Parishioners at St. Anthony’s were treated to a rare and highly visible appearance Sunday as a local candidate in an upcoming election made his return to church, selecting a front-row seat many described as “hard to miss.”
The candidate, not widely associated with regular attendance in recent memory, arrived early and remained positioned in clear view throughout the service.
“He made sure you saw him seeing you,” one attendee said.
“I didn’t realize he was running until today,” another parishioner said. “Then it started to make sense.”
Witnesses said the candidate worked the room before and after the service, greeting attendees with confident familiarity, extended handshakes, and a steady stream of first-name energy directed at people whose names he did not appear to know.
“It was a lot of ‘Hey, how you been?’” another parishioner said. “Across the board.”
Following the service, the candidate lingered near the exit, shaking hands and exchanging brief remarks about community, faith, and the importance of showing up.
In a short statement, the candidate described his return as intentional. “It’s important to be here,” he said, clearly.