Ward Three Democrats Host 18 Boston City Council Candidates; Endorse Sal LaMattina, Ayanna Pressley, Stephen Murphy and Michelle Wu [Video]

[responsive_youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWW8gze6yho]

It was a marathon Candidates Night, hosted by the Ward Three Democratic Committee, as contenders for open seats on Boston City Council presented and answered questions on Wednesday, July 10, 2013 at the North End’s Nazzaro Center.

After 2 1/2 hours of candidate presentations, the Ward Three Democratic Committee made the following endorsements:

• Receiving 21 of 22 possible votes, incumbent Sal LaMattina was endorsed for District 1 City Councilor over John Riberio, Jr. and Brian Gannon.
• Neither incumbent Bill Linehan (8 votes) nor challenger Suzanne Lee (4 votes) received the 14 votes necessary for a District 2 endorsement.
• In the City Councilor At-Large race, the committee endorsed three candidates for the four open seats. The three endorsements went to incumbents Ayanna Pressley (22 votes) and Stephen Murphy (20 votes) along with newcomer Michelle Wu (20 votes). Other candidates to receive votes included Jack Kelly (8 votes), Ramon Soto (5 votes), Michael Flaherty (4 votes) and Jeffrey Michael Ross (1 vote). North End resident and business owner, Philip Frattaroli, received 2 verbal votes. Frattaroli was allowed to speak at the forum, but since he is registered as an independent, the Democratic Committee did not include him on their endorsement list.

Boston’s Ward Three consists of the neighborhoods of the North End, Waterfront, West End, Financial District, Beacon Hill, Downtown, Bullfinch Triangle, South End, Chinatown and Leather District. All candidates running in the At-Large, District 1 (North End, Charlestown, East Boston) and District 2 (Chinatown, Leather District and South Boston) races were invited to attend.

The field will narrow to eight At-Large contenders and two candidates from each of the District Council races during the preliminary election scheduled for Tuesday, September 24, 2013. Boston residents will choose a new Mayor, four At-large City Councilors and one District Councilor in the November 5, 2013 General Election.

Candidates Night and Endorsement Meeting – Video Timeline

00:00 – Welcome and Introductions – Ward Chairman Jason A. Aluia

04:30 – Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, speaks on behalf of incumbent District 1 City Councilor, Sal LaMattina. Councilor LaMattina was on a family vacation scheduled prior to the forum.

09:00 – John Ribero, Jr., candidate for District 1 City Councilor

22:30 – Suzanne Lee, candidate for District 2 City Councilor

33:00 – Philip Frattaroli, candidate for City Councilor At-Large

41:20 – Stephen J. Murphy, incumbent candidate for City Councilor At-Large

53:00 – Bill Linehan, incumbent candidate for District 2 City Councilor

1:05:40 – Michael Flaherty, candidate for City Councilor At-Large

1:17:30 – Christopher J. Conroy, candidate for City Councilor At-Large

1:25:50 – Jeffrey Michael Ross, candidate for City Councilor At-Large

1:30:40 – Ayanna Pressley, incumbent candidate for City Councilor At-Large

1:38:10 – Michelle Wu, candidate for City Councilor At-Large

1:45:30 – Martin Keogh, candidate for City Councilor At-Large

1:53:00 – Douglas Wohn – candidate for City Councilor At-Large

1:59:30 – Ramon Soto, candidate for City Councilor At-Large

2:08:24 – Anissa Essaibi George, candidate for City Councilor At-Large

2:15:40 – Gareth R. Saunders, candidate for City Councilor At-Large

2:20:30 – Catherine M. O’Neill, candidate for City Councilor At-Large

2:24:10 – Jack Kelly, candidate for City Councilor At-Large

2:30:00 – Endorsement Vote by Ward Three Democratic Committee