New Salem Mayor Pledges To Pursue 'A City That Works For Everyone'

SALEM, MA — Newly elected Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo spoke about building on the foundation that he helped create while serving as Chief of Staff to former Mayor Kim Driscoll in the aftermath of his victory Tuesday night in the race to succeed Driscoll as the city's new chief elected officer.

Pangallo edged former Salem Mayor Neil Harrington with 52.1 percent of the vote to Harrington's 47.5 percent on Tuesday. There were 9,234 residents — about 28 percent of registered voters — who voted in the special election.

"Our city is going to keep moving forward toward that better future we've all been striving for — for a city that works for everyone and welcomes all," Pangallo said in a message to supporters early Wednesday morning. "Throughout this campaign, I've talked often about the foundation we have here. It's one that each of us has had a part in making possible."

(Also on Patch: Dominick Pangallo Wins Special Election As Salem's Next Mayor)

Pangallo grew up in Salem and has worked in government and public administration throughout much of his professional life. He moved to New York for a time while his wife, Salem School Committee member Dr. Kristin Pangallo, taught chemistry and environmental sciences at Colgate University, and he returned to the city with his young family in 2013 to serve as Driscoll's Chief of Staff.

He announced this past fall that he would run to succeed Driscoll should she win her bid for lieutenant governor, which she did, resigning from the mayor's seat after 17 years in January.

This will be his first time serving in elected office.

"Congratulations to the next mayor of Salem," said Driscoll, who endorsed Pangallo as her successor, Tuesday night. "I've been honored to call you a friend and colleague. I have no doubt that Salem is in great hands and I look forward to seeing you lead our great city forward."

Pangallo talked about the difference made by "the work all of us have done over these last decades to get Salem to this point" and called the Witch City "a place that other places want to be like."

"When I say our best days are ahead of us, that's only possible because of what we've been working toward over these years," he said. "Because of the path we've all been guiding Salem along, now the city we all love is taking another step forward on that path."

He said that while challenges are ahead, it is important work, and that "our best days are not only ahead of us, they're within our reach."

Pangallo told Patch on Tuesday night that he understood his inauguration will come following a 10-day certification period for the election and could be either May 27 or May 28.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)