PEABODY — For people who love to follow local politics, Gallo Nero Restaurant was the place to be for a standing-room only fundraiser for Councilor at Large Anne Manning-Martin Tuesday night.
Anybody who is anybody in Peabody was there to support Manning-Martin, who is running for an eighth term.
Manning-Martin even brought in the big guns in Gov. Charlie Baker, who introduced Manning as “your current city councilor and your next city councilor,” much to the delight of a large group of supporters.
“The most important thing to say is you are here supporting someone here who lives and breathes the city and someone who has poured her heart and soul into it time and time again,” said Baker. “She completely believes that the best part of serving in this government is the chance it’s given her to do good things and great things for the people she cares so much about. You, your neighbors, the small-business operators, the community generally, she has done it 100 percent and straight up from the beginning.”
Manning-Martin’s remarks were brief, saying she will continue to watch residents’ tax dollars, quality of life and “all the things that are important to you.
“When you all tell me I’m not doing that, I will stop running for office,” she said. “But when I look around this room, any doubt if I may have ever had any that I should stop running for office is gone. This room is loaded with good-quality people who care about others. Why would I not want to continue to serve you and reap the benefits of your friendship and appreciation?”
Ward 5 Councilor Joel Saslaw lauded Manning-Martin for “always (doing) her homework and protecting all the people of Peabody.
“I consider Anne to be one of the most well-prepared and thoughtful councilors I’ve had the pleasure to serve with. I consider her the leader on the council and one of my mentors.”
According to Baker, Manning-Martin’s greatest strengths are her honesty and her willingness to reach out and listen to residents.
“She has been reelected and reelected because the people of this city appreciate the outreach, the honesty, the authenticity and the commitment to the people of this community that she serves,” he said. “I appreciate her ability to call it as she sees it. She also brings the history and context from many years of service that some do not have, as well as the ability to explain it in everyday terms.”
Aleko and Klodjana Pasha, owners of Gallo Nero, said they were delighted to have the governor in the house.
“It was our pleasure to have this event and I hope Gov. Baker will be president someday,” said Aleko, who opened the restaurant with his wife nine years ago after immigrating from Albania. “Anne is a great person and she has helped us from our first day here. She always asks how we’re doing and what she can do to help. We really appreciate that.”
Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt Jr. said these kinds of events are important especially during election years, as they give residents a chance to meet multiple candidates in one place.
“Tonight is great because it’s all about Anne reaching out to voters and residents to hear what they have to say,” he said.
Baker said that “serving in local government is by far one of the most difficult and challenging roles you can play in elected politics because it’s local.
“Everybody knows where you live, they know your phone number, they know where you’re going to be and when you are going to be there based on your habits. They know where you stand and the decisions you make and they are absolutely committed to making sure that you know that they know.”
Baker described Manning-Martin, who worked on his successful campaign for governor in 2014, as a “pro playing as an amateur,” saying he is grateful for her friendship.
“The thing I love the most about Anne is you always know where Anne stands. Always. There is never any doubt because she believes what she believes,” Baker said. “She will always be the one at the end of the day, whatever the vote is, no one’s ever going to be left wondering, ‘gee, what was Anne’s position on that issue?’ She always stands up for what she believes is the right thing to do.”
