Hopefuls add dash of politics to Columbus Day parade

Wind whipped up the red, white, and blue confetti into a swirl along the street that lay between Mayor Thomas M. Menino, who downed a cappuccino at Caffe Vittoria, and Councilor at Large Michael F. Flaherty, who sat at a table with his political teammate Sam Yoon at Dolce Vita.

“I think it’s a great day for the city,’’ Menino said. While keeping at least one eye trained on the Red Sox game playing on a nearby television, he listed the events going on around town including a half-marathon, the Celtics game, and a few other major sporting events.

Minutes before, Menino and Flaherty had been marching through the streets of Boston, working the crowds who lined the Columbus Day parade route, giving the annual tradition a decidedly political flair.

The early portions of the route, which started at Government Center, were less politically charged, and seemed to be more about the high school band members juggling their sheet music and their instruments.

But as it wended its way through the heavily Italian North End, the signs for Menino grew larger, and the parade seemed to take on a more political tone.

And as they marched past the Menino signs, was it “Testy? Well, we shake their hands and say ‘Good luck,’ ’’ Yoon said. “I think our approach is never to show animosity.’’

For Menino, the parade is about Italian-American pride. At the heart of that pride, he said, is love of the architecture, music, and culture. “Our variety and traditions,’’ he said.

The brisk pace of the parade does not provide much of a chance for politicians to talk at length with constituents or potential supporters, so it was mostly a quick handshake here, a photo for the family album there. But some made sure to bring a few concerns to the attention of their elected officials.

Among their issues: rodent infestation, and the overwhelming popularity of the John Eliot K-8 School, which has left many clamoring to fill a limited number of slots.

Flaherty said the city has yet to meaningfully address the rodent issue. “The North End is overrun with rodents,’’ he said. “They don’t feel the city is respecting them.’’

“They feel taken for granted,’’ Yoon added.

But Menino, who is seeking a fifth term in office, said he had not been alerted to this particular rodent issue and that city inspectors would be addressing it if he had.

Boston has in recent years taken up the battle against rodents - rats in particular - with city health inspectors on the prowl for infested areas.

In 2007, the New Jersey-based company d-CON released a report ranking Boston third of the nation’s 32 cities most likely to be infested by rats.

Boston’s high ranking was attributed to its age, density, number of restaurants, and proximity to the Charles River and the harbor, among other things.

With the popularity of the John Eliot K-8 School on Charter Street, leaving some parents whose children are not assigned to the school frustrated, Menino said the key is arming parents with more information about their options, while Flaherty said he wants the city to reconsider how it handles school assignment.

Some parade enthusiasts said that they have not yet decided which candidate to support at the polls.

Liza DeSimone, 36, of East Boston, said she knows both candidates, and is not sure how she will cast her ballot in November.

“Either one’s a good choice. It could be time for a change, though,’’ she said. “But Menino is so well liked.’’

The crowds seemed to mostly welcome the political presence.

“The crowd’s been crazy,’’ said Louis Strazzullo, the parade chairman. “The crowd’s been great. Every year, it’s gets bigger and bigger, with more bands.’’

The parade is alternately held in the streets of East Boston and the North End.

William Freds, 6, sported a green shamrock face-painted onto his right cheek, fresh from seeing the Celtics. His parents, Mandy and Will Freds, brought the family, which includes, Jackson, 2, to Boston for a visit from West Point, N.Y.

“We’re really packing it all in,’’ Will Freds said, of their event-filled weekend. Next up for them: the Topsfield Fair. The politicking didn’t seem to bother them, either.

“It’s great to see an American city that gets excited about politics,’’ Mandy Freds said.