The five candidates for the Democratic nomination for the East Boston state representative seat are in the final week of their campaigns heading in to the primary election set for this Tuesday, March 3.
Ed Deveau, Camilo Hernandez, Adrian Madaro, Joe Ruggiero, and Lou Scapicchio are contending for the seat previously held by Carlo Basile, who resigned in January to become chief secretary in the Governor Baker Administration.
According to the City of Boston Election Department, there are 16,000 Democratic and Unenrolled voters who are eligible to cast their ballots in Tuesday’s election.
The election has created significant interest in East Boston as the candidates have worked hard for every vote. One of the unique aspects of the election is that East Boston’s state representative represents East Boston exclusively in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. That means the state representative will be the liaison to the entire East Boston neighborhood and according to the Website EHow, “may also present legislation written by citizens on the floor for consideration” in the House.
The new state representative will join State Sen. Anthony Petruccelli in the delegation representing East Boston on Beacon Hill.
In addition to their legislative work on Beacon Hill, East Boston’s state representative is often an invited guest to numerous ceremonies and local events such as graduations, ribbon-cuttings, galas, and sports awards banquets. From the very beginning of the Mass. General Court centuries ago, the position has been one of prestige and importance.
The Democratic nominee will face off against Joanne Pomodoro in the March 31 general election.