Staff Report
A tremendous crowd of supporters packed the large Beachmont VFW function room in Revere for An Evening In Honor of Rep. Adrian Madaro on Monday, Oct. 6.
The turnout was truly impressive as hundreds of East Boston residents joined city, county, and state officials in support of Rep. Madaro, a native son born and raised on Eagle Hill, who has served the neighborhood with distinction on Beacon Hill since 2015.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz, City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune, Sen. Lydia Edwards, District 1 Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata, Suffolk County DA Kevin Hayden, Rep. Jeff Turco, Revere Mayor Patrick Keefe, former City Councilors John Nucci and Sal LaMattina, and former Rep. Emanuel “Gus” Serra were among the dignitaries in attendance.
Mayor Wu, a host of the event, lauded Rep. Madaro’s legislative career and public service in her introductory remarks.
Noting the capacity crowd and the numerous public officials in attendance, Wu said, “We’re all here to say thank you to you for supporting Adrian. We have a leader [Rep. Madaro] here, who knows this community inside-out, who works his heart out to not just take care of the community that we have today, but to do whatever it takes to make the best possible future for the community that we are welcoming in and for these kids to live the best possible life.”
Mayor Wu spoke of the outstanding contributions that Madaro has made to the Eastie neighborhood, even before he was elected to office.
“I have always admired how much Adrian – whatever situation he was in, whatever part of the city he was in – you can just feel East Boston oozing out of him. He’s done an amazing job as state representative, taking on important committee assignments, taking on the toughest challenges, and not just doing that work at the state level, but really leaning in for whatever Gigi (Councilor Coletta) and Ruthzee (Council President Louijeune) and I and all of us at the city level need – extra ideas, another perspective, he (Rep. Madaro) is often my first call when it comes to what it is we need to do and doing it in way that brings everyone in to the conversation. I am proud to stand with Adrian for whatever we need to get done, because not only is he an incredible public servant and leader and state representative, he’s just an incredible guy. You know that his heart is always in the right place, because he will never forget where he’s from, and always keep the people he grew up with right in the center of what he’s focused on.”
Humbled by the immense introduction by Mayor Wu and the warm applause from his supporters, Madaro thanked Wu for “your service to East Boston and the city.”
Turning his attention to the people in the hall, Madaro offered, “It fills me with so much joy to see people from all stages of my life coming together. I can’t thank you enough from the bottom of my heart for your support, for your investment in my campaign, and for allowing me to do the job that I love to do, which is to be your state representative. I realize that it’s been 10 years that I’ve been privileged and honored to represent you as your state representative.”
In his speech, Madaro reflected on his many accomplishments in office, a productive and inspiring record that encompasses delivering on the East Boston Senior Center, the creation of Piers Park Phase 2, securing millions in the state budget for East Boston, passing impactful legislation on environmental justice and low-income MBTA fares, access to in-state tuition and scholarships for all Massachusetts residents, omnibus legislation covering mental health and substance use disorders, launching inner-harbor ferry service, and infrastructure improvements on Constitution Beach and the East Boston Greenway.
Ever classy, Madaro thanked Beachmont VFW leadership and veterans for their hospitality and Steve Scire of Carlo’s Catering “for providing this delicious food,” and he paid tribute to John Nucci on his retirement as senior vice president at Suffolk University.