Although she ran for Mayor of Dorchester uncontested, Mary McCarthy is thrilled at the opportunity to represent her hometown in the annual Dorchester Day Parade.

McCarthy, who said she never dreamed of becoming mayor, raised over $6,000 (and counting) for the parade’s coffers by hosting events with raffles at local bars and restaurants. She will ride in a float during the June 5 parade. A lifelong spectator of the parade, ‘Mayor’ McCarthy also serves as the president of the civic association in Port Norfolk— her adopted home. She hopes to show people that Dorchester is a wonderful place to meet people, spend a night out, and call your home.

Reporter: Where did you grow up in Dorchester?

Mary McCarthy: I sort of grew up in Dorchester, but sort of not. I was born in Hyde Park. I lived in Hyde Park until I was in about first grade, I guess. Then we moved to Marshfield for ten months and we didn’t like that. My family was up here, my father was a Boston policeman, so we came back to the city – we lived right around the corner from where we lived in Hyde Park, in Milton.

My dad was from Hyde Park, so every year it always was a joke, that when we started graduating from Milton High School, the Dorchester Day Parade is on the same day as the Milton High School graduation. So he was always upset because he had five kids graduating back to back. He was a little upset for five years in a row, though he was proud of his children.

Reporter: Where do you live now?

MMc: I’ve always been around Dorchester and now I live in Port Norfolk. I’ve made my home there.

Reporter: What do you do for a living?

MMc: I work for Gioioso and Son, a construction company. I do their public relations for them.

Reporter: What’s your favorite memory of growing up here?

MMc: Gosh, there’s a lot. The best part of Dorchester I think is going to the Ice Creamsmith. And now that I live here I think the great part of Dorchester is just the community itself, going to The Eire [Pub] to watch a baseball game or a sporting event. We’ve got so much to do here, it’s hard to say which is my favorite, but I’ve always loved coming to the parade.

Reporter: Why did you run for Mayor of Dorchester?

MMc: I was definitely talked into it. It happened one night at The Eire, it just kind of came up. Just someone said it, then someone else said it: ‘You definitely should do it.’ Then next thing I know I’m like, ‘Okay.’ It’s not about Mary McCarthy, it’s about Dorchester and the fun and the parade and the community, and that really is what convinced me to do it.

Reporter: Have you always wanted to be the Mayor of Dorchester?

MMc: I never dreamed that I’d be the mayor. My grandmother, I know she’s looking down with a smile – with a giggle, anyway. My dad too, he’s looking down with a smile and a giggle.

Reporter: How do you plan on helping the community in your role as mayor?

MMc: I’m definitely going to promote all the establishments that were good to me. I’m definitely going to promote all that. And promote Dorchester on a whole.

It’s a great place to live, it’s a great place to go for dinner, to just take a walk – it’s great.

Reporter: How much money did you raise to win? How did you do it?

MMc: I’ve had three events, very successful events: one at The Eire Pub that was in March, the second one was at dbar, and the third was at the Boston Winery. All three places, all those businesses, donated the room and the food and they were really great to me. They were great to my community.

Reporter: What was the scene like at the events you hosted?

MMc: [Attendees] pay a donation fee to come in, and then we had some raffle prizes, so they bought a raffle prize,
usually it was like a dollar a chance, and there was Red Sox tickets, there was gift baskets, at the winery event we had a flat screen TV that was on raffle. We had a ton of things – restaurant giveaways, overnight stays down the Cape. It was very festive, a lot of people in the community came out, and it was a lot of fun.

Reporter: What happens to the money you raised?

MMc: All of it will go to the Dorchester Day Parade, every dime. It takes a lot of money to put on the Dorchester Day Parade.

Reporter: What do you hope to accomplish as mayor?

MMc: Just to keep the Dorchester Day Parade alive. It’s a great parade. And it’s all about the community. It’s fun.

Reporter: What do you think are the best aspects of living in Dorchester?

MMc: I think there’s wonderful people here in Dorchester. It doesn’t matter if you’re from here or your roots are here or you came from out of town and live here, everyone’s great.