(Globe Staff Photo / George Rizer)
Felix D. Arroyo | A gallon of coffee, a ton of optimism
AGE: 55
HOME: JAMAICA PLAIN
What time he woke up: 5:30
a.m.
Hours of sleep the night
before: Eight.
What he had for breakfast:
Strong black coffee and a
doughnut. Then, two hours
later, eggs over medium, white
toast, sausages, and more coffee.
First person he talked to in the
morning: His wife, Elsa. ''I said,
let's get going.''
Estimated number of hands
shaken during day: 200.
Political memorabilia items
handed out: Palm cards.
Number of campaign workers
helping him during day: 100
plus.
How he felt about his chances
at noontime: ''You never know.
It's a very tight race, but I'm
getting a lot of people saying
they voted for me.''
Why he deserves to be elected:
''Because I'm a nice guy. Really,
because I've done my job. I've
done what I said I was going to
do, and I help serve as a bridge
to communities that otherwise
would not participate or be represented.''
Biggest headache on Election
Day: Recording an automated
phone call to urge supporters to
vote for him. Taping ran behind
schedule, and made him late
getting to Chuck Turner's office
for a meeting with Al Sharpton.
What he ate during day: Breakfast
(see above). McDonald's
Double Cheeseburger. Chicken
soup and crackers. A bottle of
Malta and a pastelillo (a meat
turnover). Potato chips.
Cups of coffee consumed: By 2
p.m., ''more than a gallon.''
What issues he heard from
voters at polls: Improvement
needed in city's schools.
Where he had election night
party: Mirage@Estelle's, 888
Tremont St.
Why his campaign strategy
worked: ''We have so many
volunteers concentrated in
areas that we really needed to,
and we reviewed our strategy
in view of the preliminary election.
We never said anything
derogatory or negative, and
that earned us respect.''
By Monica Rhor
