Malden Councillor-At-Large Debbie DeMaria Not Seeking Re-Election

MALDEN, MA — Councillor-At-Large Debbie DeMaria will not seek re-election this year, her election committee announced on her behalf Wednesday.

DeMaria has concentrated on the principles of safety and security during her public service career, notably encouraging continuity of government by pivoting to Zoom meetings during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As council president in 2018, DeMaria developed a new set of council rules that promoted community participation through "public comment." As chair of the Citizens' Engagement Committee, she advocated for equity in hiring, translation of dockets and overall increased diversity. Administratively, DeMaria mandated prompt accuracy and approval of all official meeting minutes.

"From her enthusiastic introduction of 'Habitat for Humanity,' to co-sponsoring the 'Demolition Delay' Ordinance, the awareness of what is needed in Malden (affordable housing) and what we must cherish in Malden (historic preservation) is invaluable," the committee said in a statement.

DeMaria's other accomplishments include serving on the Finance Committee, through which she sponsored a paper to review the validity of all owner-occupied residential tax discounted properties for lost revenue, identifying 167 residences; advocating for the former Malden Hospital site; supporting the local art community; and helping move projects forward to revitalize Malden Center.

DeMaria released the following statement:

"I believe spending time together is the best gift one can receive. My time in public service these past ten years was truly that gift. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished. To say I am the only woman in Malden’s history to top the ballot not once but three consecutive terms; no doubt gives me great delight. But, I owe it all to YOU! Thank you to my colleagues and our Administration that I’ve had the pleasure to serve with. I have learned from each of you. To all my amazing champions; thank you for your trust, your confidence, and your deep dedication as we worked side by side on so many issues. Obviously public service is a family commitment. So I’d like to take this opportunity to publicly thank my husband and best friend, Al, for keeping me centered and laughing! I’m excited for the next chapter of my life as I proudly pass the baton to a new generation of Malden’s public servants."

DeMaria said she looks forward to the restoration of the Malden River waterfront and hopes the location will display the city's COVID-19 memorial. She is also optimistic about the development of the new Granada building downtown, a $90 million investment that will offer union work, with preference given to Malden residents, and feature nine stories of commercial space when completed.