Photos by Cary Shuman
Rep. Jeff Turco looked out at the massive crowd inside the Beachmont VFW Friday night and said he was “overwhelmed” by the turnout.
The tables were packed with supporters, and people from Revere and Winthrop stood on all sides of the large function hall at Rep. Turco’s “Fall Fling” campaign reception.
Sen. Lydia Edwards had the honor of introducing Rep. Turco at the reception.
“This is an incredibly successful, beautiful community event and reception for our friend, Jeff Turco,” said Edwards, pausing for the audience to warmly applaud her popular 6-foot-6-inch colleague and fellow attorney-at-law.
Edwards said she and Rep. Turco are not always standing on the same side on issues affecting residents in the district.
“We work together consistently to represent and fight for Revere and Winthrop,” said Edwards. “Jeff and I may not agree on every single thing, but that’s become a special thing. People who care about things don’t have to see things the same way to demonstrate that you love, you care, and you’re willing to fight for a community. We push each other, and that’s a good thing.”
Edwards told the warmhearted story of how she joined Rep. Turco and his wife, Melissa Turco, for dinner at their home.
“You can have different backgrounds, different ways of doing things, and you can still come together and have a good meal,” related Edwards. “I’m honored to call you a friend and to fight [for the best interests of Winthrop and Revere residents] with you. And I’d love to come back again for dinner.”
Turco, who is unopposed in the Nov. 5 election, told the gathering that he, Sen. Edwards, and Rep. Jessica Giannino “work every day to try to improve the quality of life for the people of our district.”
Turco recounted a story of the assistance that he can be called up to provide for his constituents.
“Someone called me and said his wife, who is from Laos, got a learner’s permit and took the driver’s license test and passes the test. Months go by and she never gets her license. She goes to the Registry (RMV) and they say, ‘you owe a $50 fee.’ They told her that her permit had, expired.
“Now, here’s a woman with four kids trying to do the right thing. The family called me up to see if I could help. I reached out to the Registry and they said there’s nothing we can do. So [as an attorney], I’m going to represent her pro bono. We went to the Board of Appeals, and three days later, she had her license, and she could drive.”
The audience responded with extended applause for Turco’s successful action.
Turco concluded his remarks by thanking his colleagues in government and supporters. He also expressed his gratitude to his wife, Melissa Carbone Turco, stating, “I couldn’t do what I do every day without the support of this girl here, the most incredible woman. I always joke with her that I took you from West Revere and made you a Winthrop mother. She’s just so incredible. We met for the very first time in this room at Anthony’s Petrucelli’s spring fundraiser. Seven months later I proposed, and seven months later we got married. Twenty years