Marilyn Petitto Devaney

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Marilyn M. Petitto Devaney
Member of the
Massachusetts Governor's Council
from the 3rd district
Assumed office
January 7, 1999
Preceded byCynthia Stone Creem
Personal details
Born (1939-02-26) February 26, 1939 (age 85)
Political partyDemocratic

Marilyn Petitto Devaney is an American politician, serving as a member of the Massachusetts Governor's Council. She is the oldest member of the council.[1] Devaney is a former member of the Watertown, Massachusetts City Council.[2][3]

Political positions[edit]

Recordings of Governor's Council Meetings[edit]

During the Covid-19 Pandemic, the council's meetings were held virtually and live-streamed free to the general public. In March, 2022 the Governor's Council ended the live-streaming of their once a week meetings. Devaney was the sole councilor to call upon the council to reinstate virtual public access to the meeting.[4] Following support from councilors Eileen Duff and Mary Hurley, the live stream was restored starting on April 20, 2022.[5]

Conduct[edit]

Curling iron incident[edit]

In 2007, Devaney attempted to purchase several products at a salon in Watertown.[3] When the clerk told Devaney that she would need to present a valid drivers license to pay with a check, Devaney attempted to use her position on the Council to get around presenting an ID.[3] When the clerk informed Devaney it was impossible to complete the transaction in the computer system without entering in details from a license, Devaney threw a curling iron at her.[3]

Devaney later attempted to subpoena a reporter from the Watertown Tab & Press, seeking to determine how she obtained a copy of the police report from the incident.[2]

Mailbox incident[edit]

On August 24, 2020 Devaney was alleged to have gone through mail in her neighbor's mailbox during the night of August 22, 2020 at 10:50pm.[6] On a call with the Watertown Police Department, Councilor Devaney claimed she did not fiddle with their mail, only pushing a piece of mail back into the box that was sticking out. The council member later told the State House News Service that she required cement work done on a sidewalk and was searching for the home of a previously hired contractor.[6] Devaney later reversed her statement, denying that she had ever gone into the mailbox, despite video surveillance footage circulating online. The Watertown police had the case forwarded to the United States Postal Inspection Service.

Erroneous claims of endorsement[edit]

In 2022, Devaney claimed she had been endorsed by Congressman Jim McGovern and State Auditor candidate Chris Dempsey.[7] Both denied endorsing her.[7]

Conflict with other councilors[edit]

During the September 13, 2023 meeting, Councilor Devaney interrupted Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll, who chairs the Governor's Council, with a prepared speech. Devaney alleged five of her six colleagues arranged a boycott of a September 6th public comment session she had held regarding the Kenny Jean pardon.[8][9] Following a back and forth between Devaney and Councilor Kennedy, Councilor Paul DePalo motioned to establish a new rules committee for the Governor's Council.[10]

Electoral history[edit]

Results[edit]

Devaney ran unopposed in the 2022 General Election.[11]

2022 Governor's Council Democratic Primary 3rd District[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marilyn Pettito Devaney 50,960 50.8
Democratic Mara Dolan 49,302 49.1
Write-in 107 0.1
Total votes 100,369 100.0

Devaney had no challengers in the 2018 General Election or 2020 Democratic Primary and general election.[13][14][15]

2018 Governor's Council Democratic Primary 3rd District[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marilyn Pettito Devaney 51,781 56.1
Democratic Nick Carter 40,372 43.7
Write-in 174 0.2
Total votes 92,327 100.0

Devaney faced no opposition in the 2016 General Election.[17]

2016 Governor's Council Democratic Primary 3rd District[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marilyn Pettito Devaney 13,058 48.5
Democratic William Bishop Humphrey 7,905 29.4
Democratic Peter Georgiou 5,881 21.4
Write-in 80 0.3
Total votes 26,924 100.0
2014 Governor's Council General Election 3rd District[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marilyn Pettito Devaney 160,994 65.2
Independent Thomas Sheff 85,401 34.6
Write-in 553 0.2
Total votes 246,948 100.0
2014 Governor's Council Democratic Primary 3rd District[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marilyn Pettito Devaney 33,905 54.3
Democratic Charles N. Shapiro 28,383 45.5
Write-in 135 0.2
Total votes 62,423 100.0
2012 Governor's Council General Election 3rd District[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marilyn Pettito Devaney 250,772 73.5
Independent Thomas Sheff 89,203 26.2
Write-in 1,074 0.3
Total votes 341,049 100.0
2012 Governor's Council Democratic Primary 3rd District[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marilyn Pettito Devaney 17,730 41.6
Democratic Harry S. Margolis 10,122 34.4
Democratic Charles N. Shapiro 10,122 23.7
Write-in 122 0.3
Total votes 42,632 100.0
2010 Governor's Council General Election 3rd District[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marilyn Pettito Devaney 150,683 60.0
Independent Nicholas A. Iannuzzi 99,957 39.8
Write-in 417 0.2
Total votes 251,057 100.0
2010 Governor's Council Democratic Primary 3rd District[24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marilyn Pettito Devaney 21,127 56.6
Democratic Corey A. Belanger 16,114 41.3
Write-in 117 0.3
Total votes 37,358 100.0

Devaney faced no opponents on the ballot in the 2008 Governor's Council District 3 General Election.

2008 Governor's Council Democratic Primary 3rd District[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marilyn Pettito Devaney 23,515 53.2
Democratic John J. Doyle 14,722 33.3
Democratic Thomas L. Walsh 5,831 13.2
Write-in 166 0.4
Total votes 44,234 100.0

Devaney had no opponents in the 2002, 2004, and 2006 Democratic primaries and General Elections.[26][27][28][29][30][31]

2000 Governor's Council General Election 3rd District[32]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marilyn Pettito Devaney 213,656 82.4
Republican Barry T. Hutch 45,248 17.4
Write-in 498 0.2
Total votes 259,402 100.0
1998 Governor's Council General Election 3rd District[33]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marilyn Pettito Devaney 132,876 62.1
Republican John Henry DeJong 80,899 37.8
Write-in 170 0.1
Total votes 213,945 100.0
1998 Governor's Council Democratic Primary 3rd District[34]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marilyn Pettito Devaney 12,541 18.1
Democratic Ruth E. Nemzoff 12,181 17.6
Democratic Francis Thomas 'Frank' Talty 11,010 15.9
Democratic Howard I. Goldstein 8,725 12.6
Democratic John W. Costello 7,776 11.2
Democratic Ginny Allan 7,595 11.0
Democratic Garret J. Barry 6,036 8.7
Democratic Leonard H. Golder 3,373 4.9
Write-in 75 0.1
Total votes 69,312 100.0

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Marilyn Petitto Devaney". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  2. ^ a b Kennedy, Dan (June 10, 2008). "The iron lady versus the press". Media Nation. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d Fennimore, Jillian (April 25, 2007). "Devaney accused of assaulting clerk with curling iron". Watertown Tab. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  4. ^ "Motion to restore Governor's Council livestream dies without a second". Boston Herald. 2022-03-30. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  5. ^ "After two Governor's Council members side with Devaney, meeting livestreams restored". Boston Herald. 2022-04-19. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  6. ^ a b "Postal inspectors probing mailbox incident involving member of Governor's Council". Boston Herald. 2020-10-22. Retrieved 2023-09-19.
  7. ^ a b Reilly, Adam (September 2, 2022). "Dubious endorsement claims cloud Devaney's push for Governor's Council". WGBH. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  8. ^ "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  9. ^ "Massachusetts Governor's Council Approves Pardon For Haiti-Born Bank Robber". NewBostonPost. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  10. ^ Doran, Sam (14 September 2023). "Governor's Council approves four Healey pardon requests". Daily Hampshire Gazette. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  11. ^ "PD43+ » 2022 Governor's Council General Election 3rd District". PD43+. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  12. ^ "2022 Governor's Council Democratic Primary 3rd District". Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  13. ^ "PD43+ » 2018 Governor's Council General Election 3rd District". PD43+. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  14. ^ "PD43+ » 2020 Governor's Council Democratic Primary 3rd District". PD43+. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  15. ^ "PD43+ » 2020 Governor's Council General Election 3rd District". PD43+. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  16. ^ "2018 Governor's Council Democratic Primary 3rd District". Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  17. ^ "PD43+ » 2016 Governor's Council General Election 3rd District". PD43+. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  18. ^ "2016 Governor's Council Democratic Primary 3rd District". Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  19. ^ "2014 Governor's Council General Election 3rd District". Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  20. ^ "2014 Governor's Council Democratic Primary 3rd District". Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  21. ^ "2012 Governor's Council General Election 3rd District". Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  22. ^ "2012 Governor's Council Democratic Primary 3rd District". Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  23. ^ "2010 Governor's Council General Election 3rd District". Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  24. ^ "2010 Governor's Council Democratic Primary 3rd District". Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  25. ^ "2008 Governor's Council Democratic Primary 3rd District". Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  26. ^ "PD43+ » 2002 Governor's Council Democratic Primary 3rd District". PD43+. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  27. ^ "PD43+ » 2002 Governor's Council General Election 3rd District". PD43+. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  28. ^ "PD43+ » 2004 Governor's Council Democratic Primary 3rd District". PD43+. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  29. ^ "PD43+ » 2004 Governor's Council General Election 3rd District". PD43+. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  30. ^ "PD43+ » 2006 Governor's Council Democratic Primary 3rd District". PD43+. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  31. ^ "PD43+ » 2006 Governor's Council General Election 3rd District". PD43+. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  32. ^ "2000 Governor's Council General Election 3rd District". Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  33. ^ "1998 Governor's Council General Election 3rd District". Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  34. ^ "1998 Governor's Council Democratic Primary 3rd District". Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 15 September 2023.