Gill Looks Ahead to New Term as Council President

Peter Gill didn’t have much time to bask in the spotlight from his Election Day victory on Nov. 5.

The very next night Gill was holding the gavel and running a town council meeting inside the Joseph Harvey Room at Town Hall.

After an exciting and hotly contested election, Gill emerged as the victor by 183 votes over former Council President Jeffrey Turco in a rematch of their 2011 race when Turco was the incumbent on the ballot.

“I’m happy to be re-elected,” said Gill. “It was a hard-fought win and I think the people spoke that they wanted to continue on with the leadership that we had provided.”

Gill was a supporter of the plan to build a new middle/high school on the site of the current Winthrop High School on Main Street. Winthrop voters passed a debt-exclusion referendum by an almost 2-1 margin.

“I think my support of the schools had an impact on the people’s vote in the town council president election,” said Gill. “I was elated to see the school project approved by the voters. It’s moving us forward in the right direction. The SBAC [School Building Assistance Committee] and the Winthrop Is Worth It Committee did an excellent job. I’m very pleased with both committees’ work. It was a resounding victory.”

The election for council president, a powerful position with many responsibilities under the Town Charter, was a barnburner.

“It was an aggressive campaign,” said Gill. “It was a very competitive election. I think people were pleased with the progress that we, as a town council and school committee, were making and wanted to continue it.”

Gill did celebrate his victory with an Election Night party at the Cottage Park Yacht Club. He emotionally thanked his family and his campaign committee at the gathering.

“I had such tremendous support from my campaign people – it was unbelievable,” said Gill.

Gill, who also serves on the School Committee, welcomed on board to town government his new colleagues, Councilor-at-Large Rich Boyajian and School Committee member-elect Dawn Sullivan.

“I look forward to working with them and I’m excited to be leading the Council for the next two years. And Speaker of the House Robert A. DeLeo and State Sen. Anthony Petruccelli have been very helpful to the council and the town over the years.”