State Representative and Boston mayoral contender Marty Walsh was awarded the endorsements of John Barros and Felix Arroyo yesterday — both mayoral candidates who have since been stricken from the race — but today rival opponent John Connolly received some big-name backing of his own.
The City Councilor At-Large announced today that North End-native and State Rep. Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston) will be in his corner.
We reached out to the Walsh campaign and his Press Secretary Kate Norton told us, “In the last week alone, Marty has been endorsed by State Senator Anthony Petruccelli, LGBT advocate Arline Isaacson, Boston City Councilor Felix Arroyo, and former Boston School Committee member John Barros. We’re focused on our own campaign, and this week is all about momentum – and Marty has it.”
The Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Service, Michlewitz recently garnered the Public Advocate of the Year Award from the Greater Boston Food Bank for his dedication and commitment to the organization.
Connolly is expected to host another press conference after a City Council meeting this afternoon during which he’ll announce another endorsement, though there’s no indication as to who it will be.
Walsh’s endorsements could certainly help to equalize the balance of power that has shifted as of late in Connolly’s favor. Barros comes as little surprise seeing as how both he and Walsh reside in the neighborhood of Dorchester. Arroyo, a City Councilor At-Large with Connolly, could bring some added municipal clout to the Walsh campaign. Both have connections to Connolly but have opted to throw their political weight behind the State Rep.
Rather than bash his opponent and his new constituents, Connolly commended Barros’s and Arroyo’s choice, a breath of fresh air in American party politics that has turned into a large-scale version of the blame game.
One of the more glaring questions still unanswered is who will Charlotte Golar Richie, who came in third place to Walsh and Connolly, advocate for. It is expected that Golar Richie will eventually endorse one of the candidates.
