The Election Department confirmed the ballot for mayor Thursday, qualifying 12 candidates to run for the office’s first ever open election in decades. The 15 candidate pool was whittled down to 12 after John G.C. Laing Jr., David S. Portnoy, and Robert Capucci failed to meet the 3,000 signature requirement, reports the Boston Globe. Capucci has already contested his disqualification, requesting a review of the nomination papers. The Election Department has until June 25 to conduct reviews and release an official ballot after which candidates have a week to withdraw from the election.
Preliminary elections will be held September 24th with the two top candidates advancing to the Municipal Election November 5, according to the City of Boston Election Department.
Mayor Thomas M. Menino’s announcement he would not seek re-election certainly shook up Boston’s political scene. Four City Councilors—Rob Consalvo, John G. Connolly, Michael P. Ross, and Felix G. Arroyo—have vacated their seats to throw their hats in the mayoral ring, making a total of nine City Council spots that are up for grabs. With 61 candidates gunning for political offices, campaign fever will be heating up the city this summer.
Barstool Sports founder—or El Presidente as he calls himself—David Portnoy may be out of the race, but a diverse set of fascinating political personalities are still on the ballot. Here is what you need to know about the candidates in the racy for mayor. Meet the potential future Meninos of Boston:
Candidates for Mayor of Boston in 2013 Election
Felix G Arroyo. Arroyo, 34, has served on Boston’s City Council since 2010. During his time as City Councilor, the democrat developed a “Boston Youth Agenda” to create jobs for young people, built up “Invest in Boston” to promote economic development, and constantly advocated for working families. He serves as Chair of the Council’s Committee on Labor, Youth Affairs and Health, Vice Chair of the Council’s Committee on Housing, and as representative on the Boston Groundwater Trust according to his City Council profile. Arroyo grew up with his Puerto Rican parents in Hyde Park and is the son of Felix D. Arroyo, the first Latino City Councilor, reports the Mission Hill Gazette.
John F. Barros. Barros, 39, has served on the Boston School Committee since 2010 according the Boston Globe. Prior to his position on the committee, Barros ran the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative for over a decade. After graduating from Dartmouth College, he worked for the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies underwriting public offerings for start-up companies. Barros is a member of St. Patrick’s Church in Roxbury, where he was raised by Cape Verdean parents. He also serves as coordinator of the Cape Verdean Apostolate for the Archdiocese of Boston.
Charles L. Clemons Jr. Clemons was a Boston Police Officer for ten years in Roxbury, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury according to his campaign. In 2006, he co-founded Touch 106.1 FM, a radio station aiming to give voice to the local black community. Clemons grew up in Mission Hill in Roxbury, and the Four Corners neighborhood in Dorchester. He has been awarded numerous awards and citations from the city government.
Daniel F. Conley. Conley, a Hyde Park native, assumed Thomas Menino’s City Council seat after his victorious run for mayor in 1993. Following his stint as City Councilor, Conley has served as Suffolk District Attorney since 2002. Conley leads the candidate pool in terms of funds with $866,000 backing his campaign according to the Boston Globe.
John R. Connolly. Connolly was elected to the City Council in 2007. He is Chair of the City Council’s Committee on Education and Vice Chair of the Committee on Environment and Health, according to his campaign. His focus is on improving Boston public schools. Prior to his career in local government, John worked as a middle school teacher and as an attorney advocating for community organizations like Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) and the PrideLights Foundation, a South End-based gay rights organization. John resides in West Roxbury with his wife and two children.
Robert Consalvo. Elected in 2002, City Council Rob Consalvo has served on the Chairman of the Boston City Council Housing Committee and Vice-Chairman of the Government Operations Committee. As mayor, Consalvo says his priorities would be public safety, Boston public schools and development, reported the Boston Globe. Consalvo has experience working on the federal level with Senator Edward M. Kennedy. After his stint in Washington, he worked in the State House as the Director of Constituent Services for State Representative Angelo M. Scaccia. Consalvo remains active in the West Roxbury community where he grew up.
Charlotte Golar Richie. Golar Richie has served for three terms as a State Representative for the Fifth Suffolk District and as Governor Deval Patrick’s Senior Advisor for Federal, State, and Community Affairs. She also served under Mayor Menino, advising him as the Chief of Housing and Director of Neighborhood Development, according to her campaign. Golar Richie has made great strides in Boston housing development. As Chair of the Joint Committee on Housing and Urban Development, she pushed for the passage of a $296 million bond bill for housing. As DND Director, Golar Richie helped start nearly 18,000 housing units and oversaw the Office of Business Development which supported Boston Main Streets, an award-winning program. A long-time Dorchester resident, she is extremely involved in the local community.
Michael P. Ross. Since 1999, Ross has represented District 8 on the Boston City Council including two terms as president according to his City Council profile. As president, he saved $45 million by moderating a compromise between the firefighters union and the city. He has pushed for physical fitness in public schools, developed the first website enabling residents to pay tickets online, and led delegations to New York City to learn how to improve the city’s park. The son of a Holocaust survivor, Ross resides in Mission Hill.
Bill Walczak. Bill graduated from Boston University and married a Dorchester native, becoming involved in the local community. At 20, Walczak founded the Codman Square Health Center which is renowned as a model of community development, according to his campaign. He also co-founded the award-winning Codman Academy, a professional academy for low-income students. Walczak is also Vice President of External Relations for Shawmut Design and Construction which works to complete construction jobs for Bostonian of all backgrounds. Walczak aims to continue improving the lives of Boston families as mayor.
Martin J. Walsh. A State Representative since 1997, Walsh has a familiar Boston story: the son of Irish immigrant he climbed the ladder from construction worker to public servant and has strong ties to organized labor. As mayor, Walsh plans to continue his work on economic development, education, and substance abuse treatment, the Boston Globe reports. Walsh took night courses to earn a degree at Boston College to earn a degree in 2009. He also served as business manager of Boston Building Trades representing local worker unions. Walsh currently lives in Savin Hill and grew up on Taft Street in Dorchester.
David James Wyatt. The dark horse candidate and only Republican in the race, Wyatt sought a seat on City Council in 2007 and failed. He lives in his native Roxbury and works selling Boston Herald newspapers. “Crime may be the most troubling problem we have,” said Wyatt to Wicked Local in 2007.
Charles C. Yancey. Yancey has been City Councilor since 1983, longer than any other member. As Councilor, he spearheaded multiple construction projects in Mattapan and wrote the Parental School Leave Ordinance to increase parental involvement in the public school system, his campaign reports. Yancey chairs the Post Audit & Oversight Committee and Vice Chair of the City, Neighborhood Services & Veterans Affairs Committee. He also serves on the Whole; Housing; Ways and Means; Public Safety; and Labor, Youth Affairs, and Human Rights Committees. A native of Roxbury and graduate of Tufts and Harvard, Yancey is a lifelong Bostonian dedicated to improving equality.
Who are you planning on voting for in the 2013 Boston Mayoral election?
