MARKEY SCORES REELECTION WIN see page 15 Vol.29, No.36 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net Free Every Friday 781-286-8500 Friday, September 4, 2020 Giannino wins Democratic State Rep. Primary C By Adam Swift ouncillor-at-Large Jessica Ann Giannino cruised to victory Tuesday night in the Democratic primary to replace RoseLee Vincent as the state representative in the 16th Suff olk District. Giannino outpaced Joe Gravellese, a former aide to Mayor Brian Arrigo, by about a 60-40 margin across the district, which comprises a large chunk of Revere and portions of Chelsea and Saugus. On the Republican side of the ballot, Philip Russo mounted a write-in campaign for the representative seat. Write-in votes were being hand-counted across the district to see if he garnered the 150 necessary to appear on the November general election ballot. Unofficial results on primary night showed Giannino defeating Gravellese 3,093 to 2,017. Across the district, AP results showed Giannino prevailing 3,770 to 2,396. “I don’t have words for how grateful I am and how truly overwhelmed by the amount of support and kindness people have shown myself and my family over WINNING FAMILY: City Councillor Jessica Ann Giannino celebrated her Primary win with her grandmother JoAnn and her father Christopher. (Advocate photo by Tara Vocino) the past few months,” said Giannino during an interview on RevereTV late on election night. “For years, the 16th Suff olk District has been represented by strong women who knew how to get things done,” Giannino said. “They have been in leadership at the State House and given a new generation of elected offi cials a lot to live up to.” Gravellese said he spoke to both Giannino and Vincent after the votes came in to let them know he’s ready to help on shared policy interests with them. “I’m incredibly grateful that 2,200 people voted for me,” said Gravellese. “When I got into the race, I didn’t think that that many people would vote.” Election Commissioner Diane Colella said more than 6,000 of Revere’s 29,218 voters took advantage of mail-in ballots, absentee ballots, or early voting. Colella said that even with the large number of early ballots, the polls were still busy throughout the day on Tuesday. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, election night had a different feel on Tuesday night, as few candidates were spotted at City Hall, and the election staff took over the City Council Chambers to check in the ballot boxes. Still, election workers began taping the familiar vote tally strips to the wall outside the Chambers shortly after 8 p.m., and all the precincts were accounted for by 9:30 p.m. In other contested races, Terrence Kennedy outpaced challenger Helina Fontes, 4,225 to 2,142, in Revere in the Democratic Governor’s Council race, and Felix Arroyo got 5,226 votes to 1,120 WINS | SEE Page 8 Part-time bus drivers, cafeteria workers to be $1.59 W GALLON We accept: MasterCard * Visa * & Discover Price Subject to Change without notice 100 Gal. Min. 24 Hr. Service 781-286-2602 offered furloughs due to remote learning By Adam Swift ith remote learning scheduled to get underway in the Revere schools on Sept. 16, there won’t be much to do for the district’s cafeteria workers, crossing guards, bus drivers and bus monitors. Last week, the School Committee authorized Superintendent of Schools Dr. Dianne Kelly to see if those part-time workers would take a voluntary furlough. The furlough would allow the employees to collect unemployment and put them in a position to be hired back by the district if and when the schools move toward a hybrid learning model with students in the buildings. “In light of the fact that we’re not going to have any students coming to our schools for the foreseeable future, I think it would be prudent for the School Committee to consider the viability of keeping all staff in the cafeteria, crossing guards, bus drivers and bus monitors on staff in light of a very diffi - cult budget this year,” said Kelly. “I think it should be considered by the School Committee as the fi scal agents of the school department.” Rather than cutting the positions outright, the School Committee approved a motion by employees, we will get a good sense of what those next steps will be.” School Committee Member Fred Sannella said the district has to act quickly to fi nd out if the employees will take the furlough. “We can’t see 120 people going a month, because if it is not accepted, they will be laid off ,” Sannella said. Kelly said late last week that Dr. DIANNE KELLY Supt. of Schools Member Carol Tye to get information on if the employees would be willing to take part in a furlough program. “I do appreciate the idea of an optional furlough program as a fi rst step to really consider how we best move forward with these staff members,” said Mayor Brian Arrigo. “Giving the option is an important piece, and off ering it to those she would begin reaching out to union leaders and administrators as soon as possible. “A furlough means folks will still be employed by the school district; they will just not be paid while we are not utilizing their services,” said Kelly. “But when we are able to come back to a hybrid model of learning where we have kids coming in every day, their jobs would still be promised to them. At that time, they could choose to come back or resign. They will be able to collect unemployment.”
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