Page 6 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2025 ELECTION 2025 | FROM Page 1 Meet the candidates: Joanne McKenna Ward 1 Councillor Joanne McKenna has represented Beachmont for the past 10? years. Although the former Revere High teacher is fi ercely committed to her ward and neighbors, she now wants to shift her focus to advocating for the entire city. And it makes sense. Much of McKenna’s work on the City Council has been for the benefi t of all of Revere. McKenna is committed to protecting Revere’s unique environment and wildlife. She spearheaded the plan to convert the retired Beachmont fi re station into a community arts center. During the past 10 years, McKenna wrote 17 ordinances that have had an impact on the entire city. She successfully pushed to implement a ban on plastic bags, polystyrene and billboards; she developed regulations for Airbnbs and short-term rentals; she managed to extend yard waste and street sweeping through December, and she called for the use of less invasive rat poison to protect wildlife and domestic animals. McKenna spent much of the summer knocking on doors. Despite a late summer case of covid, she said, it’s been a wonderful experience. She said she’s knocked 3,700 times and she has loved it. “I don’t take anyIf We Happen To Meet By Accident ... You’ll Be Glad You Found Us! BEST! Celebrating 46 Years In Business! TONY’S AUTO BODY Call or Visit 781-321-0032 34 Sharon Street Malden, MA 02148 TONYSAUTOBODYLLC.COM COME VISIT OUR STATE OF THE ART BODY SHOP • Computerized Paint Matching (State of the Art Spray Booth) • Computerized Frame Machines • R134 + 1234yf A/C Machines Fully Insured -RS2415 Insurance Company Approval ALL OUR WORK IS GUARANTEED! TONY BARTOLO Owner 46 Years Let Us Handle Your Next Insurance Claim. Go With the BEST It Doesn’t Get BETTER! RENTAL CARS Available Joanne McKenna Anthony Parziale thing for granted,” she said. “If you want something, you work for it.” The campaigning has brought her back in touch with former students and coworkers from the school departments as well as many people she hadn’t seen for years. “People are concerned,” she said, adding that overdevelopment, the cost of the high school and the fact that residents can’t park in front of their homes are issues residents frequently mention. And then there are taxes and water and sewer bills that worry many residents. “I understand,” she said. “I live here too.” “Many concerns are the result of overbuilding,” said McKenna, adding that these are not great times. “We would be in better shape if Suff olk Downs was completed,” she said. McKenna has invested 43 years in service to the city, fi rst as a teacher then as a city councillor. She hopes to continue working as a councillor-at-large to make Revere safe, clean and beautiful. “If God wants me to do this, I’ll do it,” she said. Anthony Parziale Many in Revere fi rst met Anthony Parziale when a transitional shelter for the homeless was proposed in his Arcadia Street neighborhood. Residents acknowledged the need for the shelter, but they opposed locating it in their residential neighborhood packed with families and children. Parziale led the opposition to the shelter, and it was strong and steady. The City Council said the project was governed by state regulations, and they had no authority to stop it. The plan was withdrawn, and another location was sought. “It felt like the people on Arcadia Street didn’t have a voice,” said Parziale. “Every resident deserves the right to take part in government that makes decisions that aff ect them.” Parziale was also surprised by the City Council’s position that the shelter was a state project over which they had no authority. “Those words don’t make sense to me,” he said, adding that if he were a councillor, he would negotiate with state or federal offi cials and agencies on behalf of constituents. In the wake of the Arcadia Street debate, Parziale ran for an at-large seat on the City Council in 2023. He came in sixth, which in Revere means if any elected councillor-at-large cannot serve the term, Parziale would be appointed to that seat. Parziale began attending every meeting. He feels city government should start with the small things. “If we do the little things right, picking up the trash, answering 311, then when a big issue comes along, we’ll be able to work together and handle it,” he said. Still, Parziale watches the big issues unfolding in the city. “I’m a huge fan of commercial development,” he said. “We get the revenue without a huge strain on infrastructure.” He’s also clear on development within neighborhoods. “If the neighborhood doesn’t want it, that’s an easy no for me,” he said. Parziale also has some ideas on the Community Investment Trust Fund, which collects contributions from developers to offset the impact their projects have on the city. The sums are substantial and often pay for major city projects, but Parziale has proposed distributing some of that money to residents directly aff ected by developments. “We can do a little more for abutters,” he said. “Let’s do right by the people.” Parziale also thinks mitigation money should go straight
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