Ross will lead Boston City Council

By John Drake, Globe Staff

Boston City Councilor Michael Ross, a Mission Hill resident and district councilor since 1999, will become the next council president in January under a political deal brokered behind the scenes by council members.

The current council president, Maureen Feeney, and Ways and Means Chairman Stephen Murphy, threw their support to Ross, heading off what could have been a pitched battle between Ross and Murphy for the leadership job.

Feeney, who will remain a council member, will vacate the presidency because of a mandatory two-year term limit.

The councilors said in their statement that they wanted to avoid a contentious council squabble during what is expected to be a difficult financial period for city government in the coming months.

"I believe that it is important in a challenging environment that the Boston City Council not be fractured," said Murphy, who conceded the presidency to his younger colleague.

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