THE BOSTON City Council emerged from the shadows in 2009 with two at-large councilors mounting strong mayoral campaigns in the September preliminary and one - Michael Flaherty - rising to challenge Mayor Menino on Nov. 3. Often dismissed as statutorily weak, the council appears to be gaining respect and clout, attracting a mostly impressive group of eight candidates vying for four at-large spots, including two open seats.
The two incumbents make strong claims to retain their seats. After 12 years in office, Stephen Murphy has acquired wide knowledge of the city budget and social issues affecting the quality of life in Boston. “I could teach a course to the other seven on municipal finance,’’ says Murphy. Modesty may not be a strong point of the hard-working councilor, but he has backed up his words with strong efforts to weed out abuse in the city’s disability pension system, rein in dangerous dogs, give ex-offenders better chances to find work, and pressure tax-exempt institutions - especially universities - to contribute more to city coffers.
First-term incumbent John Connolly has been a consistent voice for making the city more livable, with strong emphasis on preparing Boston’s schools and workplaces for a green economy. A former teacher, Connolly brims with good ideas about how to reduce truancy and improve the city’s schools. A rookie with a veteran’s eye for politics, Connolly has quickly become a significant citywide asset.
Several promising minority candidates are among the newcomers in the race, a boon for a city looking for fresh political talent in the black and Hispanic communities. Felix G. Arroyo, the 30-year-old son of a former city councilor, brings the passion and energy of a labor and community organizer to the race. Unfortunately, he eschews bold education reforms, such as merit pay for teachers. But he deeply understands the concerns of the city’s young people, many of whom he has coached or mentored at his kitchen table. And Arroyo is poised to play an immediate role in raising the quality and offerings of the city’s erratic community center programs. He deserves one of the open seats.
If elected, Ayanna Pressley would be the first black woman to serve on the council. She offers an impressive resume, including the post of political director for US Senator John F. Kerry. A first-time candidate, she is sometimes prone to political platitudes on the stump. But she is also deeply passionate and knowledgeable about elevating the lives of poverty-stricken families, drug addicts, and victims of domestic and sexual abuse. Pressley, 35, is open about the pain she experienced as the daughter of an addicted and incarcerated father, and she is eager to use those experiences to help others through strong constituent service and sound lawmaking.
Tito Jackson, 34, narrowly misses this endorsement list. He has a big personality and a good background in job creation in a state business development office. Jackson should find his place on the city’s political stages. If not now, soon.
