By Kyle Alspach
ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
Posted Nov 04, 2009 @ 03:50 AM
Last update Nov 04, 2009 @ 09:56 AM
BROCKTON —
Moments after cheering and applause
heralded her election as the new mayor of
Brockton, Linda Balzotti said becoming the
city’s first female mayor is more than just
historic — it also sends a powerful message.
“I just think for any little girl who’s
growing up now in the city, who wonders if
she can be anything she wants to be, she
can, because I’ve done it,” she said in an
interview at the Maui Restaurant, where more
than 100 supporters celebrated her defeat of
incumbent Mayor James E. Harrington Tuesday
night.
But Balzotti’s victory was based on more
than just tapping into the female vote, or
capitalizing on anti-incumbent sentiments,
said Michael Kryzanek, a Bridgewater State
College political scientist.
The 12-year city councilor and lifetime
Brockton resident has a long record of
service, a clear understanding of the city
and has “worked her way up the ladder” of
city politics, Kryzanek said.
“This is a culmination of all those
years of hard work,” he said. “Her time has
come in terms of gaining the top position in
Brockton.”
Balzotti won by a margin of victory of
about 56 percent to 43 percent, receiving
7,330 votes to Harrington’s 5,600, according
to unofficial election results.
Balzotti, 48, carried the election after
a campaign that pledged a more open style of
leadership in the city. She echoed those
promises Tuesday night while speaking with
The Enterprise.
“We’re going to build a coalition, and
work together collaboratively,” she said. “I
know the budget is going to be difficult,
but I think there are things we can work on
in terms of communication, and attracting
economic development opportunities to the
city.”
Balzotti had tears in her eyes as she
walked through the crowd of cheering
supporters at the restaurant after
Harrington conceded the election, giving
hugs and high fives as the anthem “Simply
the Best” blared from speakers.
She credited her campaign team for the
win.
“This was truly a grassroots effort.
Some of these individuals and myself, we
banged on doors — we’ve been knocking since
the middle of June,” Balzotti, a public
information officer at Bridgewater State
College, said in the interview. “It was just
a lot of hard work, a lot of perseverance.”