# Marilyn Petitto Devaney

Marilyn Petitto Devaney is an American politician, who formerly served as a member of the Massachusetts Governor's Council. She was the oldest member of the council during her incumbency. Devaney is a former member of the Watertown, Massachusetts City Council.

## Political positions
### Recordings of Governor's Council Meetings

During the Covid-19 Pandemic, the council's meetings were held virtually and live-streamed free to the general public. In March, 2022 the Governor's Council ended the live-streaming of their once a week meetings. Devaney was the sole councilor to call upon the council to reinstate virtual public access to the meeting. Following support from councilors Eileen Duff and Mary Hurley, the live stream was restored starting on April 20, 2022.

## Conduct
### Curling iron incident

In 2007, Devaney attempted to purchase several products at a salon in Watertown. When the clerk told Devaney that she would need to present a valid drivers license to pay with a check, Devaney attempted to use her position on the Council to get around presenting an ID. When the clerk informed Devaney it was impossible to complete the transaction in the computer system without entering in details from a license, Devaney was accused of throwing a curling iron at her.
Devaney later attempted to subpoena a reporter from the Watertown Tab & Press, seeking to determine how she obtained a copy of the police report from the incident.

### Mailbox incident

On August 24, 2020 Devaney was alleged to have gone through mail in her neighbor's mailbox during the night of August 22, 2020 at 10:50pm. On a call with the Watertown Police Department, Councilor Devaney claimed she did not fiddle with their mail, only pushing a piece of mail back into the box that was sticking out. The council member later told the State House News Service that she required cement work done on a sidewalk and was searching for the home of a previously hired contractor. Devaney later reversed her statement, denying that she had ever gone into the mailbox, despite video surveillance footage circulating online. The Watertown police had the case forwarded to the United States Postal Inspection Service.

### Erroneous claims of endorsement

In 2022, Devaney claimed she had been endorsed by Congressman Jim McGovern and State Auditor candidate Chris Dempsey. Both denied endorsing her.

### Conflict with other councilors

During the September 13, 2023 meeting, Councilor Devaney interrupted Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll, who chairs the Governor's Council, with a prepared speech. Devaney alleged five of her six colleagues arranged a boycott of a September 6th public comment session she had held regarding the Kenny Jean pardon. Following a back and forth between Devaney and Councilor Kennedy, Councilor Paul DePalo motioned to establish a new rules committee for the Governor's Council.

## Electoral history
### Results

Devaney lost the 2024 Democratic primary to Mara Dolan.
2024 Governor's Council Democratic Primary 3rd District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mara Dolan | 45,238 | 52.2 |
| | Democratic | Marilyn Pettito Devaney | 41,478 | 47.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 86,716 | 100.0 |
Devaney ran unopposed in the 2022 General Election.
2022 Governor's Council Democratic Primary 3rd District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Marilyn Pettito Devaney | 50,960 | 50.8 |
| | Democratic | Mara Dolan | 49,302 | 49.1 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 107 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 100,369 | 100.0 |
Devaney had no challengers in the 2018 General Election or 2020 Democratic Primary and general election.
2018 Governor's Council Democratic Primary 3rd District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Marilyn Pettito Devaney | 51,781 | 56.1 |
| | Democratic | Nick Carter | 40,372 | 43.7 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 174 | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 92,327 | 100.0 |
Devaney faced no opposition in the 2016 General Election.
2016 Governor's Council Democratic Primary 3rd District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Marilyn Pettito Devaney | 13,058 | 48.5 |
| | Democratic | William Bishop Humphrey | 7,905 | 29.4 |
| | Democratic | Peter Georgiou | 5,881 | 21.4 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 80 | 0.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 26,924 | 100.0 |
2014 Governor's Council General Election 3rd District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Marilyn Pettito Devaney | 160,994 | 65.2 |
| | Independent | Thomas Sheff | 85,401 | 34.6 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 553 | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 246,948 | 100.0 |
2014 Governor's Council Democratic Primary 3rd District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Marilyn Pettito Devaney | 33,905 | 54.3 |
| | Democratic | Charles N. Shapiro | 28,383 | 45.5 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 135 | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 62,423 | 100.0 |
2012 Governor's Council General Election 3rd District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Marilyn Pettito Devaney | 250,772 | 73.5 |
| | Independent | Thomas Sheff | 89,203 | 26.2 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 1,074 | 0.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 341,049 | 100.0 |
2012 Governor's Council Democratic Primary 3rd District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Marilyn Pettito Devaney | 17,730 | 41.6 |
| | Democratic | Harry S. Margolis | 10,122 | 34.4 |
| | Democratic | Charles N. Shapiro | 10,122 | 23.7 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 122 | 0.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 42,632 | 100.0 |
2010 Governor's Council General Election 3rd District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Marilyn Pettito Devaney | 150,683 | 60.0 |
| | Independent | Nicholas A. Iannuzzi | 99,957 | 39.8 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 417 | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 251,057 | 100.0 |
2010 Governor's Council Democratic Primary 3rd District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Marilyn Pettito Devaney | 21,127 | 56.6 |
| | Democratic | Corey A. Belanger | 16,114 | 41.3 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 117 | 0.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 37,358 | 100.0 |
Devaney faced no opponents on the ballot in the 2008 Governor's Council District 3 General Election.
2008 Governor's Council Democratic Primary 3rd District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Marilyn Pettito Devaney | 23,515 | 53.2 |
| | Democratic | John J. Doyle | 14,722 | 33.3 |
| | Democratic | Thomas L. Walsh | 5,831 | 13.2 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 166 | 0.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 44,234 | 100.0 |
Devaney had no opponents in the 2002, 2004, and 2006 Democratic primaries and General Elections.
2000 Governor's Council General Election 3rd District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Marilyn Pettito Devaney | 213,656 | 82.4 |
| | Republican | Barry T. Hutch | 45,248 | 17.4 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 498 | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 259,402 | 100.0 |
1998 Governor's Council General Election 3rd District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Marilyn Pettito Devaney | 132,876 | 62.1 |
| | Republican | John Henry DeJong | 80,899 | 37.8 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 170 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 213,945 | 100.0 |
1998 Governor's Council Democratic Primary 3rd District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Marilyn Pettito Devaney | 12,541 | 18.1 |
| | Democratic | Ruth E. Nemzoff | 12,181 | 17.6 |
| | Democratic | Francis Thomas 'Frank' Talty | 11,010 | 15.9 |
| | Democratic | Howard I. Goldstein | 8,725 | 12.6 |
| | Democratic | John W. Costello | 7,776 | 11.2 |
| | Democratic | Ginny Allan | 7,595 | 11.0 |
| | Democratic | Garret J. Barry | 6,036 | 8.7 |
| | Democratic | Leonard H. Golder | 3,373 | 4.9 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 75 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 69,312 | 100.0 |