Arrigo Team Looking to Keep Revere Moving Forward

By Sue Ellen Woodcock

Getting the right team behind the daily functions of your office is one of the most important decisions a new Mayor can make.

For Mayor Brian Arrigo the choices came with much thought, seeking the best and the brightest to advise the mayor, run daily operations and work together to make a better community.

Answering the phones and juggling the myriad of comments, complaints and concerns is Debbie Peczka, 55, a born and bred Revere native with an extensive professional background in the airline industry. She is also on the board for Revere TV. Peczka has two children, a daughter, Emily, at Revere High School; and a son, Benjamin, at Syracuse University.

Peczka was an English major at Salem State and had been interested in pursuing a degree in library science.

Omar Boukili, 35, the mayor’s chief executive officer, is a native of Morocco, lived in California and is a graduate of Berkley College where he majored in international relations and political science. He currently lives in Somerville with his wife and plans on moving to Revere in the next six months. Arrigo and Boukili were former colleagues in Somerville when Arrigo was the director of operations, water and sewer department, and senior analyst at SomerStat.

“My goal is to deliver the best services and the least amount of dollars,” said Boukili.

Rounding out the team is Revere native Joseph Gravellese, 27, son of School Committee member Susan Gravellese. He met Arrigo during his 2011 city council race and they have some mutual friends. He is a graduate of Boston College and for the past three years he has worked for State Rep. Lori Urlich, who represents Marblehead, Swampscott and a small portion of Lynn.

“I’ve always been interested in public service,” said Gravellese, who is the aide to the mayor.

He is interested in economic development and providing efficient city services.