Lafuente: I’m running again in two years

By George P. Hassett

After today’s recount Tony Lafuente is still one spot out of the running for one of the city’s four alderman-at-large seats. But he said in an interview with The Somerville News that he is "absolutely" running for alderman-at-large in two years. Fourth place finisher Bruce Desmond picked up votes in the recount and his margin of victory over Lafuente increased from 38 to 51 votes.   

Only two ballots were challenged during the recount. One in which Lafuente’s name was circled and one in which a vote filled in for Lafuente was crossed out. Election commissioners ruled in each case that voters intended to vote for Lafuente.

Lafuente said he expected to see more ballots with his name circled. He congratulated Desmond after the recount was concluded. He also said to the News that rumors circling that he plans to sell his house are "ridiculous" and he looks forward to running for city office in two years.

"I’m not going anywhere," he said. "I want to be part of the great job the mayor is doing pushing the city forward. I’m here to stay."

Lafuente has  run for  office four times, twice in Cambridge in 1980 and 1987. He lost to Joseph A. Curtatone by less than 5 percent in a race for mayor in 2003 and finished  behind  Desmond in this year’s city elections for alderman-at-large.