Magic number in reach for new council president

Councilor Maureen E. Feeney of Dorchester is poised to become the next president of the Boston City Council, and she would be the first woman to lead the body since Louise Day Hicks in 1976.

Feeney and the council's current president, Michael F. Flaherty, said yesterday that she had locked up the support of at least eight of its 13 members, giving her enough votes to capture the post when the council elects a new leader tomorrow.

"It's a great day for Maureen and her family, and I'm excited about what lies ahead, said Flaherty, who said he had decided not to seek reelection as president.

Feeney's election would vault the 58-year-old Democrat, a relative unknown outside her Dorchester district, into a position with the potential to wield considerable influence on matters as diverse as policing, elections, and the schools. Leaving the position could pave the way for Flaherty, an at-large councilor from South Boston, to focus on a potential run for mayor.

Feeney said yesterday that she was thrilled to have secured the support of her colleagues and eager to begin formulating an agenda as president.

"I'm really happy," Feeney said yesterday. "I feel really privileged to work with so many wonderful people, but I am particularly grateful to President Flaherty for his really gracious offer to step aside and support me, and that means a great deal to me."

The only other candidate, Councilor John M. Tobin Jr., said yesterday that he had decided Thursday to throw his support behind Feeney. Tobin said he had concluded he lacked the votes to win and wanted to avoid a battle.

"Everyone wants to avoid a circus in there on Monday," Tobin said. "It's important to have a shake-up every once in a while and keep things fresh and give everyone a chance to lead in different ways on the body."

Feeney grew up in the Franklin Field projects in Dorchester, the daughter of a pipe-fitter and a homemaker, the eldest of five brothers and a sister. After working for years in the insurance industry, she took a job at City Hall in the 1980s, handling constituent services for Councilor James E. Byrne. In 1993, when Byrne decided not to run for reelection, she won election to his seat. She lost two runs for the state Senate, in 1997 and 1998, but has won election to the council four times.

She lists among her accomplishments the creation of a meals program at the Long Island Shelter and her work organizing annual blood drives in the city.

"She's been there a long time and has the respect of her colleagues," said a former councilor, Lawrence S. DiCara. "They suggest she was the den mother to all the young councilors and has been a big sister and a confidante to all of them through the years."

Feeney said Flaherty helped her corral the votes yesterday. Talking over tea and muffins at his South Boston home, Flaherty said he had encouraged his supporters on the council -- Michael P. Ross, Jerry P. McDermott, and Robert Consalvo -- to support Feeney. Flaherty said he also telephoned Councilor James M. Kelly, who agreed to support her.

DiCara said that by stepping aside, Flaherty will be able to escape day-to-day management of city affairs as he considers a possible run for mayor in 2009, and added, "Anybody who thinks this is the death knell of Michael Flaherty doesn't understand history."

Flaherty was circumspect about the future. "I'm up for reelection in 2007, and anything after that is purely speculation," he said, "but I'm looking forward to what lies beyond that."

Donovan Slack of the Globe staff contributed to this article. Michael Levenson can be reached at mlevenson@globe.com.