He could be a contender

He appeared recently with an American Idol star, judged a citywide vocabulary contest, hosted his own costume gala. Councilor John Tobin suddenly is showing up at high-profile events all over town and inserting himself in high-visibility issues that have implications far beyond his district of West Roxbury and Jamaica Plain.

He recently stood with police chiefs against a wine and beer sales ballot initiative, making sure he was captured on news cameras. He has been weighing in on hot-button issues including Boston's residency requirement, and is leading a statewide effort to change the legislature's distribution of the meals tax.

Late last week, Tobin jetted to Los Angeles, where an evening of drinks and hors d'oeuvres raised $5,000 for his campaign coffers from former entertainment industry contacts. (Before politics, Tobin booked acts for a Boston comedy festival and dabbled in stand-up.) He now has more money in his war chest than any councilor but Council President Michael F. Flaherty, a prolific fund-raiser.

Tobin, 37, elected to his third council term last year, is acting as though he wants more. He is weighing a challenge of the council presidency in January, and he is openly discussing mayoral ambitions.

"That's the ultimate goal," he said. "Since I was a little kid I've wanted to be mayor. You work hard, you raise the money. If that opportunity presents itself, I'm in."

With Mayor Thomas M. Menino's fourth term over in 2009 -- and a generation of councilors waiting in the wings -- jockeying for position is beginning. Flaherty has long been talked about as a mayoral candidate when Menino steps down. Others are now being talked about, too. District Councilor Michael Ross, who recently moved from Beacon Hill to another part of his district, Mission Hill, has become an object of speculation, as has Hyde Park Councilor Rob Consalvo, who is chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee and is said to be a favorite of Menino's.

But Tobin, a popular councilor from one of the city's most voter-rich and political potent districts, is being seen as a potentially powerful contender.

"He's what we would call in the business a thoroughbred -- one of the new young, dynamic pols who could break loose at any time," said Joseph Timilty, who ran for mayor several times in the 1970s. "If he has his eyes set on being mayor, he'd be a good candidate. He's one of several."

He also listed Flaherty, Ross, and state Representative Martin J. Walsh, a Dorchester Democrat, on the list.

Flaherty declined to comment, and Ross and Consalvo did not return phone calls.

"This is by no means personal," Tobin said of a possible run for the presidency. "This is by no means anti-Michael Flaherty. If I do this, there won't be a bad word about the incumbent."

Tobin said he has not yet sought support for the presidency among the council's 13 members. But there is speculation of a Tobin candidacy.

"I haven't heard directly from Tobin or Flaherty, but it seems that those are strongly considered to be candidates already," said Councilor-at-Large Felix Arroyo , who, behind Flaherty, was the second top voter-getter in the last election. Arroyo said he was not planning to run for council president.

The council presidency does not wield tremendous power, aside from setting the agenda, appointing committee chairmen, and presiding over the meetings. But it does bring clout and name recognition, and has been used as a stepping stone to mayor. Menino was elevated from city council president to mayor in 1993 when Raymond Flynn took an ambassadorship to the Vatican.

There was another Tobin that held the mayor's office, a fact of which the councilor is well aware. Maurice J. Tobin was a two-term mayor, from 1938 to 1944.

"His slogan was 'Maurice Tobin, a good man for a great city.' I think if the time ever came, well, that's a great slogan. I'd have to ask the family for permission to use it."

Matt Viser can be reached at maviser@globe.com.