Melrose Elects Paul Brodeur, 8 New City Councilors In Shake-Up

MELROSE, MA — Paul Brodeur will be the next mayor of Melrose and the City Council will see eight new members, voters decided Tuesday at the polls in an election that will shift the landscape of city politics potentially for decades.

Brodeur, a state representative, bested at-large City Councilor Monica Medeiros by a 60-40 split, according to unofficial results. He becomes the first new mayor elected in Melrose since Rob Dolan in 2001.

"I want to thank the people of Melrose for their support and thank Monica for running a positive campaign," Brodeur said in a statement. "This election is about all of us, our shared values and the future of the city we love. I am committed to hitting the ground running and working to create a stronger, brighter tomorrow for Melrose."

Brodeur celebrated Tuesday night at his downtown headquarters in the Papa Gino's his campaign commandeered, but it's back to work tomorrow. The House is in session Wednesday, then Brodeur will have to get up to speed fast due to a quirk in the city charter; he succeeds Mayor Gail Infurna Nov. 15 rather than the beginning of the year due to her finishing Dolan's term.

Voters also restocked the freshly named City Council with eight newcomers. Jack Eccles, Leila Migliorelli and Chris Cinella will join incumbent Kate Lipper-Garabedian as at-large City Councilors. Maya Jamaleddine was the odd candidate out.

Eccles, 23, received 5,695 votes, the second-highest total in the race.

In Ward 7, Cory Thomas bested Ryan Williams by just four votes, 697-693. Williams indicated Tuesday night he would push for a recount.

"With a four-vote difference on 1,392 ballots cast, we owe it to everyone to conduct a formal recount so we can be confident in the results," Williams said, adding he was "humbled and amazed" at the those who voted for him.

Thomas was ready for a recount.

"I believe in the democratic process," he said. "You don't have to win by a million votes, you've only got to win by one vote. I won by four, as far as I'm concerned I'm the winner. I'll let the process play out but I'm prepared to represent Ward 7 as the next City Councilor."

Longtime Ward 4 City Councilor Bob Boisselle lost his race with Mark Garipay. That leaves John Tramontozzi, who held off a challenge from Alanna Nelson in Ward 1, as the Council's senior member.

Lipper-Garabedian and MacMaster, who will be entering their second terms, will be the Council's second- and third-most senior members, respectively

Jen Grigoraitis bested Rob Aufiero in Ward 6.

Jeff McNaught coasted uncontested in Ward 2. He, like Broduer, will begin his term this month as he fills the seat vacated by Jen Lemmerman.

School Committee members Lizbeth DeSelm, Ed O'Connell and Margaret Driscoll were the only three on the School Committee ballot. They were all re-elected.

Subscribe to Melrose Patch for free to receive results as soon as they become available. Patch will also be covering the transition period and beyond.

Mayor: Paul Brodeur 6,074, Monica Medeiros 4,038

Ward 1: John Tramontozzi 829, Alanna Nelson 626

Ward 2: Jeff McNaught, uncontested

Ward 3: Robb Stewart 851, Jim Bennett 373

Ward 4: Mark Garipay 1,099, Bob Boisselle 370

Ward 5: Shawn MacMaster, uncontested

Ward 6: Jen Grigoraitis 962, Rob Aufiero 319

Ward 7: Cory Thomas 697, Ryan Williams 693

At-Large: Kate Lipper-Garabedian 5,859, Jack Eccles 5,695, Leila Migliorelli 4,955, Chris Cinella 4,578, Maya Jamaleddine 4,041

School Committee: Margaret Driscoll 6,220, Ed O'Connell 5,888, Lizbeth DeSelm 5,773.

City of Melrose Unofficial Results Nov. 5