As a nurse in an intensive care unit, George Rotondo has seen his share of worst-case scenarios and gory situations. So friends weren't surprised when Rotondo decided to enter the world of Revere politics two years ago.

What was a surprise to the Ward 4 city councilor, at least at first, was the council's openness to fresh ideas.

''I expected great resistance. I found that people were collective in having a great exchange of ideas," said Rotondo, 38. ''I always thought the good old boy network was set in their ways."

But as his proposals have become more ambitious, including his recent bid to bring a casino to Revere rather than racetrack slot machines, Rotondo has clashed with council colleagues, city power players, and a local legislator. And now, he said, the ''good old boy network" is making its presence known.

''The old way of thinking was more like, 'Things have always been done this way so why change it,' " Rotondo said. ''My outlook as a city councilor and in life is if something is wrong, change it."

After months of contentious motions at council meetings, Rotondo became part of his first serious political fracas in January when he pushed for a nonbinding voter referendum on slot machines at Wonderland Dog Track and Suffolk Downs.

His attempts failed when Revere state Representative Kathi-Anne Reinstein, who has long supported slot machines in Revere, argued that Rotondo's ballot question would result in a delay of a pending slots bill. Upon hearing the argument, city councilors buried Rotondo's motion.

But Rotondo did not drop the matter quietly and has since filed a motion for the city to explore the possibility of a casino license.

''I think having a casino is better for long-term revenue," Rotondo said. ''I don't see that revenue coming from slot machines."

Although just a first-term city councilor, Rotondo's high-profile quests have fueled rumors that he is after Reinstein's seat.

In a previous interview, Reinstein said she spoke to Rotondo while he was pushing the ballot question and told him to simply tell her if he intends to run against her.

''Anyone is entitled to run in the game of politics. If he wants to run, he's entitled, but I'd like him to tell me," said Reinstein, who is beginning her fourth term in office. ''I've been here six years. He's done a great job in his first year as a ward councilor."

Rotondo, now in the last leg of his first two-year council term, said for now all he wants to do is be the Ward 4 councilor.

''I was taken aback by the rumors. People are always trying to raise political hay. I pooh-pooh it," Rotondo said. ''I don't think it's something that needs to be suggested. . . . I'm here to raise the tough questions until I get the answers. Sometimes I lose, but at least I brought up the question." 

A graduate of Everett High School and Bunker Hill Community College, Rotondo moved to Revere in 1996 after buying a family friend's house. Rotondo is raising two daughters, Gabriella, 4, and Amanda, 2, with his wife, Carolina, 33, who is a native of Colombia. Rotondo served in the National Guard, drove tractor-trailers, and worked as an emergency medical technician on an ambulance crew before becoming a nurse. He speaks several languages, including Spanish, Italian, and German. Not one to mince words, Rotondo said his decision to run in 2003 was a simple one. ''I felt I could do a better job and be more accessible," he said.

Rotondo said his political role model is George Keverian, former House speaker from Everett. When he was a child, Rotondo recalled, his family called Keverian when it needed help paying for a nursing home for his grandmother. Fighting tears, Rotondo recounted how Keverian helped the family, which included his mother, three younger brothers, and one younger sister.

''My dad left when I was 12 and we had absolutely nothing. When we grew up, we had nothing and people were really generous to us," Rotondo said. ''I cleaned bricks on the weekends, worked at the pizza shops. I learned a lot about what a dollar meant and what family meant. I also learned what it's like to be the little guy."

Now, the roles have reversed. Rotondo sees his council position as a chance to help ''the little guy" and can often be heard explaining his positions with the phrase: ''Of the people, by the people, for the people."

With no previous experience in public office, other than losing a bid for the Revere School Committee four years ago, Rotondo is entering his reelection campaign at the center of council discord. Still, several colleagues praised Rotondo's zeal.

Ward 5 Councilor John Powers is concerned about the wording of the casino motion and voted against Rotondo's referendum motion, but said Rotondo reminds him of himself as a first-year councilor.

''I think that any councilor coming in as a new councilor is very energetic. They're naive in some cases, where you might think that you can put these motions in and they're going to happen overnight," Powers said.

Former Revere mayor and current Councilor at Large Robert J. Haas Jr. said he was not ''that ambitious" as a first-year councilor.

''George is doing a good job overall, not just in Ward 4, but in the city in its entirety," Haas said. ''A lot of the issues he raises are up to state legislators, so he tries to get his two cents in before they decide on it and may be ticking some people off. George is very aggressive, says what's on his mind, does an awful lot of analytical work. It doesn't mean he's right or he's wrong, he's just making his case. He's well thought out, he does his homework."

Refusing to speculate on his future after Ward 4, Rotondo would only say he is focused on the upcoming November election.

''God holds my destiny. My goal is to ensure that my ward is basically tended to and that this city is able to provide for itself," he said.

Katheleen Conti can be reached at kconti@globe.com 

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