2 political insiders to face off in council race
Two seasoned political insiders -- one an official with the city's Transportation Department and the other an aide to a US congressman -- topped a six-candidate field yesterday and will face each other for a seat on the Boston City Council.
Salvatore LaMattina, a 46-year-old East Boston resident and director of operations for the Transportation Department, was the leader in yesterday's preliminary election, receiving more than 53 percent of the 6,261 votes cast. Daniel J. Ryan, a 37-year-old Charlestown resident and aide to US Representative Michael E. Capuano of Somerville, was second with 32 percent.
LaMattina and Ryan will square off June 13 for the First District City Council seat representing Charlestown, East Boston, and the North End. Turnout was about 22 percent, officials said.
The seat was vacated last month by Paul J. Scapicchio, 40, who was named senior vice president of ML Strategies, the lobbying arm of the high-powered Boston law firm Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo.
LaMattina is a familiar face in the district, having served as the mayor's liaison to both East Boston and the North End.
''I am so ecstatic now, and humbled," he said last night in a telephone interview. ''I think I earned their respect over the years, and they came out for me."
LaMattina ran his campaign on a platform like that of Mayor Thomas M. Menino, with a heavy emphasis on such issues as filling potholes and fixing burned-out street lights.
Ryan said he was running for City Council because he wanted to work on local issues.
As an aide to Capuano, he handled East Boston constituent services, often taking residents' problems to City Hall.
Charlestown resident Peter Borre, a 67-year-old energy consultant who cofounded the Council of Parishes to fight recent Catholic church closings, was third yesterday, receiving about 11 percent.
Christine Amisano, a 54-year-old Charlestown small business owner, received 142 votes, while Anthony L. Dantona Sr., a 78-year-old World War II veteran from East Boston, received 64 votes.
John Toby Knudsen, a 34-year-old North End computer consultant, received 13 votes.
Globe staff writer Donovan Slack contributed to this report. 
