Quincy post local elections epilogue

– News and commentary about Quincy from Quincy Quarry News.

Pack up until next year
An Accuvote voting machine photo

Quincy post local elections epilogue.

Local elections yesterday came not a moment too soon; in fact, many locals surely wished that they were over and done weeks ago, especially at least certain losing candidates.

Also, while the outcomes from the polls were for the most part close to what was expected in spite of essentially no major pre-election polling efforts. there still were a few surprises.

No Key to return to office for Spanky
A Quincy Quarry News exclusive photo

In the at Large City Councillor race scrum, Dan “Spanky” Raymondi’s drop from a strong second place finisher in September’s primary election to finishing well out of the money in a virtual tie for fourth place was – at minimum – widely unexpected.

After all, even Quincy Quarry was expecting to see him be the top Koch Maladministration protest vote recipient.

Plus, campaign finance reports indicate that Spanky was on track to spent most of the $140,000 that was still in his old campaign war chest and thus so approaching what was spent in total by the other fourteen candidates running for seats on the city council; apparently, however, money cannot buy votes as readily as it once did.

An illegally placed campaign sign
A Quincy Quarry news file photo

In morning after hangover hindsight, Spanky may have played it a bit too safe. 

That and how perhaps his own history and growing local dislike for the old boys ways of doing things in the Q provided fatal for him at the polls.

Conversely, rookie at Large City Councillor Noel DiBona received the most votes in spite of having little more than a winning smile but no record of consequence.

Apparently, such still can prevail on an election day in the Q.

Tough times ahead for Tommy?
A YouTube still image

Anne Mahoney finishing second in the at Large race, however, was refreshing if for no other reason than seeing working hard and fresh ideas rewarded for a change.

Incumbent rookie at Large City Councillor Nina Liang winning reelection was also a pleasant surprise.  

The general consensus is that the big improvement from her primary election showing was significantly fueled via considerable single vote bullet ballot voting on General Election day yesterday from her many loyal supporters.

Of particular note, as well as in turn, the South Shore Broadsheet noted that Ms. Liang showed tears of appreciation at her post election celebration when she expressed her heartfelt appreciation of all those who supported her successful reelection bid.

On a scrap heap
A Citizen Photo Journalist photo

And finally, many locals are surely pleased to see Quincy’s soon to be former number one ward heeler finish in a virtual as well as distant out of the money tie for fourth with Spanky.

Quincy Quarry is continuing to examine if Quincy Mayor Thomas P. Koch’s controversial endorsement proved to be as much of a curse for the ward heeler as at least some believe he was to Boston’s Boston 2024 bid and thus may report on any such findings at a later date.

Moving onto the city council ward seat races, hardworking and all around nice guy Dave McCarthy enjoyed a big win in the Ward 1 race over another nice guy Joe Murphy.

Ward 2 incumbent Brad Croall was running unopposed and was thus readily reelected.

Ward 3 incumbent Ian Cain was also running unopposed and was so also readily reelected.

Ward 4 incumbent Brian Palmucci was similarly running unopposed and so reelected.

The Ward 5, however, was a contested race as well as a close one – in fact, way closer than should have been the case for several term incumbent Kirsten “Ariel” Hughes, especially as she had the personal endorsement of Massachusetts’ most popular governor in the country Charlie Baker.

Just escaped a big wave of opposition
A Walt Disney Pictures image

On the other hand, Ariel also had the endorsement of Mayor Koch and whose also endorsing of the losing ward heeler as well as other matters may have similarly dampened enthusiasm for Hughes.

Ward 6 was basically a matching set of heavy bookends facing off on a dohyō.

The incumbent basically won a coin toss of a win his time around after ending up in the Ward 6 seat almost two years ago after his predecessor beat him handily in last election two years ago, only to then die shortly after the election, and so elevate the second place finisher onto the City Council dais.

And as for the school committee, the perfectly capable and only incumbent was reelected along with a young newcomer and the return of a reliable regular to the local political scene.