By Joni Quinn
Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini will begin his fourth two-year term as mayor in January, following his victory over challenger John Michitson Tuesday night, 7,154 votes to 5,122.
"Tonight the voters voted for experience and for us to continue in the general direction we are going — and we shall," Fiorentini told supporters who gathered at The Tap.
However, every year is different, every problem the city faces is different and every term is different, Fiorentini stressed.
"My fourth term will not be exactly like my first three, and we will make the changes necessary to meet the new challenges that lie ahead," Fiorentini said.
The incumbent mayor won 21 of the city's 22 voting precincts and took 58 percent of the vote.
While he may have celebrated the win Tuesday night, Fiorentini said the hard work would start all over again Wednesday morning.
"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. Tomorrow, we start work to solve those problems. I will need everyone's help, thoughts and ideas as we move forward," he said.
Fiorentini said the most important thing is for everyone to be on the same page and for whatever divisions and hard feelings that are always generated by campaigns to end.
"Solving our problems means that we have to work together with our unions to come up with common solutions to the tough problems that lie ahead," he said.
Fiorentini said that while the city will face some tough decisions in the short term, the city is poised for the future.
"Our new boardwalk is open and we hope to break ground on a rail trail in Bradford this fall. Our long-term solution is to bring more business to Haverhill and I pledge to everyone tonight that I will work tirelessly to do that," he said.
Fiorentini thanked Michitson for running such a positive campaign and for the ideas he brought to the table.
"John ran a great race and was a serious opponent who should be commended on his sterling effort," he said.
Fiorentini said he received a call from Michitson shortly after the polls closed congratulating him on the win.
"He called earlier this evening and we are making plans to work together for the betterment of the city. He has no anger or bitterness toward the outcome," he said.
Michitson, after looking over the election results ward by ward as they were posted in City Hall, headed to the Galleria Banquet Room at Maria's Restaurant for his post-election party, where he was greeted by a roar of applause.
"This was a great campaign," Michitson said with a burst of energy. "We worked extremely hard, although we did not get the result we wanted."
First, Michitson congratulated his opponent and asked the room to give Fiorentini a hand for his "commitment to Haverhill's citizens."
Michitson also thanked his wife, Heidi, and his children. He said they had been courageous throughout the entire race.
"My wife is wondering what my next move will be," Michitson said, as his wife shouted from the side of the room that he should take a vacation, causing the hall to burst into laughter.
He went on to point to the positive effects of his campaign, saying that their efforts "drove the mayor's agenda on recycling, emerging industry, downtown development, volunteerism, and talk of long-range planning."
"We accomplished a great deal in this campaign," he said. "We got the message out to the citizens of Haverhill and we ran a straight-forward, honest and energetic campaign."
He reminded his supporters that the key to Haverhill's future was "cooperation and common decency" and he urged them to "take pride and take charge in Haverhill's future."
"This has really been a dream for me," he closed. "Thank you all so much."
Staff writer Cara Spilsbury contributed to this report.
