On Sunday, Boston mayoral candidates John Connolly and Marty Walsh marched in the annual Roslindale Day Parade, both joined by groups of their supporters and city officials, one in particular could give Connolly an additional boost at the polls.
Roslindale is prone to some of the highest levels of voter turnout, MassLive.com reports, so Connolly and Walsh’s presence was to be expected.
In addition to West Roxbury, his home-neighborhood, Connolly believes Roslindale belongs in the same category of strong voting bases that could serve him well on Nov. 5.
Preliminary candidates Rob Consalvo and Dan Conley were Roslindale favorites on Sept. 24, but Connolly feels securing a victory in the neighborhood, is a must.
“I got to win it,” Connolly told MassLive.com, acknowledging that he grew up in the neighborhood.
Connolly and Consalvo spoke along the parade route, also occupied by City Councilors Matt O’Malley, Ayanna Pressley, Stephen Murphy and former City Councilor Michael Flaherty.
While an endorsement from Consalvo could provide Connolly with a hometown boost, Pressley could prove equally vital. Pressley, was the first African American woman elected as City Councilor At-Large in 2009. While fighting for re-election, Pressley pooled her campaign resources with Connolly.
Pressley’s campaign benefited financially, while Connolly stood to gain minority-precint favorability. Their partnership consisted of stretches featuring daily, joint-appearances.
“I take very seriously representing the whole city,” Connolly told the Boston Globe — something he has remained adamant about during his mayoral campaign –“I’m always trying to work with people to bring neighborhoods together and people together… (Pressley and Connolly) share a common vision for a city coming together.”
Pressley also serves as the Chair of the Committee on Women and Healthy Communities, and is the Vice-Chair of the Public Safety and Arts, Film, Humanities, and Tourism Committees.
BostInno reported earlier that John Connolly currently holds a 7 percent lead over Walsh in terms of favorability, a Suffolk University poll of 600 citywide potential voters found. Connolly polled 14 percent higher than Walsh amongst women; and 36 percent better with black women voters than Walsh.
Based on a 2011 report, Roslindale’s African American population increased by 15.1 percent between 2000 and 2010.
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