1983 Boston City Council election

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Boston City Council elections were held on November 15, 1983, with preliminary elections on October 11, 1983. [1] This election transitioned the Council from having 9 members (all at-large) to having 13 members (9 district representatives and 4 at-large). All 13 seats were contested in both the preliminary and general election.

Contents

Incumbents

Each of the nine incumbent at-large councillors ran for Boston public office.

NamePosition contested forResult
Bruce Bolling Councillor, District 7won
Raymond Flynn Mayor of Boston won
Maura Hennigan Councillor, District 6won
Christopher A. Iannella Councillor at-largeelected
Frederick C. Langone Mayor of Boston lost, 6th
Michael J. McCormack Councillor at-largeelected
Terence P. McDermott Councillor at-largelost, 5th
Dapper O'Neil Councillor at-largeelected
Joseph M. Tierney Councillor at-largeelected

At-large

In the preliminary election, ten names appeared on the ballot, with voters able to choose four; the top eight vote-getters then appeared on the ballot in the general election. [2]

Voters in the general election could select four of the eight final candidates; Councillors McCormack, Iannella, Tierney, and O'Neil received the most votes, so were re-elected and filled the four at-large seats, while Councillor McDermott finished fifth and was not re-elected.

Candidates [3] Preliminary Election [4] [5] General Election [6]
Votes%Votes%
Michael J. McCormack 52,31512.3%87,143
Christopher A. Iannella 66,64715.6%85,204
Joseph M. Tierney 62,85014.7%82,600
Dapper O'Neil 64,41015.1%79,086
Terence P. McDermott 61,43614.4%77,096
Jean Sullivan McKeigue 48,26511.3%73,064
Willie Mae Allen 21,3695.0%32,556
Althea Garrison 19,9084.7%26,564
Joseph Mirisola14,9143.5% 
Leslie F. Payne14,1993.3% 

District 1

Robert Travaglini was elected.

Candidates [3] [7] Preliminary Election [8] General Election [6]
Votes%Votes%
Robert Travaglini 500111,663
Diane J. Modica370410,343
Robert M. Cappucci3444 
Michael J. Reardon3081 
Joseph V. Cinseruli1999 
Neil P. Brennan773 
Joseph Sablone372 
Carl J. Salvi Jr.272 

District 2

James M. Kelly was elected.

Candidates [3] Preliminary Election [9] General Election [6]
Votes%Votes%
James M. Kelly 861511,815
Michael Taylor628411,026
Christopher F. Hayes4400 
William P. Foley718 
Stephen M. Palmer281 
Ali J. Fiumedoro272 

District 3

James E. Byrne was elected.

Candidates [3] Preliminary Election [10] General Election [6]
Votes%Votes%
James E. Byrne523111,544
John E. Garland531911,295
Stephen M. Cidlevich3944 
Richard Livingston2339 
Carol Nee Geyer2145 
Walter R. Campbell997 
Debra Gelber347 

District 4

Charles Yancey was elected.

Candidates [3] Preliminary Election [11] General Election [6]
Votes%Votes%
Charles Yancey 42397898
Bill Owens Jr.44057364
Gerald Anderson1889 
Locksley H. Bryan980 
Benjamin F. Thompson601 
Carter D. Kimbrel469 
Bobby J. Wallace254 
Arthur Williams241 

District 5

Thomas Menino was elected.

Candidates [3] Preliminary Election [12] General Election [6]
Votes%Votes%
Thomas Menino 11,37517,554
Richard E. Kenney31265945
William G. Broderick3123 
Robert MacGregor1124 
Constance L. Brown467 
George L. Richmond461 

District 6

At-large councillor Maura Hennigan was elected.

Candidates [3] Preliminary Election [13] General Election [6]
Votes%Votes%
Maura Hennigan 10,77214,390
Francis X. Coppinger 65579654
Edmund McNamara 3139 

District 7

At-large councillor Bruce Bolling was elected.

Candidates [3] Preliminary Election [14] General Election [6]
Votes%Votes%
Bruce Bolling 75569049
Elizabeth (Betty) Jones19075121
Ben Haith1315 
Roy A. Owens1146 
Steven A. Wise567 
James Joseph302 

District 8

David Scondras was elected, becoming the first openly gay Boston City Council member. [15]

Candidates [3] Preliminary Election [16] General Election [6]
Votes%Votes%
David Scondras 37207207
Mark Roosevelt 41367104
Dennis A. Quilty3150 
Eugenie Beal1165 

District 9

Brian J. McLaughlin was elected.

Candidates [3] Preliminary Election [17] General Election [6]
Votes%Votes%
Brian J. McLaughlin 29699071
Helene Solomon34707782
Richard M. Izzo2489 
John F. Melia2456 
Joseph H. Hogan Jr.1451 
Jerome P. MacDonald917 
George Franklin534 
Jean Farrell162 

See also

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References

  1. Black, Chris; Kenney, Charles (August 19, 1983). "NEW DATES SET FOR BOSTON ELECTIONS" . The Boston Globe . Retrieved February 21, 2018 via pqarchiver.com.
  2. "THE BOSTON PRELIMINARY BALLOT" . The Boston Globe . October 4, 1983. Retrieved February 21, 2018 via pqarchiver.com.[ permanent dead link ]
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "CANDIDATES AS THEY APPEAR ON THE BALLOT" . The Boston Globe . October 10, 1983. Retrieved February 22, 2018 via pqarchiver.com.[ permanent dead link ]
  4. "FINAL RESULTS OF BOSTON PRELIMINARY ELECTION FOR COUNCILOR AT-LARGE; 2 YEARS" . The Boston Globe . October 12, 1983. Retrieved February 21, 2018 via pqarchiver.com.[ permanent dead link ]
  5. "5 INCUMBENTS TOP AT-LARGE COUNCIL RACE" . The Boston Globe . October 12, 1983. Retrieved February 21, 2018 via pqarchiver.com.[ permanent dead link ]
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "BOSTON ELECTION RESULTS" . The Boston Globe . November 16, 1983. Retrieved February 21, 2018 via pqarchiver.com.
  7. "BOSTON'S VOTING DISTRICTS; DISTRICT 1: SIMILAR PEOPLE, SIMILAR PROBLEMS" . The Boston Globe . September 5, 1983. Retrieved February 22, 2018 via pqarchiver.com.[ permanent dead link ]
  8. "FINAL RESULTS OF BOSTON PRELIMINARY ELECTIONS: DISTRICT 1" . The Boston Globe . October 12, 1983. Retrieved February 21, 2018 via pqarchiver.com.
  9. "FINAL RESULTS OF BOSTON PRELIMINARY ELECTION: DISTRICT 2" . The Boston Globe . October 12, 1983. Retrieved February 21, 2018 via pqarchiver.com.
  10. "FINAL RESULTS OF BOSTON PRELIMINARY ELECTION: DISTRICT 3" . The Boston Globe . October 12, 1983. Retrieved February 21, 2018 via pqarchiver.com.
  11. "FINAL RESULTS OF BOSTON PRELIMINARY ELECTIONS: DISTRICT 4" . The Boston Globe . October 12, 1983. Retrieved February 22, 2018 via pqarchiver.com.
  12. "FINAL ELECTION RESULTS OF BOSTON PRELIMINARY ELECTIONS: DISTRICT 5" . The Boston Globe . October 12, 1983. Retrieved February 22, 2018 via pqarchiver.com.
  13. "FINAL RESULTS OF BOSTON PRELIMINARY ELECTIONS: DISTRICT 6" . The Boston Globe . October 12, 1983. Retrieved February 22, 2018 via pqarchiver.com.
  14. "FINAL RESULTS OF BOSTON PRELIMINARY ELECTIONS: DISTRICT 7" . The Boston Globe . October 12, 1983. Retrieved February 22, 2018 via pqarchiver.com.
  15. Krone, Mark (October 10, 2013). "Boston Mayor's Race: Then and Now". bostonspiritmagazine.com. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  16. "FINAL RESULTS OF BOSTON PRELIMINARY ELECTIONS: DISTRICT 8" . The Boston Globe . October 12, 1983. Retrieved February 22, 2018 via pqarchiver.com.
  17. "FINAL RESULTS OF BOSTON PRELIMINARY ELECTIONS: DISTRICT 9" . The Boston Globe . October 12, 1983. Retrieved February 22, 2018 via pqarchiver.com.

Further reading