>> Reilly: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON": I'M ADAM REILLY IN FOR JIM BRAUDE.

THE MELROSE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS GETTING SOME NATIONAL ATTENTION AND A LOT OF LOCAL BLOWBACK OVER THE DECISION TO DE-EMPHASIZE HALLOWEEN, NOT OVER COVID BUT OVER INCLUSIVITY ISSUES.

LOCAL patch.com SENIOR REPORTER MIKE CARRAGGI, WHO'S BEEN FOLLOWING THIS STORY CLOSELY, JOINS ME.

THEN, LATER, BOSTON'S GOT A BIG DECISION TO MAKE NEXT WEEK, BUT IT'S NOT THE ONLY CITY WITH A MAJOR MAYORAL RACE JUST DAYS AWAY.

AUTHOR OF THE POLIÍTICO MASSACHUSETTS PLAYBOOK, LISA KASHINSKY, AND POLITICAL CONSULTANT, WILNELIA RIVERA, JOIN ME AS CANDIDATES MAKE THEIR FINAL PITCHES IN FRAMINGHAM, SOMERVILLE, EVERETT, AND LAWRENCE.

♪♪ >> Reilly: THIS TIME LAST YEAR, KIDS ALREADY STRUGGLING WITH ZOOM SCHOOL AND SOCIAL DISTANCING FROM THEIR FRIENDS WERE HIT WITH YET ANOTHER DISAPPOINTMENT WHEN SEVERAL TOWNS IN THE STATE OFFICIALLY CANCELED TRICK-OR-TREATING, AND MANY MORE CAUTIONED AGAINST IT, OVER FEARS OF SPREADING COVID-19.

BUT NOW, WHILE THE PANDEMIC IS BY NO MEANS OVER, THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY ARE IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE, AND EVEN THE DIRECTOR OF THE C.D.C.

SAYS IT'S SAFE TO TAKE PART IN THE HOLIDAY TRADITION.

>> I WOULD SAY PUT ON THOSE COSTUMES, STAY OUTSIDE, AND ENJOY YOUR TRICK-OR-TREATING.

>> Reilly: BUT ONE LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM ISN'T QUITE SO SURE IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO GET BACK INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT, AND THEIR CONCERNS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH COVID-19.

SCHOOL OFFICIALS HAVE DECIDED TO "DE-EMPHASIZE" HALLOWEEN AND SHIFT OUR FOCUS TOWARD COMMUNITY BUILDING THROUGH FALL CELEBRATIONS.

THEIR GOAL?

ACCORDING TO THE MELROSE SUPERINTENDENT, A COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THAT ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF FEEL SAFE, INCLUDED, AND REPRESENTED IN OUR SCHOOLS.

THE DECISION HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF PUSHBACK FROM PARENTS AND STUDENTS.

IT'S ALSO GOTTEN QUITE A BIT OF NATIONAL ATTENTION, MORE ON THAT LATER.

BUT SOME OF THE REACTIONS HAVE GOTTEN UGLY, PROMPTING A BACKLASH OF ITS OWN.

JOINING ME TO DISCUSS ARE SENIOR LOCAL EDITOR FOR patch.com, MIKE CARRAGGI, WHO'S BEEN FOLLOWING THIS STORY CLOSELY.

WE HAD HOPED TO GET THE MELROSE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS TO JOIN US.

SHE WAS GOING TO AND THEN SHE CANCELED.

MIKE CARRAGGI, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Reilly: I LEARNED ABOUT THIS STORY FROM YOU -- I THINK YOU GOT TO THIS BEFORE ANYONE ELSE DID.

CAN YOU START OFF BY DESCRIBING FOR ME, SO I DON'T GET IT WRONG, AND FOR VIEWERS WHO MAY HAVE SHEARED MIXED THINGS, WHAT EXACTLY IS MELROSE'S NEW POLICY?

WHAT DOES IT DO AND WHAT DOES IT BAR?

>> I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO START WITH IS WHAT IT IS NOT.

BECAUSE I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF CONFUSION.

HALLOWEEN ISN'T -- CANCELED IS SUCH A LOADED WORD.

IT IS NOT CANCELED.

KIDS CAN STILL COME TO SCHOOL WITH COSTUMES AND TRICK-OR-TREAT BAGS, AND WITH PUMPKINS AND CANDY.

HALLOWEEN IS ALLOWED, BUT WHAT THE SUPERINTENDENT IS DOING IS SHIFTING FOCUS AWAY FROM HALLOWEEN, WHEN IT COMES TO CELEBRATING THE FALL EVENTS THAT KIDS DO AT THE END OF OCTOBER INTO NOVEMBER.

THERE ARE STILL P.T.O.

SPONSORED EVENTS THAT ARE CONSISTENCE HALLOWEEN ECCENTRIC, AND HER STANCE IS PRETTY CLEAR: HALLOWEEN IS GREAT, CELEBRATED AT HOME.

WHEN YOU'RE AT SCHOOL, WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE A FALL CELEBRATION.

>> Reilly: SO I'M CLEAR, I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M GETTING THIS RIGHT, KIDS, YOU SAID, CAN WEAR COSTUMS TO SCHOOL?

>> THEY'RE ALLOWED TO.

I TALKED TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, I THINK IT WAS ON SATURDAY, AND SHE SAID SHE PREFERS THEY NO, AND SHE WAS CLEAR ABOUT THAT, BUT AS LONG AS IT IS WITHIN THE DRESS CODE, KIDS ARE ALLOWED TO WEAR HALLOWEEN COSTUMES TO SCHOOL TOMORROW, FRIDAY.

>> Reilly: BUT THE SCHOOL IS NOT SAYING HAPPY HALLOWEEN AND PUTTING UP A BANNER -- >> THERE IS NO COSTUME CONTEST, NOT THAT THERE WAS, BUT IT IS JUST DE-EMPHASIZING THE HALLOWEEN ASPECT OF IT AND EVERYTHING THAT MIGHT GO ALONG WITH IT.

>> Reilly: GOT IT.

WAS THE RATIONALE BECAUSE THEY SAID THE WAY -- DID THEY HEAR FROM PARENTS WHO SAID THEIR KIDS DIDN'T WANT TO WEAR A COSTUME, THEY FELT LIKE THEY DIDN'T FIT IN, OR WAS THERE CONCERNS ABOUT THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN HYPOTHETICALLY?

>> PROBABLY CLOSE TO THE LATTER, WHEN I ASKED THE SUPERINTENDENT THAT QUESTION.

SHE SAID AT THAT POINT, WHEN SHE MADE THAT DECISION, SHE HAD NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM PARENTS, FROM STUDENTS ON THAT, SAYING THEY FELT UNCOMFORTABLE WITH HALLOWEEN, SAYING THEY FELT EXCLUDED OR LEFT OUT OF IT.

WHILE SHE DIDN'T HEAR IT DIRECTLY, SHE HEARD IT FROM PRINCIPALS, WHICH SHE TOLD ME.

THE DISTRICT -- WHAT SHE SAID IS THEY HAVE BEEN DE-EMPHASIZING HALLOWEEN FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW.

AS SUPERINTENDENT, THIS IS ONLY HER -- SHE STARTED RIGHT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

SO THIS IS HER FIRST -- YOU CAN'T EVEN CALL IT A NORMAL YEAR.

BUT THE DISTRICT HAD BEEN MOVING AWAY FROM HALLOWEEN A BIT.

SHE JUST PULLED THE PLUG ON IT.

>> Reilly: I'M GLAD YOU NOTED THAT.

AND WHAT A TOUGH TIME TO TAKE THE HELM OF ANY SCHOOL SYSTEM OR TO BE AN EDUCATOR.

I DON'T ENVY THE TEACHERS TEACHING MY KIDS.

HOW DO YOU PICK UP ON THE OUTRAGE IN MELROSE PROPER -- MAYBE OUTRAGE IS TOO STRONG.

YOU TELL ME.

HOW DID YOU PICK UP ON THE BACKLASH THAT WAS DEVELOPING AFTER THE SCHOOLS MADE THE CHOICE?

>> WELL, IT WASN'T -- A BIG PART OF THIS -- I THINK REALLY THE PRIMARY PART OF THIS THAT THE DISTRICT MAY HAVE GOTTEN WRONG, WITHOUT WEIGHING IN ON THE SUBJECT TOO MUCH, IS THE COMMUNICATIONS OF IT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED THEY FOUND OUT EITHER THROUGH MY STORY, THROUGH A LETTER THAT HAD COME THE PREVIOUS DAY FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT TO THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY AFTER THERE HAD BEEN RUMORS KIND OF PERCOLATING AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

IT TRICKLED DOWN FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT TO THE LEAD -- I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK TO THE FLOW OF IT, BUT IT WAS A LAST SECOND FOR A LOT OF THESE GUYS, A WEEK BEFORE HALLOWEEN, AND IT WASN'T DIRECTLY TO THEM.

I THINK THAT IS WHERE A LOT OF THE INITIAL -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY OUTRAGE, BUT JUST THE CONCERN STARTED.

YOU KNOW HOW IT IS, PARENTS WERE KIDS ONCE.

KIDS LOVE HALLOWEEN.

WHEN YOU'RE PARENTS, YOU HAVE HALLOWEEN FOR YOUR KIDS.

SO THEY GOT FRUSTRATED OVER THAT.

IT WAS LOCAL Facebook GROUPS SENDING E-MAILS TO ME, CALLS AND TEXTS TO ME, TO LOOK INTO THIS.

AND PEOPLE WERE UPSET, BUT THEY HANDLED WITH A LEVEL OF CIVILITY AT THE VERY BEGINNING.

I KNOW WE'LL GET INTO THE NATIONAL ASPECT OF IT, BUT AS THE STORY GREW, I THINK YOU SAW A LOT LESS OF THAT.

>> Reilly: BY THE WAY, JUST FOR THE RECORD, I MAY BE THE ONE COUNTEREXAMPLE TO THE EXAMPLE WHEN YOU'RE A PARENT YOU LOVE HALLOWEEN.

YOU POINTED OUT ON TWITTER THAT IT CAN BE TOUGH FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE REPORTERS, BUT NOS NOT POLLSTERS, TO GET AN ACCURATE SENSE OF HOW ANY ISSUE IS BREAKING DOWN.

WE GO OUT AND TALK TO MAYBE 10 PEOPLE AND TAKE THE PULSE.

IT WAS THIS A SMALL MINORITY OF MELROSE RESIDENTS WHO WERE REALLY UPSET ABOUT THIS, OR WAS IT A GOOD CHUNK OF THE TOWN?

>> THERE IS OVER 29,000 PEOPLE IN MELROSE, AND I DON'T KNOW THE BREAKDOWN OF HOW MANY ARE PARENTS.

IT'S HARD TO SAY.

I GET THE SENSE -- I'VE BEEN HERE FOR FOUR YEARS.

I LIVE RIGHT DOWNTOWN AND HAVE BEEN COVERING MELROSE PRETTY INDEPTH FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

THIS SEEMED TO BE A MUCH LARGER FOUNDATION OF DISAGREEMENT.

IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE JUST A VOCAL MRNTD, WHICH MINORITY, WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE CLAIMED IT COULD BE.

IT IS HARD TO GET A SENSE WHEN IT IS JUST ON A Facebook PAGE.

BUT YOU DO GET A SENSE, AND MY SENSE IS THAT EVEN THE FOLKS WHO MIGHT BE MORE RELIABLY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS, OR IN SUPPORT OF THIS, I GUESS I SHOULD SAY, IN SUPPORT OF THE EDUCATIONAL CHOICES THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT MAKES OR THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY MIGHT, EVEN THOSE PEOPLE SEEM TO ME TO BE BRUSHED BACK BY THIS A LITTLE BIT.

AGAIN, WHETHER IT IS THE SUBJECT OR THE TIMING OR A MIXTURE OF THE TWO.

>> Reilly: OR THE FACT THAT WE'RE STILL IN THE MIX OF THIS HORRIBLE PERIOD, EVEN IF YOU'RE GETTING THROUGH IT.

WAS MELROSE PRIMED FOR THIS TO TAKE OFF AS AN ISSUE?

YOU POINTED OUT, I THINK IN YOUR FIRST PIECE ON THIS, THAT THE TOWN HAD GONE BACK AND FORTH OVER CHANGING THE ATHLETIC MASCOT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL FAIRLY RECENTLY.

WAS THERE A GROUND WORK LAID FOR THIS TO POP IN MELROSE, DO YOU THINK?

>> I DON'T THINK ANYMORE THAN ANYWHERE ELSE.

IT IS SUCH A REFLECTION OF WHERE WE'RE AT NATIONALLY.

I THINK YOU COULD HAVE PUT THIS ISSUE IN ANY COMMUNITY, AND IN THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES, AND YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN AT LEAST A SIGNIFICANT BACKLASH OR A SIGNIFICANT CONVERSATION ABOUT IT.

THE SCHOOL IS LOOKING AT CHANGING FROM THE RED RAIDER NICKNAME AND MASCOT, AND THAT'S AN ACTIVE THING THEY'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THEY DIDN'T HAVE COLUMBUS DAY.

THEY HAD INDIGENOUS DAY.

THEY SEE IT IS BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM ME, AND WHAT IS NEXT?

WHAT IS NEXT?

THEN THERE IS HALLOWEEN.

AND NOW, REALLY, WHAT IS NEXT?

AND THEN THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO THINK THIS IS ALL FOR THE BEST.

AND THESE TWO FACTIONS THEY MEET ON Facebook.

>> Reilly: WHAT BETTER PLACE TO HASH OUT YOUR DIFFERENCES.

AS YOU MENTIONED, THIS WENT REALLY QUICKLY TO A LOCAL STORY OF INTEREST TO A NATIONAL SOURCE OF -- I'LL USE THE OUTRAGE WORD HERE, AND IT BECAME SORT OF A PUNCH LINE FOR SOME PEOPLE.

I THINK WE HAVE VIDEO OF JIMMY KIMMEL PLAYING IT UP.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> IT SOUNDS TO ME THAT JULIE KUKENBERGER COULDN'T THINK OF A FUN COSTUME, SO SHE RUINED IT FOR EVERYONE.

WHO IS FEELING MARGINALIZED BY A HALLOWEEN PARTY?

GOBLIN AMERICANS?

>> Reilly: JUME KEUKENHOF ISJULIEKUKENBERGER IS THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS IN MELROSE.

THIS MAY BE FUNNY TOR JIMMY KIMMEL.

YOU DOCUMENTED THIS GOT REALLY UGLY AS IT WENT FROM LOCAL TO NATIONAL.

WHAT HAPPENED AS THAT SHIFT OCCURRED?

>> IT GOES -- IT'S MULTI-FACETED.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE JIMMY KIMMEL THING, IT COULD BE FUNNY IF YOU'RE NOT JULIE KUKENBERGER OR HER FAMILY.

THERE ARE Facebook PHOTOS THAT THEY FOUND ONLINE AND THEY'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT GENERALLY WHERE SHE LIVES, AND SOME IDENTIFYING INFORMATION THAT HAS NO BUSINESS BEING OUT THERE BECAUSE SOMEONE DISAGREED.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CANCEL CULTURE, IT IS JUST TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING YOU DISAGREE WITH IT.

IT HAS GOTTEN LARGER AND LARGER AND LARGER.

YOU SEE PEOPLE COME IN WITHOUT ANY NUANCE OF THE ORIGINAL LOCAL REPORTING ON IT.

AS THE FOX NEWS AND WHOEVER GETS IT, AS THE LARGER OUTLETS GET IT, YOU LOSE SOME OF THE NUANCE.

YOU GET NOT JUST MYSELF BUT OTHER LOCAL TV OUTLETS HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, MAYBE WHO HAVE WORKED IN THE CITY.

SOME PEOPLE MAY LIVE IN THE CITY OR HAVE SOME KIND OF IDENTIFYING FACTOR WITH MELROSE THAT COULD ADD TO IT A LITTLE BIT.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE ELSE -- ONCE IT EXPLODED, I DON'T THINK ANYONE ELSE WAS ABLE TO GET INTO WHAT IT IS.

PEOPLE SAY, OH, MY GOSH, I LOOKED AT THE PAPER, MELROSE, CANCEL, CANCEL.

AND THE SUPERINTENDENT WAS VERY CLEAR, AND SHE SAID, LISTEN, HALLOWEEN IS NOT CANCELED.

THE COMES BACK TO HOW DO YOU DEFINE CANCEL?

IT WAS CLEAR TO ME AFTER SPEAKING WITH HER OVER THE WEEKEND, IT IS SOMETHING THAT THE DISTRICT IS MOVING AWAY FROM.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT VERB YOU'RE ALLOWED TO PUT ON THAT TO SAY WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

PEOPLE SAY CANCELED AND THEY FLIP THEIR LID, AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

>> Reilly: LET ME ASK YOU IN CLOSING: YOU'RE A REALLY GOOD NEWS REPORTER, AND YOU'RE NOT A COMMENTATOR, AT LEAST NOT THAT I KNOW OF, BUT WHAT DOES THIS TELL US ABOUT THE WAY WE LIVE RIGHT NOW, AND MAYBE AREAS THAT WE MIGHT NEED TO TAKE IT DOWN A NOTCH WHEN IT COMES TO THE INTENSE INTENSITY?

>> THE MAYOR OF MELROSE CAME OUT AND ISSUED REALLY A PLEA FOR PEOPLE TO GET BACK TO CIVIL DISCOURSE, AND TO FORCEFULLY DENOUNCE SOME OF THE ATTACKS, REALLY PERSONAL ATTACKS FORTOWARD THE SUPERINTENDENT AND HER FAMILY.

IT HAS NO BUSINESS IN WHAT WE'RE DOING.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO FIX IT BASED ON THE MELROSE HALLOWEEN CONTROVERSY, WHATEVER.

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME, AND IT IS JUST GOING TO GET WORSE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE INTERNET.

AGAIN, THE SUBJECT OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, HALLOWEEN, IS IT OR ISN'T IT WELCOME, THAT IS UP FOR DEBATE.

THAT IS NOT MY AREA TO TALK ON.

THE ONLY THING I CAN SPEAK ON IS WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE AFTERMATH OF THAT.

THE BACKLASH, AND THE BACKLASH TO THE BACKLASH, AND IT JUST HAS NO BUSINESS WITH PEOPLE BEING ADULT IN AMERICA, TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE MEANT FOR KIDS.

I HAVEN'T TALKED TO ANY KIDS WHO LIVE IN MELROSE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT IT.

BUT THERE IS NO WAY THEY'RE MORE UPSET ABOUT IT THAN THEIR PARENTS.

>> Reilly: MIKE CARRAGGI, THANK YOU FOR TALKING THIS THROUGH.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Reilly: FOR POLITICAL MEDIA IN AND AROUND BOSTON, INCLUDING THOSE OF US HERE AT GBH NEWS, THE BIG STORY THIS FALL HAS BEEN BOSTON'S HISTORIC MAYORAL RACE.

WHOEVER WINS WHEN THE VOTES ARE COUNTED NEXT WEEK, THE CITY'S ABOUT TO ELECT IT'S FIRST EVER FEMALE MAYOR, AND EITHER ITS FIRST ASIAN-AMERICAN OR FIRST ARAB-AMERICAN MAYOR.

BUT BOSTON ISN'T THE ONLY CITY FACING A MOMENTOUS ELECTION.

THERE ARE A BEVY OF HOTLY CONTESTED MAYORAL RACES UNDERWAY ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS.

SOME FEATURE EMBATTLED INCUMBENTS, LIKE FRAMINGHAM MAYOR YVONNE SPICER, WHO GOT BEAT TWO TO ONE BY CHALLENGER CHARLIE SISITSKY IN SEPTEMBER'S PRELIMINARY ELECTION.

AND IN OTHER CITIES, INCUMBENTS HAVE STEPPED AWAY VOLUNTARILY AFTER GOVERNING THROUGH AN UNPRECEDENTED PANDEMIC.

CASE IN POINT: SOMERVILLE, WHERE KATJANA BALLANTYNE AND WILL MBAH ARE VYING TO REPLACE JOE CURTATONE AFTER NINE TERMS.

OBVIOUSLY, THESE AND OTHER RACES ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES, BUT THEY MIGHT ALSO GIVE THOSE OF US WHO DON'T A WINDOW INTO BIGGER SHIFTS AND STORY LINES SHAPING MASSACHUSETTS POLITICS AS A WHOLE.

JOINING ME TO TALK ABOUT THE NOTABLE CONTESTS OUTSIDE BOSTON ARE LISA KASHINSKY, AUTHOR OF POLIÍTICO'S MASSACHUSETTS PLAYBOOK, AND WILNELIA RIVERA, FOUNDER OF RIVERA CONSULTING AND FORMER CHIEF STRATEGIST FOR CONGRESSWOMAN AYANNA PRESSLEY'S CAMPAIGN.

>> Reilly: GOOD TO HAVE BOTH OF YOU HERE.

LISA, LET ME START WITH YOU.

WE WERE TALKING EARLIER TODAY, AND YOU SAID YOU SEE SOME PARALLELS BETWEEN TWO COMPAIGNS, WHERE INCUMBENTS ARE ON THE HOT SEAT, FRAMINGHAM, WHICH I MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO, AND GLOUCESTER, WHICH I DIDN'T.

WHAT ARE THE THROUGH LINES THAT THOSE TWO RACES SHARE?

SO I WILL MENTION THAT EVERY MAYOR'S RACE IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, LOCAL ISSUES AND ALL OF THAT, BUT THESE DEFINITELY HAVE SOME SIMILARITIES.

TO START WITH, YOU HAVE TWO MAYORS WHO HAVE, YOU KNOW, TOOK SOME HEAT DURING COVID AS EVERYONE DID.

BUT THEY ALSO BRING SOME BAGGAGE TO THEM.

YVONNE SPICER HAS MADE HEADLINES FOR CLASHING WITH CITY COUNCIL.

AND IN GLOUCESTER, YOU HAVE AN IN INCUMBENT MAYOR WHO HAS FACED COMPLAINTS AGAINST HER, SHE HAS FACED A LAWSUIT, SHE HAS FACED RESIGNATIONS.

AND SHE HAD EVEN BEEN FOUND, THROUGH AN INVESTIGATION, TO HAVE VIOLATED THE CITY'S CODE OF CONDUCT.

THAT MAKES THESE MAYORS TARGETS IN SOME WAYS THAT OTHER MAYORS MIGHT NOT BE.

AND YOU ALSO NOW HAVE A SUPER PACK, BACKED BY GOVERNOR CHARLIE BAKER.

>> Reilly: IT HAS BEEN REALLY INTERESTING TO WATCH HOW MAYOR SPICER IS TRYING TO SPIN THE INVOLVEMENT OF CHARLIE BAKER'S SUPER PACK.

SHE SAID THAT BASICALLY THE REPUBLICANS ARE LOOKING TO GET ME OUT OF OFFICE.

MY OPPONENT, CHARLIE SISITSKY, IS PART OF A REPUBLICAN-LED PUSH TO DO THIS.

SHE POINTED OUT THAT PACK HAD SUPPORTED A LOCAL POLITICIAN IN FRAMINGHAM WHO WAS PRO-DONALD TRUMP.

OF COURSE, MAYOR SPICER HAS BEEN OPPOSED BY SOME FRAMINGHAM STATE REPS, WHO ARE DEMOCRATS.

DO YOU THINK THAT IS AN AFFECTIVE LINE OF ATTACK AS SHE TRIES TO RILE UP HER SUPPORTERS AND TURN THINGS AROUND?

>> I THINK IT CAN BE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE MOTIVATING AND HAVE BEEN IN PAST ELECTIONS.

OBVIOUSLY COMING-UP COMING OFF THE 2020 ELECTION, BUT THE PERSON SHE IS FACING, CHARLIE SISITSKY, IS A LONG-TEAM CITY OFFICIAL, HAS BEEN ON THE CITY COUNCIL, IS VERY WELL KNOWN IN TOWN, AND HAS A LOT OF BACKERS.

>> Reilly: AND I SHOULD MENTION THAT MAYOR SPICER WAS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO WIN A CITYWIDE ELECTION IN THE HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS, AND I THINK SHE MAY BE THE ONLY ONE.

MILLMELYOU SUGGESTED THAT WE TALK SOME IN LAWRENCE AND LOWELL.

WHAT'S INTRIGUING ABOUT THAT CONTEST?

>> WHAT IS INTRIGUING ABOUT THE CONTEST IN LAWRENCE, IT WAS AN OPEN FIELD BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE DANNY RIVERA DECIDED TO SHORTEN HIS TERM AND GO AND WORK FOR THE STATE.

FOR US, IT IS AN INTERGENERATIONAL RACE.

AND I SAY "US" BECAUSE I'M VERY BIAS.

IT IS A COMMUNITY THAT HAS REALLY GONE THROUGH A LOT OF CHANGES IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.

THIS MAYORAL ELECTION IS REALLY A TEST OF THE YOUNG GENERATION, THE YOUNG GENERATION THAT STAYED AND CHOSE TO BUILD THEIR CITY AND KENDRA, WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO BE ELECTED MAYOR IN THE CITY, IS REALLY COMING IN WITH A CHANGE FOCUS THAT IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST.

I THINK FOR A LOT OF YOUNGER GENERATIONS WHO ARE THERE, HE HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB IN CRISS-CROSSING THE CITY IN A WAY THAT MAKES THE CITY LOOK LIKE IT WILL DO.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT KENDRIS IS GOING TO DO.

HE HAS BROUGHT IN PEOPLE INTO THE PROCESS THAT USUALLY HAVEN'T BEEN INVOLVED IN LOCAL POLITICS AND IN THE CITY OF LAWRENCE.

FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME, I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT HIS ADMINISTRATION CAN BRING TO THE CITY, AND IN TERMS OF NOT JUST INVESTMENTS, BUT REALLY MORE OWNERSHIP IN THE FUTURE OF THE DIRECTION OF THE CITY.

>> Reilly: TELL ME IF I'M RIGHT, JUST FROM COVERING A COUPLE OF LAWRENCE MAYORAL COMPAIGNS, GO BACK TO DECADE, GIVE OR TAKE, LAWRENCE WAS SORT OF A PUNCHING BAG FOR PEOPLE WHO PAID ATTENTION TO MASSACHUSETTS POLITICS BECAUSE WE HAD AN INCUMBENT BACK IN THE DAY WHO HAD A LOT OF SCANDALS ATTACHED TO HIS NAME.

I REMEMBER MAYOR RIVERA -- >> THE MAYOR -- >> Reilly: I REMEMBER MAYOR RIVERA CAMPAIGNING, DOOR KNOCKING, AND HIS PITCH WAS WE CAN'T GET PEOPLE COME IN AND INVEST IN LAWRENCE IF EVERYONE IS LAUGHING AT US.

MY SENSE IS MAYOR RIVERA, WHILE PEOPLE MAY TAKE ISSUES WITH INDIVIDUAL DECISIONS HE MADE, THAT HE HELPED START THIS SHIFT -- I DON'T WANT TO USE THE WRONG WORD HERE, BUT GETTING PEOPLE TO NOT SNICKER WHEN THEY TALKED ABOUT LAWRENCE POLITICIAN.

POLITICS.

IS THAT A COME NATION CULMINATION?

>> ABSOLUTELY A CULMINATION.

AND HE BROUGHT PEOPLE INTO POLITICS THAN NEVER BEFORE.

MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO GREW UP IN THE CITY HAD A STAKE IN THE CITY.

AND NOW WITH KENDRIS, SOMEONE WHO WAS THERE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

KENDRIS WAS A DOOR KNOCKING AND NOW HE IS ABOUT TO BECOME THE NEXT MAYOR OF THE CITY OF LAWRENCE.

IT IS A CULMINATING POINT, BUT THERE IS A LOT MORE WORK TO DO IN THE CITY OF LAWRENCE IN PARTICULAR.

I THINK THE CITY HAS A LOT TO BE PROUD OF NEXT WEEK.

>> Reilly: GIVE ME A QUICK RUNDOWN ON WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE WATCHING IN LOWELL, AND, LISA, I'VE GOT TO ASK YOU ABOUT SOMERVILLE.

>> IN LOWELL IS NOT REALLY THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN LOWELL, THEY WANT TO GO TO A WARD-BASED CITY COUNCIL.

I'M LOOKING AT THE CAMPAIGN OF CORY ROBINSON, WHO IS LIKELY TO BECOME THE FIRST BLACK CITY COUNCILOR IN THE CITY OF LOWELL.

WHAT IS GALVANIZING ABOUT HIS RACE IS HE IS BRINGING THE CONSTITUENTS FROM ACROSS THE CITY.

AND HE IS GETTING INTO THESE FIGHTS THAT FEEL VERY ELUSIVE, AND SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT BOSTON AND THE SCHOOLS, IT IS ON THE BALLOT.

CAN THE PEOPLE OF LOWELL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE NEW CITY COUNCIL IN A WAY THAT CONCRETES MORE INCLUSIVENESS FOR THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

IT IS LITIGATION AND ORGANIZING, A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

>> Reilly: LISA, LET'S COVER SOMERVILLE.

YOU'RE PROBABLY MORE UP TO DATE THAN I AM.

WE HAVE KATJANA BALLANTYNE AND WILL MBAH.

THIS IS SORT OF A MICROSOFTMICROCOSM IN WHERE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, PEOPLE WHO ARE SENATOR CENTER LEFT AND FURTHER TO THE LEFT -- >> I THINK THAT IS WHERE SOMERVILLE FINDS ITSELF.

YOU HAVE TWO MAYORAL CANDIDATES WHO ARE REALLY PROGRESSIVE.

AND THEN YOU LOOK AT THE CITY COUNCIL RACES, WHERE YOU HAVE WHAT COULD BE, IF ALL SEVEN OF THEM GET ELECTED, A DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST TAKEOVER OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

SO THAT IS REALLY FASCINATING TO SEE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE SOMERVILLE HASN'T BEEN THAT PROGRESSIVE FACTION, AND NOW IT IS POISED TO POTENTIALLY TAKE THAT NEXT STEP.

>> Reilly: I BET IF MAYOR CURTATONE IS WATCHING, HE'LL SAY, WAIT A MINUTE, WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE'RE NOT A PROGRESSIVE BASTION?

LOOK AT HOW I HUNG A BLACK LIVES MATTER FLAG AT CITY COUNCIL.

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF WHEN THEY THINK OF SOMERVILLE.

>> I THINK IT IS POTENTIALLY THE ONLY DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY IN THE COUNTRY, FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE.

AGAIN, IT MARKS THAT NEXT CHAPTER, THAT NEXT MARCH FORWARD, AND MAYBE A LITTLE TO THE LEFT EVEN MORE.

FOR SOMERVILLE, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS MAY BE WHERE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AS A WHOLE IS HEADING.

>> Reilly: I'M IMAGINING FOX NEWS COVERAGE OF A COMPLETELY SOCIALIST CIT COUNCIL THERE IN MASSACHUSETTS.

WILNELIA RIVERA, DO YOU THINK THIS IS A SIGN OF A SHIFT?

>> IT IS A SIGN OF SOMERVILLE'S ONGOING EVOLUTION.

I WOULDN'T READ TOO MUCH INTO THAT.

>> Reilly: A COUPLE MORE RACES OUT TO THE WEST, WHICH ACTUALLY EXISTS, EVEN THOUGH A LOT OF US FORGET IT DOES, IN WORCESTER, CENTRAL MASS AND SPRINGFIELD.

WHAT IS INTERESTING THERE?

>> WHAT IS INTERESTING, SIMILAR TO LOWELL, THE SENSE OF LITIGATION THAT LED TO WHAT IS HAPPENING, BUT I BELIEVE I THINK WHAT IS EXCITING ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THESE CITIES, IT'S PEOPLE OF COLOR THAT ARE RUNNING, AND RUNNING VIABLE COMPAIGNS, AND ON THE VIRGE OF GETTING ON THE CITY COUNCIL, RIGHT -- AND THE REASON WHY THESE STORIES ARE SO CRITICAL IN PLACES LIKE WORCESTER AND SPRINGFIELD, THEY REPRESENT, AGAIN, THE YOUNGER GENERATION, AND NEW IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE COME INTO THESE COMMUNITIES AS WELL.

AND I THINK, MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT SHOWS THE POTENTIAL OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN IN PLACES LIKE WORCESTER AND SPRINGFIELD IF WE ACTUALLY PAID MORE ATTENTION.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN SPRINGFIELD, WE HAVE THREE CANDIDATES I'VE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO IN DISTRICTS 3, 4, AND 8.

AFRICAN-AMERICANS, BLACK, AND PROGRESSIVES.

IT IS PRETTY CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRATS.

MAYOR SERENO, A PRETTY CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRAT.

BUT WE'RE SEEING A YOUNGER, MORE LEFT GENERATION COMING TOGETHER TO TRY TO ORGANIZE AGAINST A MORE CONSERVATIVE POWER BLOCK THAT EXISTENCE EXISTS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE.

IN WORCESTER, IT IS SOMETHING SIMILAR WITH -- I'M GOING TO SAY THE DISTRICT 5 CANDIDATE -- I DON'T WANT TO MISPRONOUNCE HER NAME, BUT SHE IS A FIRST-TIME CANDIDATE WHO HAS PRETTY MUCH SURPRISED EVERYONE IN DISTRICT 5 AND BEAT OUT EVERYONE IN THE FOUR-WAY PRELIMINARY AND NOW IS POISED TO BECOME THE FIRST PEOPLE -- I FORGET WHAT HER BACKGROUND IS RIGHT NOW, BUT I'LL COME BACK TO THIS LATER.

BUT I THINK WHAT IS EXCITING IS WORCESTER, SIMILAR TO SPRINGFIELD, WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE WHO HAVE RUN MULTIPLE TIMES THAT ARE NOW POISED TO WIN IN PLACES THAT ARE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO WIN.

FOR PEOPLE IN BOSTON, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS RUN A FEW TIMES AND YOU CAN WIN.

IN PLACES LIKE WORCESTER, SPRINGFIELD, AND LOWELL, PEOPLE AREN'T SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY.

SO IT MEANS MORE BECAUSE THEY ARE MUCH MORE COMMUNITY-DRIVEN.

IT IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR TO US TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THE POTENTIAL IS THAT WE COULD HAVE IN THE STATE IF WE PAID ATTENTION.

>> Reilly: I APPRECIATE IT.

WILNELIA RIVERA AND LISA KASHINSKY, THANK YOU BOTH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME BACK TOMORROW FOR BOSTON'S RACE INTO THE HISTORY.

YAWU MILLER WILL JOIN ME TO SIZE UP THE STATE OF THE RACE.

AND SOME BIG BALLOT QUESTIONS AND HOW THE BOSTON ELECTORATE IS CHANGING.

THAT AND MORE TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

♪♪ Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org