Published November 6, 2019
MELROSE — Paul Brodeur, who represents half of Wakefield in the state House of Representatives, was elected mayor of Melrose yesterday.
Brodeur won with about 60 percent of the roughly 10,000 votes cast over Melrose Councilor-at-Large Monica Medeiros. His victory will now require a special election to fill Brodeur’s seat serving the 32nd Middlesex District, which includes Wakefield’s precincts 4, 5 and 6. The date of the special election will be determined in the coming weeks. The current House term is up again for election a year from now.
About 50 percent of the city’s 20,127 registered voters slogged through periods of rain to participate in yesterday’s Melrose election, which also saw a mostly brand new City Council elected, along three School Committee incumbents who were unopposed.
“I want to thank the people of Melrose for their support and thank Monica for running a positive campaign,” Brodeur said. “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. I could not have done this without the support of my family and dedicated volunteers. Representing the people of Melrose is a great honor, and I am proud to be able to serve as your mayor.”
Once yesterday’s vote is certified, Brodeur becomes Melrose’s chief municipal officer. He will succeed Gail Infurna, who was the president of the then-Board of Aldermen and by city charter provisions, became the mayor in February 2018 when Rob Dolan left to take the top municipal job in Lynnfield. Infurna said back then that she would not be a candidate on yesterday’s ballot.
Both Brodeur and Medeiros have deep ties to Melrose, where they have lived all their lives. Before being elected to the state House of Representatives, Brodeur was an at-large alderman for years. Medeiros served as a School Committee member (elected city-wide), a ward alderman and an alderman-at-large. Last month, the name of the Board of Aldermen was officially changed to City Council.
Medeiros said, “I congratulate Paul Brodeur on his victory in this race to be the next Mayor of Melrose.
“While I am disappointed in the results, I am proud of the positive campaign we ran based on local issues and ideas. We did our best to reach every voter. Our grassroots campaign team knocked on every door in Melrose, and then started again. We made thousands of calls, put up hundreds of lawn signs, held signs, wrote letters and hosted neighborhood meet and greets. I want to thank these volunteers who worked tirelessly to get me elected. Their generosity and enthusiasm was unmatched.
“I want to offer my sincere thanks to each and every person who had enough faith and trust in me to cast their vote for me in this election. Serving Melrose in our local government for these many years has been a true honor, and I wish nothing but the best for our future,” she added.
An election of this significance hasn’t happened in Melrose in nearly a generation.
Last April, after a months-long campaign, voters passed a more than $5 million override of Proposition 2 1/2, a decision that created something of a division in the city. Brodeur supported the override. Medeiros opposed it. Property taxes for everyone will increase. A lot of the override money will be spent on School Department needs.
Both candidates acknowledged during the mayoral campaign, which included a preliminary election in September, that the override’s impact was going to be felt by some residents more than others. Brodeur said older folks in the city “feel they’re not welcome here anymore,” while Medeiros spoke of the need to address the “income inequality” among Melrose residents.
