By Chris Cassidy
SALEM — Three years ago, she was the outsider, born some 5,000 miles away in Hawaii, running with practically no money, limited name recognition and little hope of advancing beyond the primary.
Now, Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, one-time underdog, is sitting on a massive campaign war chest, ready for a re-election challenge that may never come.
In just over 10 months, voters in this city will turn out for a mayoral election, but so far, the political buzz seems more like a whisper. It's shaping up to be a quiet race for Salem's corner office.
Driscoll, meanwhile, said she'll seek another four years in the mayor's office and, despite rumors that a higher office could beckon, doesn't plan to leave before the conclusion of a second term.
"I'm definitely running," said Driscoll, who begins her fourth year on the job next month.
"I've heard I'm going to be a judge. I was going to Washington. I had all these things lined up, apparently," she said of rumors she might leave office for a political appointment. "I'm very content right here."
That's not to say she hasn't been approached about the possibility of taking another job. Multiple times, she's been asked, but has quickly let it be known she's not interested in leaving.
"I definitely think people have brought things to my attention and run things up the flagpole," Driscoll said. "But no serious conversations, and I tell them I'm happy with what I'm doing. That usually stops the conversation."
No challengers yet
Driscoll said she's focusing her time on being mayor — and she may have a lot more of it if she doesn't have an opponent to campaign against.
Councilor-at-large Joan Lovely, who pondered a mayoral run in 2005, will be too busy finishing law school and studying for the bar exam next year to run, "barring something really out of the ordinary," she said.
Paul Prevey, a young, two-term city councilor who chairs the city's Finance Committee and became the deciding vote to reject a senior center at the former St. Joseph Church two years ago, is out of the running, too.
"Absolutely not," Prevey said. "For now, I have no interest whatsoever."
Kevin Harvey, Driscoll's 2005 opponent who now works at the Registry of Deeds in Salem, not only won't be running, he plans to vote for Driscoll.
"She's worked extremely hard managing the city through these extraordinarily trying financial times," Harvey said. "She's done a fine job."
Others weren't committing themselves either way.
Council President Michael Sosnowski, a frequent critic of Driscoll's proposals, said people have approached him about running.
"Is it a possibility? I don't ever rule anything out," Sosnowski said. "But if I were a betting man, I wouldn't put money on it."
School Committee member Jim Fleming, who served a term on the City Council from 1981 to 1983, said he's thinking about running and will decide in mid-February.
"I have no animosity toward the existing mayor," Fleming said. "I just think I could do the job well."
Sitting on money
Nomination papers aren't available until March.
Still, at this time four years ago, it was no secret that Driscoll and Harvey were "likely" candidates to challenge then-Mayor Stanley Usovicz, and all three were raising money months before their formal announcements.
This time around, the rumor mill isn't churning, it's frozen.
"I can't imagine any candidate being successful in trying to unseat her," Prevey said. "... People overall are generally pleased with her performance."
Then there's the very important matter of campaign money — Driscoll has a lot of it.
As 2007 came to a close, her campaign had an ending balance of $44,430, according to campaign finance reports.
That year, she raised $49,354 through donations from a list largely composed of high-profile Salem business owners, attorneys and developers.
Her 2008 fundraising numbers — due next month — will likely show her campaign has even more money.
So how much does she have?
"I have no idea," said Driscoll, pausing. "I have an idea, yeah. You'll find out. ... We've certainly treated this year as though we'll have a campaign next year."
As for those rumors about leaving early, Driscoll said she's focusing on Salem and looks forward to seeing the completion of the Salem courthouse project, the redevelopment of Salem Wharf and the construction of an MBTA parking garage, as well as overcoming the grim financial forecast.
"When I'm not passionate about it or it becomes something I grouse about more than something I enjoy, that's probably when you should get out of any job. I'm nowhere near that," Driscoll said.
"I don't see myself being anywhere else. ... I'm not looking for another job. ... I don't know if there's another job that excites me as much as this one does."
Staff writer Chris Cassidy can be reached at ccassidy@salem news.com.
