The city's first female mayor soared to victory last night as voters overwhelmingly restored Jeannette A. McCarthy to a second term.
"They said my last election was a fluke," McCarthy shouted over a cheering crowd at American Legion Post 156 on Waverly Oaks Road last night. "Well, your election this time was no fluke."
In a feat reminiscent of her 2003 victory, McCarthy outshined challenger Kenneth B. Doucette in all 18 precincts and captured 86 percent of the vote, or 7,363 total votes to Doucette's 1,574. Doucette is a four-term city councilor representing Ward 6.
McCarthy's unwavering popularity seems only to have grown over the last four years since she emerged from underdog status in the 2003 primary against incumbent David Gately and candidate Thomas M. Stanley, sweeping up half the vote. McCarthy defeated Stanley, a state representative and city councilor, with 70 percent of the vote.
Last night, McCarthy attributed her continued success to her dedicated supporters, calling out the name of each of her campaign workers and wiping away tears as she embraced rejoicing members of the crowd.
"It's hard to run for office, but when you have people who believe in you, who support you, and who love you, it's easy," McCarthy said.
Doucette, who said he was on his way to personally congratulate McCarthy last night when reached on his cell phone, admitted he was disappointed by the results.
"But I'm glad we did it," Doucette said. "Every elected official goes in (to a campaign) knowing that there's no guarantees."
The people celebrating at McCarthy's party, however, said they never doubted their candidate would emerge victorious.
Milly Cericole, 80, smiled with pride last night when she talked about how McCarthy grew up with some of her nine children.
"We are delighted that people had sense enough to put her back in office," Cericole said. "She's educated, she's capable, she loves the city, and everything she does is for our benefit."
Throughout her campaign, McCarthy, 54, painted herself as the city's protector against overdevelopment and criticized her opponent for his votes to grant special permits on the City Council. During debates, McCarthy pointed to Doucette's support for Indian Ridge and an overlay district to allow large mixed-use developments near Totten Pond Road, projects she said only added to the city's traffic woes.
"Zone changes can't be given out like candy," McCarthy said during a debate televised live on the Waltham Channel.
In pamphlets printed on colored paper, McCarthy outlined her accomplishments in key areas including open space, traffic, and schools.
In 2005, the city purchased 32 acres of open space behind Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church and 7 acres of the former Gaebler School, saving the properties from possible development. McCarthy is currently working to seize 27 acres of wooded property known as Sanderson Heights by eminent domain.
Doucette's campaign platform centered on painting McCarthy as an uncooperative leader whose failure to communicate with department heads created chaos and confusion in city services. Doucette blamed McCarthy's management style for holding up projects in the city.
Ultimately, voters sided with McCarthy's experience over Doucette's ideology.
McCarthy, who grew up in the Chesterbrook Gardens development, graduated from Waltham High School in 1971.
After earning her degree from Suffolk University Law School she opened a private practice in Waltham. She began her foray into politics by joining the School Committee in 1986. She later took a job in the city's Law Department and worked her way up to city solicitor.
She won an at large City Council seat in 2001.
Earlier in the day, junior history classes at Waltham High School predicted the outcome in a mock election, where McCarthy picked up 65 percent of the vote from about 400 students.
"We have a saying here: As Waltham High School goes, so goes the city. The kids have been very accurate in picking winners," said history teacher Derek Vandegrift.
City Clerk Russ Malone said voter turnout yesterday was about 26 percent, compared to 42 percent in the 2003 mayoral election - a decline he attributed mostly to the bad weather.
Nicole Haley can be reached at nhaley@cnc.com or 781-398-8004.
