Gayle Kelley files nomination papers to run for Brockton mayor

By Maria Papadopoulos
Enterprise staff writer

BROCKTON — Gayle Kelley, the city's former cultural affairs director, was among 22 city residents who took out nomination papers to run for political office Monday.

Kelley, 58, a Boylston Street resident, was among three mayoral hopefuls who took out nomination papers. Mayor James E. Harrington Jr., 59, who lives on Thorny Lea Terrace, and 2005 mayoral candidate Jass Stewart, 36, a Clyde Street resident, also picked up their papers Monday.

Political hopefuls must get 50 signatures from registered voters before filing their nomination papers, which became available Monday, by the 5 p.m. deadline on July 31.

“These are not candidates until they get the signatures in,” Elections Commissioner John McGarry said Monday.

Kelley, an educational consultant, said she is running for mayor because she is “concerned about the way the city has been run in the past couple of years.”

“The first concern I have is the rise in crime and the safety issue and support for our first responders across the board,” Kelley said. “To me, there hasn't been enough results in getting the support, the infrastructure. We need more resources.”

Her mayoral bid will be her first run for political office, she said.

“I certainly see myself as a leader and as a community builder,” said Kelley, who lived in New York City for 35 years and worked in community building while a resident there before returning to the Brockton area five years ago.

Kelley drew attention after becoming the city's cultural affairs director three years ago. There were questions about her salary, her involvement with a rock concert at Campanelli Stadium and her being allowed to work from home after surgery.

Shortly after Harrington took office in 2006, Kelley's position as cultural affairs director was reduced to a part-time position now filled by Janice Fitzgerald, the city's events director, said Moises Rodrigues, Harrington's director of community services.

“The mayor felt that position should be a part-time position versus a full-time one,” Rodrigues said.

Kelley “wasn't asked to be part of the Harrington team,” Rodrigues added.

“I was one of the offices that was let go, eliminated” with the new administration, Kelley said. “My office was eliminated, not just me, my whole office.”

Kelley said she hopes the controversies surrounding her time as the city's cultural affairs director do not become a campaign issue.

“I'm hoping that my record will speak for itself,” she said.

Kelley's mayoral bid would add another face to an already contested race.

“That should be interesting,” City Council President Dennis Eaniri said Monday of Kelley's taking out nomination papers for mayor.

Incumbent city councilors who pulled nomination papers Monday included Eaniri, who represents Ward 3; councilors-at-large Linda Balzotti, Thomas Brophy and Robert Sullivan; Ward 1 councilor Tim Cruise; Ward 2 Councilor Michael Brady; Ward 5 Councilor Dennis DeNapoli, and Ward 7 Councilor Chris MacMillan.

School Committee members who pulled nomination papers included incumbents Ward 1 member Maurice Hancock, Ward 3 member Janice Beyer, Ward 4 member Patricia Joyce, and Ward 5 member Brian Foley.

Other city residents who took out nomination papers Monday were:

*Edward Churchill for councilor-at-large

*Patrick Thomas for Ward 2 councilor

*Stephen Pina for Ward 5 councilor

*Margaret Dozier for Ward 5 councilor

*Larry Curtis Jr. for Ward 6 councilor

*Thomas J. Minichiello Jr. for Ward 1 School Committee

*Richard Bath, for Ward 2 School Committee

Maria Papadopoulos can be reached at mpapadopoulos@enterprisenews.com.