First Women Elected to Garda’s Historic Fishing Corporation Council

I am Nicoletta Maffezzoli and Bianca Malfer the first two women to enter, after more than five and a half centuries, the general council of the corporation of the ancient natives, which holds the exclusive rights to fishing on the so-called Peschiera del Vò.

The Vote and Elections of the Corporation

The counting of the ballots voted in the hometown of the Corporation was laborious. It took more than a week. There was uncertainty until the very last about the legitimacy of the vote: due to a postal mishap, almost two hundred “native” members did not receive their electoral certificate.

The vote counters met twice. Then the decision: the election was deemed valid. Moreover, the turnout at the polling station set up under the Christmas dinner tent among the olive trees, along the lakeshore, was exceptionally high.

Typically, about fifty people vote. This time, the number of voters was 153 (“a record,” commented Fabio Gaggia), who collectively expressed preferences for 76 candidates.

The choice of the cooking tent as the polling station was particularly appropriate. At the bottom of the electoral certificate, there was a “voucher valid for the native’s codfish.”

Tradition and Customs of the Corporation

Inside the tent, polenta and codfish were cooked, as is tradition during the solemn moments of the Corporation. Some might be puzzled by such a custom: saltwater fish for a town of freshwater fishermen?

But upon reflection, it’s not such a strange affair: during festive days, rare, unusual, out-of-the-ordinary foods are eaten, and so, for Lake Garda’s fishermen, what could have been more “exotic” in the past than a dish of salted cod?

Origin of Surnames and the Malfer Family

Regarding codfish, in Garda, people often go by the nickname of their family branch, especially considering that some of the “native” surnames are very widespread: this is the case for the Malfer, Monese, and Maffezzoli.

Indeed, one branch of the Malfer is called “Baccalà,” and there are three Malfer “Baccalà” elected to the Corporation’s council: Ettorino, probably the most famous among the lake fishermen and also the most decorated among the rowers who competed on the “bisse” racing boats, his brother Alberto, a banker and also an excellent rower, multiple winner of the “lake flag,” and still active, as well as sister Bianca.

The Elected Members of the Council

Let’s see who they are, one by one, the fifteen elected members. The result of the ballot was this: the top elected Fabio Gaggia, vice-mayor and outgoing president of the corporation (who received 101 votes), followed by Gigi Monese (current secretary), and then, in order, Ettore Malfer, Franco Crescini, Claudio Malfer, Mario Monese, Pierfrancesco Maffezzoli, Giuseppe Tondini, Ivano Monese, Alberto Malfer, Nicoletta Maffezzoli (Gaggia’s wife), Rino Maffezzoli, Bianca Malfer, Raffaele Monese, and Matteo Malfer.

This last one received the same number of votes as Omar Simonelli (43), but was surpassed due to age: in case of a tie, the older one wins.

The other three women candidates in this “historic” hometown narrowly missed the council by a few votes: Livia Monese (42 preferences), Stefania Pasotti (41), and Camilla Monese (40).

Historical Significance and a First Time

Why “historic”? We said it: because it was the first time, since the founding of the Corporation in 1452, that women could have voting rights. And forgive us if that seems little to you.