In a local political shakeup, Everett City Councilor Robert Van Campen ousted incumbent Mayor Carlo DeMaria in Tuesday's election, signaling a demand for new leadership after nearly two decades. According to the unofficial results, Van Campen led by a substantial margin, garnering more than 600 votes over DeMaria. "When we launched this campaign in June, I said Everett was hungry for change," Van Campen declared in a statement, as reported by Boston.com. "Tonight, the voters made it clear: it’s time to move forward. Change has arrived, and it’s time to write the next chapter in this city’s history."
The election brought an end to DeMaria's long tenure punctuated by notable developments such as the Encore casino, yet marred by controversies like the questions raised about $180,000 in longevity payments. The Massachusetts State Inspector General found these payments to have been questionably taken and hidden within the city's budget between 2018 and 2020. DeMaria, despite refusing to return the money, denied any wrongdoing. In 2014, he also faced allegations of sexual harassment from four women, allegations he has denied. In response to his loss, DeMaria acknowledged the results with resilience, "The election didn’t go the way that we had hoped, but I am proud of the record of accomplishments we have built over the past 18 years," he told Boston.com.
In a broader sweep of election news, similar calls for change echoed across Massachusetts as several other communities also elected new mayors. One of the contested seats was in Lawrence, where incumbent Mayor Brian De Pena triumphed over Juan 'Manny' Gonzalez for a second term. However, in a stunning conclusion to an electoral race, the unseated Somerville incumbent was succeeded by at-large councilor Jake Wilson, according to Boston 25 News. Gloucester and Taunton also experienced their shares of political drama, with a former Gloucester city councilor stepping in as mayor and Taunton re-electing Mayor Shaunna O'Connell despite legal troubles in the previous year.
Reflecting on his victory, Van Campen looked towards the future, addressing the need for unity and collaboration. "It’s time for our community to come together and solve real problems," said Mayor-elect Van Campen, committing to work alongside various branches of local government to address issues like school overcrowding. His statement to Boston 25 News also underscored his immediate priorities: "I’m hoping we can put the divisions of the recent past behind us, work together, school committee, city council, office of the mayor, and try to start solving real problems for the people of Everett."
