Boston City Council elections were held on November 2, 1993. All thirteen seats (nine district representatives and four at-large members) were contested in the general election, while ten seats (six districts and the four at-large members) had also been contested in the preliminary election held on September 21, 1993.
The large number of preliminary candidates followed a reduction in the number of signatures required for a candidate to appear on the ballot, from 1500 to 500.
Since the composition of the council changed in 1984, to four at-large seats and nine district representatives, no candidate who had run for re-election had lost. However, two incumbents—Anthony Crayton and David Scondras—were defeated by challengers in this election.
At-large Councillors John A. Nucci and Dapper O'Neil were re-elected. Councillors Bruce Bolling and Rosaria Salerno did not seek re-election, as they were running for Mayor of Boston; their seats were won by Richard P. Iannella and Peggy Davis-Mullen. Iannella was the son of former Council president Christopher A. Iannella, while unsuccessful candidate Michael Travaglini was the brother of outgoing District 1 Councillor Robert Travaglini.
CandidatesPreliminary ElectionGeneral ElectionVotes%Votes% John A. Nucci 42,970 53,531 Dapper O'Neil 42,069 52,900 Richard P. Iannella 34,065 52,542 Peggy Davis-Mullen 29,389 40,340 Stephen J. Murphy 20,472 31,294 Michael Travaglini 19,976 31,014 Francis Costello 21,131 30,367 Eddie Jenkins Jr. 16,249 28,986 Brian P. Wallace 12,231 Karen MacNutt 11,885 Jose Vincenty 10,606 Joseph Delgardo 6,886 Karen Ray 6,654 Gary Dotterman 5,404 Frank G. Williams 5,376 Daniel J. Carey 5,339 Edward T. Wheeler 4,019 Martin A. Coughlin 3,308
District 1 Councillor Robert Travaglini, who had been elected to the Massachusetts Senate in November 1992, did not seek re-election to the City Council; his seat was won by Diane J. Modica.
CandidatesPreliminary ElectionGeneral ElectionVotes%Votes% Diane J. Modica 4,010 8,008 James Costello 2,814 6,663 Robert Cappucci 2,662 Domenic A. Piso 2,310 Maria DiLibero 1,822 Tom Pizzi 300 Richard Rosa 218 per preliminary election recount
District 2 Councillor James M. Kelly was re-elected.
CandidatesGeneral ElectionVotes% James M. Kelly 12,344 Ali J. Fiumedoro 2,050
District 3 Councillor James E. Byrne did not seek re-election; his seat was won by Maureen Feeney, his neighborhood liaison.
CandidatesPreliminary ElectionGeneral ElectionVotes%Votes% Maureen Feeney 6,673 9,769 Joseph P. McDermott 2,118 4,041 Michael F. Kenneally 1,394 Thomas J. Doherty 1,335 Patrick J. Walsh 1,026 Nancy E. Kavanagh 965
District 4 Councillor Charles Yancey was re-elected.
CandidatesGeneral ElectionVotes% Charles Yancey 5,302 J. R. Rucker 753
District 5 The seat of Councillor Thomas Menino, who had been acting mayor since July 1993 and won the mayoral election, was won by Daniel F. Conley.
CandidatesPreliminary ElectionGeneral ElectionVotes%Votes% Daniel F. Conley 6,210 10,631 John Pulgini 3,884 7,355 John P. Grady 2,945 Rita E. Walsh 1,990 John J. Kenney 642 Kenneth W. Spolsino 436 John H. Sheerin 276
District 6 Councillor Maura Hennigan was re-elected.
CandidatesGeneral ElectionVotes% Maura Hennigan 10,465 Gerard J. McCarthy 5,714
District 7 Councillor Anthony Crayton was defeated by Gareth R. Saunders.
CandidatesPreliminary ElectionGeneral ElectionRecountVotes%Votes%Votes% Gareth R. Saunders 1,447 3,028 3,137 Anthony Crayton 1,824 3,097 3,047 Roy A. Owens 1,417 Phyllis Bailey 693 Ray F. Green 247 per preliminary election recount
Saunders was later declared the winner, due to discovery of a tally sheet error; his victory was subsequently confirmed via recount.
District 8 Councillor David Scondras was defeated by Thomas M. Keane Jr.
CandidatesPreliminary ElectionGeneral ElectionRecountVotes%Votes%Votes% Thomas M. Keane Jr. 2,403 3,648 3,649 David Scondras 3,271 3,621 3,622 Dan Huck 366
District 9 Councillor Brian J. McLaughlin was re-elected.
CandidatesPreliminary ElectionGeneral ElectionRecountVotes%Votes%Votes% Brian J. McLaughlin 4,213 4,585 4,561 Jerry P. McDermott 2,398 4,295 4,400 Rosina T. Bowman 1,742 Will Luxier 617 John W. Carmilia 162
See also List of members of the Boston City Council 1993 Boston mayoral election
References
Further reading