Round one

The race to replace Capuano narrows in Somerville

by Ben Geman

Fifteen minutes after the polls closed in Somerville Tuesday night, the cake appeared at Anthony's Function Hall, where Dorothy Kelly Gay would soon celebrate surviving the preliminary mayoral election. DOROTHY, YOU TAKE US OVER THE RAINBOW was written in icing next to pictures of the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow, and Dorothy.

Leaving aside what the image says about her supporters, the night wasn't the icing on the cake that some expected for former lieutenant-governor candidate Kelly Gay, who had been pegged the front-runner in the race to replace Mayor Michael Capuano when he left for Washington to represent the Eighth Congressional District. It was sweeter for John Buonomo, who topped the five-candidate field and now faces Kelly Gay in the May 11 final.

For Buonomo, a wonkish city alderman backed by many Capuano supporters, the win is a turnaround and a step closer to the office he's long coveted. Beaten by Capuano 10 years ago, he has moved closer to Capuano politically and has cast himself as the candidate best poised to carry forward his legacy. He also says he's the one with the most concrete ideas for governing. "In this campaign, we talked about issues, and we were very specific about keeping the city moving forward and . . . focusing on education, affordable housing, and maintaining a low tax rate," he said.

Kelly Gay, who has called for unity in the city's fractious political landscape, also claimed victory. "It's about good working people wanting to see this city in better shape," she said. Though she didn't win, backers called her second-place showing solid in the face of the "paycheck patriotism" they say Buonomo got from city workers loyal to Capuano. But that rankles Buonomo backers. "As far as I know, there aren't 4307 people on the municipal payroll," said Buonomo campaign strategist Andrew Upton outside Buonomo's victory party. Officially, Buonomo won 4348 votes to Gay's 3755. Alderman Joe Curtatone, the third serious contender, won 3381 in a race where turnout was higher than expected.

Curtatone, a Capuano critic backed by city progressives (it's a loose term when all three of the major candidates are liberal urban Democrats), saw his political career stall in the wake of a campaign that was at times hesitant. "We still have some important causes to fight for," Curtatone told supporters at the Somerville Holiday Inn. "The right kind of development . . . for parents with children who want a voice in their children's education."

Handicapping the final race began as soon as the polls closed. First scenario: Buonomo rising! Kelly Gay, suggests one insider, is the Ray Flynn of the Somerville race (in the Eighth, Flynn was ahead early but didn't move and was overtaken by Capuano). The alternative view: Kelly Gay did well against the Capuano machine. Far more Curtatone support flies to her than to his enemy, Buonomo, and she closes the gap.

But Capuano, who "doubts" he'll endorse anyone, says that "no candidate can deliver their supporters en masse." As long as it's close, the election starts today, right now," he said Tuesday night.