Dorchester Reporter “The News and Values Around the Neighborhood” Volume 30 Issue 39 Thursday, September 26, 2013 50¢ The verdict is in: Walsh vs. Connolly for mayor’s chair Dot rep. tops count; 3d spot to Golar Richie By Gintautas Dumcius anD mike Deehan reporter staFF On Nov. 5, voters will pick either State Rep. Marty Walsh of Dorches- ter or City Councillor At- Large John Connolly, the State Rep. Marty Walsh, mayoral race ticket-topper, takes the stage at Vene- top two vote-getters in zia’s in Dorchester. Photo by Mike Deehan Tuesday’s preliminary, as the next mayor of Boston. His district’s voters, Separated by just under 1,500 votes, the representative and the Southie count fueled councilor beat out ten others in a diverse field City Councillor At-Large John Connolly celebrates with supporters at Hibernian Hall in Roxbury. that included a prosecu- Photo courtesy Connolly campaign Walsh’s first-place finish tor, a former lawmaker, By Bill Forry The Savin Hill native base in Ward 13— made a low-frequency radio eDitor has not been personally the difference in his station owner, several Pressley is No. 1 Rep. Marty Walsh’s tested at the ballot box rookie outing. community activists, strong first-place finish in any meaningful way Walsh has since helped and four councillors. in Tuesday’s preliminary since 1997, when he many other candidates Walsh received 20,838 in at-large contest election came as a sur- prevailed in a special win elections (including votes, or 18.47 percent By Gintautas Dumcius The rest of the can- prise to most observers election to win his 13th John Connolly and other while Connolly picked news eDitor didates in the top 8 — mainly because pre- Suffolk House seat. opponents on Tuesday’s up 19,420 votes, or 17.22 The at-large ballot included former City election day polls had In that race, Walsh mayoral dance card percent. in November will fea- Councillor At-Large Mi- Walsh finishing second wrestled against a tough whom he’s leaned in Charlotte Golar Richie, ture two Dorchester chael Flaherty (39,871 to City Councillor John field – which included for in past cycles.) But a former state represen- residents, while three votes); incumbent City Connolly. current state Attorney he hasn’t had to flex tative from Dorchester, fell short. Voters, al- Councillor At-Large Ste- There’s another reason General Martha Coak- his own muscles much, ended up in third place, lowed to pick up to four phen Murphy (31,701); why Walsh’s election-day ley. His deep union running unopposed in while Suffolk District candidates, on Tuesday newcomer Michelle Wu performance may have bench, coupled with his nearly every election Attorney Dan Conley narrowed a field of 19 (29,359 votes); former been underestimated: strong and undiluted (Continued on page 3) (Continued on page 2) candidates to 8. City Hall aide Martin Ayanna Pressley, an Keogh (15,734 votes); Ashmont resident who attorney Jeffrey Ross won first place in 2011 (12,929 votes); and for- After hiatus, Irish Heritage and is running for a mer City Hall aide Jack third term as a city coun- Kelly (11,900 votes). cillor at-large, topped Dorchester’s Cath- Festival returns in October the ballot with 43,000 erine O’Neill, who has By sean smith well as other attractions, such as votes. Annissa Essaibi worked on a number of special to the reporter a genealogy tent and visits from George, who lives in the local campaigns, came After a one-year hiatus, the Irish wolfhounds and Irish setters, Columbia/Savin Hill in ninth place, missing Irish Heritage Festival is set to also are on the 2013 schedule. neighborhood, came in the No. 8 slot by 958 return on Columbus Day weekend Festival co-director John O’Toole seventh place, picking votes. Gareth Saunders, to Dorchester – in a new, albeit says the decision to take a year off, up 12,236 votes. The a former city councillor temporary, location. however disappointing it might 13-member City Council who lives in Dorchester, The free festival will take place have been to the festival’s legion has four at-large seats. (Continued on page 5) on Sunday, October 13, from 11 of fans, was simply a good idea. a.m.-8 p.m., with music and dance “The most recent festival, in The sunglasses and case shown performances and other events 2011, was a resounding success – Davis above were found near the wing at Florian Hall and the John we had more than 10,000 people calling section of a B17 that was downed come,” says O’Toole. “But the core McKeon Post AmVets 146. Peren- it quits by German fire in Holland on July nial favorites Robbie Connell and group of volunteers who organizes 28, 1943. Two Dorchester airmen Aoife Clancy highlight a roster the festival, while dedicated, is as Boston’s were aboard the plane that day of performers that represents a a pretty small one. It is an all- top policeman and a Netherlands man is looking consuming event, like putting for information about them for a cross-section of Greater Boston’s memorial he is planning to place diverse Irish music scene. Family on a wedding for 10,000 people; there’s not only the entertainment Page 4 All contents copyright at the site. Story, Page 8. and children’s activities – from © 2013 Boston Photo courtesy of Johan Collee rock-climbing to face-painting – as (Continued on page 9) Neighborhood News, Inc. Page 2 THE REPoRTER September 26, 2013 The verdict is in: Walsh vs. Connolly for mayor’s chair (Continued from page 1) Bay and Beacon Hill, and majority-minority popu- was several percentage state Rep. Carlo Basile, lation. “And yet we’ve points behind: Golar a conservative Democrat BELLWETHERS two white guys running Richie received 15,536 from East Boston. Savin Hill (Cristo Rey School) John Barros 29 for mayor,” he said. Golar votes, or 13.77 percent. Walsh, who stepped Ward 13, precinct 10 Michael Ross 24 Richie, who is black, said Conley came in with down from a top labor Marty Walsh 500 Felix Arroyo 21 it was an indication that 11.32 percent, or 12,764 job earlier this year, Bill Walczak 136 Charles Clemons 5 the city has changed. It votes. solidified support from John Connolly 73 Charles Yancey 3 wasn’t just candidates Both Walsh, 46, and most unions early on Charlotte Golar Richie 39 David Wyatt 3 of color talking to other Connolly, 40, are steeped in the race, while pull- Dan Conley 31 people color, she said, ing in progressives like and white candidates in Boston politics: Walsh, John Barros 21 Lower Mills Library Dorchester activist Joyce felt they could make elected to his Dorchester- Michael Ross 23 Ward 17, precincts 13, 14* based House seat in Linehan, who worked on Felix Arroyo 17 Marty Walsh 299 a case that they could 1997, grew up in a union Cambridge Democrat Rob Consalvo 16 John Connolly 166 give equal treatment to household where politics Elizabeth Warren’s US Charles Yancey 4 Charlotte Golar Richie 161 all neighborhoods. “The was a constant topic of Senate campaign. His Charles Clemons 1 John Barros 109 world has changed for discussion at the dinner supporters include state David Wyatt 1 Dan Conley 63 the better in the city table. Connolly’s din- Rep. Eugene O’Flaherty, Bill Walczak 52 of Boston, it just didn’t ing room was equally a conservative Democrat James J. Chittick School Felix Arroyo 43 break my way, that’s all,” dominated with political representing Chelsea, Mattapan/Hyde Park Line Charles Yancey 41 she said. talk: The West Roxbury and state Rep. Liz Malia, Ward 18, precinct 6, 21 Rob Consalvo 31 As in past elections, resident’s father is a who hails from deeply Charlotte Golar Richie 400 Charles Clemons 21 the communities of color former secretary of the liberal Jamaica Plain. Rob Consalvo 205 Michael Ross 20 will likely play a decisive Commonwealth and his Walsh hit a populist John Connolly 136 David Wyatt 3 role in the final elec- mother a judge. tone in his victory speech, John Barros 126 (* Walsh won 17-13, tion. Asked if she will Mayor Thomas Me- hitting upon his biogra- Marty Walsh 83 Richie won 17-14) be endorsing anyone, nino’s decision not to phy and key campaign Dan Conley 83 Golar Richie praised both issues. Connolly and Walsh, seek a sixth term set up Charles Yancey 78 Pasiucco Apartments – “This is decision time. whose tenure in the a mad scramble for votes Felix Arroyo 61 Bowdoin Street We must decide whether state Legislature briefly and a summer filled with Charles Clemons 55 Ward 15, precinct 4 forums and fundraisers. Boston will be a name on Michael Ross 17 John Barros 212 overlapped with hers. The two finalists had a map where a few people Bill Walczak 11 Charlotte Golar Richie 100 Walsh “endorsed me been angling for the top do well or a community David Wyatt 2 Marty Walsh 82 early on in my career and job in City Hall longer of shared prosperity,” John Connolly 30 he is my neighbor,” she than the others, and Walsh said to the crowd Florian Hall Felix Arroyo 29 said. She doesn’t know have drawn in both of his supporters and Ward 16, p. 11-12 Charles Yancey 25 Connolly as well, but conservative and liberal the television audience Marty Walsh 1036 Charles Clemons 21 she respects him, Golar supporters.