First night

Why is Mickey Roache showing off his shoes?

by Yvonne Abraham

There is no suspense in the air. Fifty or 60 supporters of Councilor Francis "Mickey" Roache, his victory a fait accompli, are sitting at huge round tables in the blue, low-ceilinged basement room at the McKeon Post, in Dorchester, waiting for their hero to walk through the door. Upstairs in the main hall, councilor at-large Peggy Davis-Mullen's fans await her entrance, and her finishing place, which will be fourth. In a smaller room nearby, District 3 councilor Maureen Feeney has already arrived, beaming at her decisive victory, hugging and kissing everyone in sight.

The election turnout has been dismal -- possibly the worst ever -- with die-hard supporters and city workers delivering the bulk of the votes. Which, according to one supporter, makes Roache's gathering all the more special: "This is like a family thing," he says. And almost as soon as the polls close in this preliminary election, it's clear that Roache, the electorally invincible former police commissioner, will top the ticket, just as he did in the final in 1995.

Still, his campaign workers want it known that despite his popularity, Roache didn't just sail into first place. He is one darned hard worker, a real shoe-leather guy, his supporters say constantly. (The implication: so are they.)

"A campaign is founded on knocking on doors," says Martin Hanley, a wiry political veteran of 81 with a full head of thick white hair and a 100-proof Irish accent. "Mickey Roache and I went all over West Roxbury together. I wore out four pair o' shoes. I need a new pair."

Still, Roache's victory, because of its inevitability, provides only so much conversational fuel. Talk soon turns to the night's two shockers, which came in a preliminary few believed would produce any surprises. Hyde Park native Stephen Murphy, with only nine months on the city council, had been expected to struggle for a spot among the top four finishers. Instead, he ran second -- ahead even of his mentor, Dapper O'Neil -- providing a testament to the difference the mayor and his people can make. And in District 1, incumbent Diane Modica was trounced by North End native Paul Scapicchio, who benefited from an extraordinary campaign organization and some help from his own friends in high places (See "Behind the Scapicchio Surprise"). Such high drama.

They might not have had the most exciting race in the preliminary, but Roache's supporters have plenty to amuse them while they wait. DJ Bert Wilkinson, who does a lot of political events, promises the party will get a little more fun once the candidate arrives. He spins all kinds of tunes for the revelers -- "We Are Family," to which no one dances, and "New York, New York," to which a couple of seated celebrants kick up a heel or two.

By about 10:15, all that is left of the evening's buffet is five empty pizza boxes, one lonely chicken wing, and a fistful of gloppy penne. The barman has been busy, the crowd growing. Wilkinson interrupts "Honky Tonk Woman" to announce that the candidate has, indeed, topped the ticket, and that he is on his way. Many eyes turn eagerly toward to the door looking for Roache, but find Martin Keogh instead. Keogh, Davis-Mullen's top aide, has come downstairs to have an intense but un-eavesdroppable discussion with one of Roache's people.

"That's Peggy's husband," says Martin Hanley, nodding knowingly.

"No it isn't," says the elderly man next to him, a bit impatient at Hanley's ignorance. "He's her son."

Finally, Roache arrives, to much applause. He gives Hanley a big hug, and Hanley has him show everybody the soles of his shoes. Laughing, Roache obliges, and there is, indeed, damage there. A slight man with a square jaw, the councilor poses for photographs with groups of supporters: bystanders shout at two fans to take their Peggy Davis-Mullen badges off just before the camera flashes.

Roache makes his way round the whole room, hugging people and laughing a lot. While he's circulating, Maureen Feeney comes downstairs to applause, and she and Roache congratulate each other.

In his speech, Roache thanks everybody profusely, especially Hanley. Then he gets in a plug for Feeney's next political quest: "We need a state senator from Dorchester," he says. "We need Maureen Feeney." Then he cautions his fans that there is still much work to be done before the final on November 4 -- even though everyone knows there is virtually no way he could lose.

Hanley's exuberance will not be dulled.

"Go off 'n' have a look at his shoes again!"