Connolly: I lost an election not a reputation
By George P. Hassett

  When John M. Connolly was growing up in Ward 6, Davis Square was full of nothing but wino‚Äôs and wise guys.
  ‚ÄúIt was just nasty. Gin mills and dens of iniquity were the only places to go if you were in Davis Square,‚Äù he said.
   Fast forward almost forty years and Davis Square has gone from a center of sin to a haven of hip. For the last two decades, Connolly has been the alderman for the neighborhood, assisting in that transformation. But the Dec. 20 Board of Aldermen meeting was his last after a 157 vote defeat to 28 year-old Rebekah Gewirtz.
    ‚ÄúI‚Äôve had the opportunity to see what my wake would be like. People come by all the time now to tell me how bad they feel about the election. But I haven‚Äôt died and I‚Äôm not going anywhere. If anything, I‚Äôm re-energized,‚Äù he said.

   Connolly began his stint as Ward 6 alderman in 1984, in the midst of a controversial time in Somerville politics.
    ‚ÄúI remember my first alderman‚Äôs meeting. There was a photographer from the Boston Globe there taking pictures of all the new aldermen. I was all dressed up, smiling and ready for my picture. I asked him, ‚Äòso you guys are doing a story on the new aldermen in Somerville?‚Äô He said, ‚Äòno, we just need pictures for the next time one of you gets indicted.‚Äô‚Äù
    But Connolly‚Äôs name was never dragged into the scandal and corruption that engulfed Somerville politics in the 1980‚Äôs. In fact, he worked to make local government more transparent.
    ‚ÄúI was the one who proposed that aldermen‚Äôs meetings be broadcast on local cable so people in the city could find out what we were up to. I‚Äôm very proud of that,‚Äù he said.
     Connolly said he was also proud to be a part of Somerville‚Äôs biggest one night recycling project ‚Äì the transfer of a two family home from Powderhouse Square to Highland Ave.
     ‚ÄúGeorge Doherty initially wanted to tear down a home he owned next to his funeral home, because it would open up space for parking. But rather than tear it down he sold it to the city for $1 and we moved it, intact, a little ways down the road. Now, a couple of families live there and pay taxes on it, generating revenue for the city,‚Äù he said.
      But the achievement Connolly said he is most proud of is the Davis Square renaissance. From replacing the run-down Ming Toi restaurant with a new Citizens Bank to preserving the historic Somerville Theatre, Connolly said Davis Square is where his legacy lies. 
      ‚ÄúIt‚Äôs an amazing feeling to be able to walk around and see my legacy and my work. I was part of a neighborhood process that achieved great success and I am very proud of that. That is true progress,‚Äù he said.
       Ironically, he said, attracting a new population to his energized and successful ward may have been his political undoing.
       ‚ÄúI was a victim of my own success. Volunteers who used to be able to send out 60 or 70 dear friend cards, could only send out 30 this time. The population had changed,‚Äù he said. ‚ÄúBut I would much rather be a victim of my own success than still trying to achieve it.‚Äù
       Connolly said he still has civic plans to pursue, such as making Davis Square wireless.
      ‚ÄúWhen things happen I‚Äôll still be right in the square. I lost an election not a reputation. At first I was sad, but now I am re-energized. I think the change has been a positive one,‚Äù he said.