abeer Annab, 288-200 votes. In a third School Committee challenge, incumbent Keith E. Bernard prevailed over challenger Nichole D. Mossalam, 349-215 votes, and won a third consecutive term.

In all of the other races, incumbents were reelected. In Ward 2, Paul Condon, the longest-serving Councillor overall in Malden municipal history, dating back to the mid-1980s, will return for a 19th term after being unopposed and reelected with 485 votes. Councillor Condon served 13 terms (26 years) from 1986-2012, before “retiring” from public service. After sitting out two terms, he returned to the political scene and won reelection again in 2015. A lifelong Malden resident, Condon won his sixth consecutive term Tuesday.

City Council President Amanda Linehan, who was elected to the leadership post in midyear when her predecessor was removed by a City Council vote, was reelected in Ward 3, running unopposed and receiving 804 votes. This will be her fourth consecutive City Council term. Ward 4 Councillor Ryan O’Malley was reelected to a sixth consecutive term on Tuesday. He ran unopposed on Tuesday and received 416 votes. Ward 5 Councillor Ari Taylor was elected to a second consecutive term, running unopposed in this election and receiving 752 votes. In Ward 7, Councillor Chris Simonelli ran for reelection unopposed and won a third consecutive term in his return to the City Council, receiving 430 votes. Ward 8 Councillor Jadeane Sica was unopposed for reelection to her seventh term. She was reelected with 339 votes.

In the School Committee races, Robert S. McCarthy Jr. was unopposed in Ward 2 and was reelected to a fifth consecutive term with 478 votes. In Ward 3, School Committee Vice Chair Jennifer M. Spadafora was reelected with 672 votes to her fifth consecutive term of office. She ran unopposed. Ward 5 School Committee incumbent Elizabeth J. Hortie was reelected to a second full term on Tuesday. She ran unopposed and received 695 votes. In Ward 6, first-time candidate Peter T. Piazza was the only candidate and was elected unopposed with 689 votes. He will replace outgoing School Committee representative Joseph Gray, who did not seek reelection this year. In Ward 8, Sharyn Rose-Zeiberg was reelected to a third term, running unopposed and receiving 362 votes.