MALDEN — Political newcomer David Camell will be making a bigger splash than he originally thought when he first entered the race to succeed former Ward City Councilor Neil Kinnon this past summer.
Along with his decisive victory on Tuesday by a 560-376 vote margin over Jerry Leone, Camell will soon be in a position to break a tie in one of the city’s top financial posts and the man he will replace on the council floor, Kinnon, is one of the candidates with former MBTA general manager Jonathan Davis the other.
That was the backstory to Malden’s municipal election, which also was marked by a big upset in the city councilor at-large race where community activist and Bike to the Sea founder Stephen Winslow (2,923 votes) claimed a victory with his third-place finish in a four-candidate race, ousting incumbent Councilor at Large David D’Arcangelo (2,793 votes).
Incumbents Debbie DeMaria (3,753 votes), who topped the ticket for the second straight election, and longtime Councilor Craig Spadafora (3,106) were re-elected with a 1-2 finish in that race.
In another win viewed as an upset, Robert McCarthy Jr. won a two-vote victory over Ward 2 School Committee incumbent Emmanuel Marsh, 421-419.
In the Ward 3 School Committee, two newcomers squared off and Jennifer Spadafora rolled to a big win over Mekka Alicia Smith by a 784-548 margin.
Catherine Bordonaro cruised to reelection for Ward 2 School Committee, 546-277 over challenger Nichole Mossalam.
Ward 8’s Jadeane Sica staved off a strong challenge from former Ward 8 Councilor Richard Correale Sr. with a close finish of 372-339 votes.
In Ward 7, incumbent Neal Anderson bested newcomer Scott Ciccone, 547-304.
Incumbent John Matheson held off Candace Julyan for Ward 3 City Councilor and won re-election in a 789-600 finish.
Councilors Peg Crowe (Ward 1), Paul Condon (Ward 2), Ryan O’Malley (Ward 4), and Barbara Murphy (Ward 5) were re-elected unopposed.
Malden School Committee incumbents Michael Drummey (Ward 1), Leonard Iovino (Ward 4), Tara Murphy Beardsley (Ward 5), and John Froio (Ward 8) were all running unopposed. Newcomer Colleen Leon was elected unopposed in Ward 6 to replace Leone.