MALDEN — It could be “flip the script” time in tomorrow’s municipal election, particularly in Ward 6, where voters are filling an open seat with a new City Councilor.
The preliminary election featured three candidates vying to replace former longtime Councilor Neil Kinnon, who resigned in June. Two-term Ward 6 School Committeeman Jerry Leone edged out newcomer David Camell by just 12 votes, 172-160. One of the stories of that particular outcome was the meager turnout, only 7 percent of registered voters. Only 11 percent voted citywide. That is expected to change with many more voters going to the polls tomorrow.
There is more on the line than simply the Ward 6 Councilor’s post. Voters in Ward 6 will now essentially be “electing” a new Malden City Treasurer with their vote. Ironically, former Councilor Kinnon is involved in that scenario as well.
Last Wednesday the 10-member Malden City Council (minus the vacant Ward 6 seat) deadlocked on a 5-5 vote to appoint a new Treasurer between two candidates, former MBTA general manager Jonathan Davis — and Kinnon, a longtime finance professional.
After it became apparent the tie vote would not change after several rounds, the Councilors agreed to postpone the voting until the next Council meeting on Nov. 14, after tomorrow’s election where an 11th member would be elected which would be the tie breaking vote.
There are four candidates for three Councilor at Large seats in what could feature an upset. Incumbents Debbie DeMaria, David D’Arcangelo and Craig Spadafora, the longest-continuously serving Councilor (16 years) finished 1-2-3 in the last general election in 2015 and are being challenged by community activist Stephen P. Winslow.
In other races, the closest races from the September primary are expected to carry into tomorrow’s final as well,
In the Ward 3 School Committee race, a pair of first-time candidates are facing off. Mekka Alicia Smith, an educational professional at the KIPP Academy, finished first while Jennifer M. Spadafora, a well-known Malden political name, was second, 36 votes behind.
Two incumbent Ward Councilors seeking reelection are Ward 8’s Jadeane Sica who finished first in three-candidate preliminary and former Ward 8 Councilor Richard Correale Sr. In Ward 7, incumbent Neal Anderson is facing a challenge from Scott Ciccone, a former top aide to former Malden state Sen. Richard Tisei.
Incumbent John Matheson faces education professional Candace Julyan for Ward 3 City Councilor.
Councilors Peg Crowe (Ward 1), Paul Condon (Ward 2), Ryan O’Malley (Ward 4) Barbara Murphy (Ward 5) are all running unopposed.
For Malden School Committee, first-term incumbent Michael Drummey (Ward 1) and fellow incumbents Leonard Iovino (Ward 4), Tara Murphy Beardsley (Ward 5) and John Froio (Ward 8) are all running unopposed. Newcomer Colleen Leon is running unopposed in Ward 6 to replace Leone, who is running for Councilor there.
First-term incumbent Emmanuel Marsh is challenged by Robert S. McCarthy Jr. for School Committee in Ward 2. In another contested School Committee race, incumbent Catherine Bordonaro is challenged by Nichole D. Mosslam.
