Mayoral candidates Felix Arroyo and Rob Consalvo appear to have the support of the Boston Teachers Union, with an official endorsement pending from the local force of 10,000 teachers, nurses, guidance counselors and others.

Arroyo and Consalvo reportedly won “the initial endorsement” of both a political advisory and the union’s executive committee Monday night after a lengthy debate, according to Boston.com, citing a union statement.

The report goes on to claim this move could indicate the union’s endorsement of two candidates before the September 24 preliminary election, though union membership is scheduled to vote on endorsements Wednesday afternoon, so who, specifically, will emerge with that feather in their cap remains to be seen.

This is reportedly the first time the union will be making an endorsement in a mayor’s race in more than two decades.

Last week, BTU President Richard Stutman (left) said the union would wait until the general election to endorse a candidate due to a the lack of a consensus favorite.

During an interview with the Boston Globe this morning, however, Stutman said union leadership decided to “expedite” an endorsement because of the candidates’ performances last week at a BTU-sponsored mayoral forum, public showings that appear to have them “gaining traction with members.”

“We decided to do something for the two candidates who are far and away the best for public schools,” Stutman told the Boston Globe.

Arroyo appealed to members because of his focus on lifting all children out of poverty while Consalvo’s practical ideas and “zeal for policy” appealed to others, Stutman told the Globe.

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