Politics & Government

Spirits High for City Election in Malden

Despite cold temperatures campaigners braved the elements in support of their candidates during the city election Tuesday in Malden.

Despite cold temperatures campaigners braved the elements in support of their candidates during the city election Tuesday in Malden.

Dozens of volunteers, some of whom had been lobbying for their candidates since the polls opened at 7 a.m., could be seen holding campaign signs outside Beebe Elementary School a few hours before the voting was set to end at 8 p.m.

Al DeMaria, husband of councillor at-large candidate Debbie DeMaria, said it was a good day working the polls in support of his wife.

"I do a lot of the leg work, putting the signs out, canvassing properties and going around with her," he said. 

Meanwhile, Ward 5 School Committee member Adam Weldai, wearing a campaign sign around his neck, was showing his support for Ward 3 School Committee candidate Larry Silverman.

"(I've been campaigning) on and off. In Ward 5, we're really luck as (City) Councillor (Barbara) Murphy and I were unopposed this year so I was able to give a little bit of my time to Larry Silverman and stand out here and hold signs for him a little bit because I think we need him on the School Committee," Weldai said.

When it comes to the number of political signs and volunteers working the polls, Weldai said it was the most he'd ever seen for an election.

"This is probably bigger than the mayoral race two years ago, and it's an anomaly because there's nowhere else in the city that's this big," Weldai said of the polling location at the Beebe School. "I've driven around place to place and this is it. The enthusiasm has been pretty high and it keeps you warm."

Cristin Holland could be seen holding a sign in support of her father Jim Holland, a candidate for Ward 3 School Committee.

"I was here early this morning for a while and it was cold," she said, adding that it was colder working the polls in the morning than in the evening. "It's warmer now, but I prepared better for this afternoon."

Cristin Holland said she has been campaigning on her father's behalf since she was a little kid, and now as an adult, as he previously served as a School Committee member.

"It's been great," she said, noting that there have been more volunteers outside the Beebe School than there were in the morning. "Everyone has been nice and sociable."

Jim Holland, who retired after serving as Malden's police chief, said the campaigning for School Committee has been interesting. He added that he previously served on the committee for 20 years, took about 12 years off and was looking to rejoin it.

Meanwhile, Malden residents Stephen Stocker and Charles Kelly Jr. were seen holding red-and-white-lettered signs backing Ward 3 City Councillor candidate Mark Lawhorne.

"I was working all day so as soon as I got out of work I came out here to help Mark Lawhorne," Kelly said, adding that Lawhorne is married to his sister. "I've been here for two or three hours. He's family so we've been helping him out right from the beginning."

Since he was around 10 or 12 years old, Kelly has been working the polls. As far as the turnout is concerned, he said "it's consistent but it doesn't seem that heavy."

"The weather has been nice enough so you'd think there would be a better turnout, but that doesn't seem to be the case so far," said Kelly, who works as an attorney in the city. "Growing up I can remember it always raining on election day."

Stocker, an electrician and lifelong Maldonian, said he spent a few hours lobbying for Lawhorne.

"I think it's been very competitive," Stocker said of the Ward 3 City Council race between Lawhorne and incumbent John Matheson. "I think there are a lot of people out here and we're having a good turnout for the votes and I'm hearing that more people having been turning up to Ward 3 to vote than in other wards.

"I think there are a lot of wonderful people out here, everyone seems to be cheered up and it doesn't matter whose sign people are holding up...I think even after the (Boston) Red Sox won (the 2013 World Series) people are still in a cheery mood," he added.


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