State representative race quiet in Beverly

Sept. 29--BEVERLY -- Four years ago, Jerry Parisella faced a tough race in his first run for state representative. Two years ago, he ran unopposed.

This year, the competition lies somewhere in between, as Parisella takes on Libertarian candidate Euplio "Rick" Marciano in the Nov. 4 election.

Marciano, a retired U.S. Army veteran and part-time manager at New Meadows Golf Club, has run unsuccessfully several times for city councilor and mayor. With no Republican stepping forward this year, Marciano is the only one standing between Parisella and a third term in office.

"Individuals tell me, 'Keep running because you're getting the word out,'?" Marciano said.

Parisella, who faced no opposition in the Democratic primary, is the heavy favorite to return to office, but he said he's taking nothing for granted.

"Almost every night, I've been out knocking on doors and meeting with constituents," he said. "For some folks, it's just educating them that there's actually a race going on. People may not know. It was kind of a low turnout in the primary."

Parisella raised more than $20,000 in campaign donations through Aug. 22, according to campaign finance reports. That's nearly 10 times as much as Marciano, who raised $2,776.

Marciano had received two donations -- $500 from the Liberty Tree political action committee, which advocates for small government and low taxes, and $100 from Beverly resident Michael Gendre. Daniel Fishman, a Libertarian from Beverly who ran for Congress two years ago, donated $60 worth of envelopes and labels.

The rest of Marciano's campaign spending, more than $1,900, came from his own money.

Many of Parisella's donations have come from unions and fellow lawyers, including $500 each from groups representing laborers, bricklayers and carpenters. He has a fundraiser scheduled for next week at Eurostoves in Beverly.

Parisella, who is also an Army veteran, is vice chairman of the state Legislature's joint committee on veterans and federal affairs. One of his top accomplishments, he said, was sponsoring a bill that protects college students who are called to active military duty from losing tuition and academic credit.

Parisella also said local aid to Beverly has increased each year since he has been at the Statehouse, and he cited state projects such as the MBTA parking garage and the upcoming reconstruction of Route 1A.

"There's a lot happening in Beverly that is funded by the state," he said.

Marciano has criticized Parisella for his role in the Brimbal Avenue project. Parisella resigned from his job with the Beverly law firm that was representing the developer after complaints about a potential conflict of interest.

He now works for the Salem law firm of Tinti, Quinn, Grover & Frey.

Marciano, 53, has been endorsed by the Citizens for Limited Taxation 21/2 political action committee, which said Marciano has taken a pledge to vote against tax increases.

"There's not a tax that Jerry doesn't like," Marciano said. "There comes a time when you've got to be more fiscally responsible."

The race has not yet drawn the attention of civic groups that usually sponsor debates. Both candidates said they have not heard of any scheduled debates.

Staff writer Paul Leighton can be reached at 978-338-2675 or pleighton@salemnews.com.

Money raised through Aug. 22

--Jerry Parisella$20,214

--Euplio Marciano$2,776

Parisella's top donors

--Massachusetts & Northern New England Laborer's District Council$500

--Massachusetts Brick Layers People's Committee $500

--New England Regional Council of Carpenters PAC$500

--Massachusetts Association of Realtors PAC$300

--Teamsters Local 127 PAC $250

--U.A. Plumbers & Gasfitters Local #12 $250

--Edward Doherty, Boston lawyer $250

--Boston Carmen's Union Local 589 PAC $200

--William Coyne, Boston lawyer $200

Marciano's top donors

--Liberty Tree: The Small Government, Low-Tax PAC $500

--Michael Gendre, Beverly resident $100

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