Thursday, 4:30 PM
Voters head to polls in primary race to fill Travaglini seat
By Raja Mishra
Globe Staff
REVERE -- In the race to fill Robert Travaglini's cq massive political shoes, candidate Dan Rizzo opted yesterday to spend his final day campaigning in Revere, where he drew flickers of recognition from some residents. It was far more than he has grown accustomed to in this unusual political contest.
"I've been campaigning in Cambridge a lot and I would venture to say most people have no idea there's an election," said Rizzo, a Revere city councilor.
Turnout at today's polling spots around the 1st Suffolk and Middlesex Senate district -- which includes East Boston, Winthrop, east Cambridge, much of Revere, as well as Boston's North End, West End and a sliver of Beacon Hill -- is expected to be minuscule.
The special election was called after Travaglini vacated his powerful perch as Senate president in March to become a lobbyist. Rizzo is facing East Boston state Representative Anthony Petruccelli in the Democratic primary today. With no Republican on the ballot, the outcome will decide who replaces Travaglini.
Petruccelli, with nearly a decade on Beacon Hill, has the backing of local power brokers, including Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Travaglini himself, as well as a list of legislative accomplishments.
Rizzo meanwhile is banking on heavy turnout in his hometown, which could represent about a quarter of all voters. His hopes rest on people like Mickey Casoli. Casoli, a retired Revere cop, ambled up to American Legion hall here yesterday to attend a ceremony honoring fallen US soldiers. Asked yesterday who he would support, he retorted: "I'm from Revere. Figure it out!"
Rizzo has framed the campaign -- in which the candidates have nearly identical views on the major issues -- as as his assault on entrenched powers.
"I owe loyalties to no one. There's no lobbyist that I have to report back to, there's no inside Beacon Hill power brokers I have to report back to," he said. "The only people I have to report back to is the voters."
Petruccelli dismissing such talks as "ridiculous," claiming his legislative record is proof he would be the more effective senator.
"My campaign has not been about rhetoric, as I would suggest his has been. Mine has been about accomplishments," he said. "I have a record of standing up against discrimination, against Massport, for the environment."
