Council names Keefe, President; McKenna, Vice-President for 2023

  The City Council’s first order of business Monday night was the election of Councillor Patrick Keefe as Council President and Councillor Joanne McKenna as Vice President for 2023.

  Both Keefe, who represents Ward 4, and McKenna, who represents Ward 1, were chosen quickly and unanimously by fellow councillors.

  One of Keefe first official tasks was to present outgoing Council President Gerry Visconti with a plaque commemorating his year leading the council.

  Visconti had thanks all around. He thanked fellow councillors, residents for their support and encouragement, his family, and he had an especially warm thank you for City Clerk Ashley Melnick.

  “Without you, this council does not operate,” said Visconti who thanked Melnick for all her help during the past year.

  Keefe thanked fellow councillors for having the confidence in him to lead the council for 2023. He also stressed the need to work together cooperatively and civilly

  “Life is about finding common ground,” he said. “It’s okay to disagree but it doesn’t mean we have to be foes.”

 “Councillors’ goals will always be aligned if Revere comes first,” said Keefe who is in his second term as Ward 4 councilor and is active in many local organizations such as Revere Pop Warner, Revere Youth Baseball and softball. He also serves as treasurer for the Revere Democratic City Committee.

  After being sworn in by Melnick, McKenna also had people to thank as well.

  “They call me “Mum” McKenna on this council,” she said. “I want to thank my fellow councilors humbly for the vote of confidence to be vice president of this council. And I want to thank my constituents for putting me on the council.”

  McKenna grew up in Beachmont. She taught at Revere High School for 32 years. She founded the Revere Beautification Committee and the Beachmont Improvement Committee.