Bruins anthem singer Todd Angilly loses first political race, considers running again

Bruins anthem singer Todd Angilly lost his “first foray” into politics, but he says he’s strongly considering running again for elected office to promote community development and transparency.

Angilly, 49, of Lynnfield, came up short in his bid for Essex County Clerk of Courts. He fell to incumbent Thomas Driscoll, a Democrat who has held the role since 2001. Angilly ran unenrolled.

“I don’t want to give a politician answer, but I do see myself giving it a go again,” Angilly told the Herald Friday when asked about his future political ambitions. “Whether or not it’s for that position, I’m not sure because I’ve gotten to learn the political landscape.”

Singing the National Anthem at Bruins games at the TD Garden since 2019, Angilly has grown into a beloved face in the Boston sports community with his powerful renditions and his passion for giving back to the community.

Angilly, though, said he didn’t want to seek out support from the Bruins during his first political campaign.

Rather, he ran on his experience of working 12 years as a probation officer, half of those at Essex Superior Court in Salem, the courthouse where the county clerk of courts is officed. He now serves as the director of workforce development for the state Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.

“I knew people were going to recognize me,” Angilly said, “but I was really adamant and very focused on people knowing that I had a background … and the skills to run for this position and that it wasn’t simply like ‘I’ve been singing for the Bruins for a few years so I think I will take a shot at politics now.’”

If elected, Angilly would have overseen the administration of the Superior Court in Essex County which includes courthouses in Salem, Lawrence and Newburyport. Tasks would have ranged from managing the staff in the civil and criminal offices to being the keeper of public and private records.

The position has a salary of $174,532, the Salem News reported.

Angilly said he looked forward to becoming a community liaison by making it known courthouses are open to the public and exposing the opportunities within the courthouse outside of judges and lawyers, like victim witness advocates and substance abuse counselors.

The anthem singer who took over the role from the legendary Rene Rancourt also highlighted how he’d be transparent without how taxpayer money is being spent.

This will mark Driscoll’s fifth six-year term.

“Wherever I campaigned throughout Essex County two questions always arose: What does the clerk of courts do? And the other was who is the clerk of courts?” Angilly said.

“The community has been shortchanged,” he added. “The clerk of courts makes a significant salary and for the residents of Essex County to largely not know who that person is I thought was something that needed to be improved upon.”