The Eagle Tribune
Article by Shawn Regan

HAVERHILL — The polls had barely been closed 10 minutes, when John Michitson knew he was in trouble.

A short time later from City Hall, where he reviewed the vote tallies, he phoned his wife, Heidi. She was hosting an election party at Maria's restaurant on Essex Street.

"We got smoked," Michitson, 50, told her. Their 10-year-old son, John, was at his side.

"The trend is clear," Michitson said. "We lost pretty bad."

Fiorentini, 62, captured 21 of 22 voting precincts in coasting to his fourth consecutive two-year term, tying him for the longest tenure by any Haverhill mayor. Fiorentini received 7,154 votes to Michitson's 5,122 — 58 percent to 42 percent.

In Fiorentini's victory two years ago over former Mayor James Rurak, he also captured 21 of 22 voting precincts. Fiorentini got 62 percent of the vote that year.

At 8:30 last night, Michitson found a quiet corner of City Hall and called Fiorentini to concede.

"You ran an awesome campaign," the former City Council president told the mayor. "I wish I could have given you better competition."

On the other end of downtown, Fiorentini was equally gracious in addressing his supporters at the Tap Brewhouse restaurant on Washington Street.

"This is an unbelievable humbling honor, and from the bottom of my heart I thank each and every one of you who campaigned for me, supported me and voted for me," Fiorentini told those gathered inside the restaurant. "To John Michitson — thanks for running such a positive campaign. Martha (Fiorentini's wife) and I know the pain of losing. We understand what you and your family are going through this evening."

Fiorentini lost a City Council bid in 1971 and a state Senate run in 1994.

Fiorentini said he was uncertain about this year's re-election campaign until the final votes were tallied.

"These are tough economic times, and voters are taking out their frustrations on incumbent mayors all over Massachusetts," he said.

The mayor also used the moment to extend an olive branch to those who campaigned against him and to the various city unions, particularly the firefighters union, which he has feuded with in recent months.

"I pledge to do my part, to walk the extra mile to come up with solutions," Fiorentini said. "I ask our unions to join me, work with me, to solve these problems. It's time to put aside the anger and bitterness and work together."

Michitson waited with his son at City Hall until the results for his home turf — Ward 4, Precinct 3 — were posted on the board at City Hall.

"We'll wait to see 4-3," Michitson told his son, referring to the Kennedy Circle polling place in the Riverside section of Haverhill.

The vote tally there was close, but Michitson lost it 408 to 430. His only win was in Ward 4, Precinct 1, the Nettle School polling place, also in Riverside, where he topped Fiorentini 419 to 375.

At Maria's restaurant, Michitson addressed a room jam-packed with family and supporters. He thanked them for helping him push their ideas and priorities into Fiorentini's campaign.

"We helped drive the mayor's campaign," Michitson said. "We pushed hard on recycling, emerging industries, long-range planning and downtown development. We need to continue that. Respect, common decency and cooperation are the keys to Haverhill's future. Don't forget that and don't yield to adversaries."

At the Tap restaurant, Fiorentini said he is ready to get back to work immediately.

"Although the governor did not cut local aid, he did cut us in a number of ways that will require us to make some very tough and difficult decisions," the mayor said. "Tomorrow we start to solve those problems. My fourth term will not be like my first three, and we will make the changes necessary to meet the new challenges ahead. Our long-term future is bright, but we face some tough decisions in the short term."

Fiorentini spent $54,000 on the way to victory, according to his most recent campaign finance report. Michitson spent $28,000. The corner office comes with a $90,000 salary.