Peabody Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt Jr. announced his candidacy for a sixth term on Tuesday, and any Peabody resident contemplating making a run for mayor must feel like he or she is gearing up to climb Mt. Everest.
The Bettencourt name looms large in Peabody civic and athletic life. Bettencourt’s time as mayor has seen Peabody lose beloved Superintendent of Schools Cara Murtagh and find new school leadership under Murtagh’s successor, Dr. Josh Vadala.
Longtime Peabody Square flooding problems are getting addressed and the North River’s canal wall repair and Riverwalk project is underway.
Major housing developments are taking root; Centennial Park is reportedly in contention to become an Amazon facility site, and Bettencourt has pushed forward planning for a Peabody-Salem trolley.
Those accomplishments and others the mayor listed in a six-page press release make him a tough candidate to beat in a city election.
Voters can decide for themselves if the mayor deserves praise for the achievements he cites in his press release. Part of the decision process involves residents questioning the mayor at campaign forums about his accomplishments.
Chances are fewer forums will be held if Bettencourt is the only person running for mayor. On the other hand, a crowded race for mayor is probably a prescription for serious debate on city issues to descend into a muddle of petty accusations and name calling.
Bettencourt has his detractors and one or two may be contemplating a run for mayor. They are undoubtedly asking the questions all politicians must ask: Can I raise enough money? Do I have an organization to get out the vote? Do I have a campaign platform?
Answering these questions will be hard for some and easy for others. But would-be candidates considering a run against Ted Bettencourt know they need a sturdy pair of shoes and a politically-savvy Sherpa if they want to make it to the summit.
