John Pepper is the co-founder of the Boston-based company Boloco, with 22 restaurants in Boston and surrounding areas and over 400 employees.

For years, I have admitted to people that the last thing the world needs is yet another “burrito joint” … and for that reason, I long ago committed that if the company I co-founded back in 1997, Boloco (yes, that’s short for Boston Local Co.), didn’t have a meaningful and unique reason to exist beyond the basics, then I’d go play in another sandbox.

Right now, many would argue that the last thing Boston needs is yet another opinion piece on who should be our next Mayor. And yet, having built and operated 12 restaurants within the City limits over nearly 17 years, I’ve experienced the best, brightest and most inspiring aspects of Boston along with the disillusioning – and sometimes downright scary – dark side.  Therefore I knew that if I earned the right to do so I should share my candid thoughts on what’s at stake with today’s vote for Mayor.

First of all, to be clear, we all must vote. I didn’t used to vote. And most people I know still don’t bother. Like them, I didn’t used to believe that my vote counted, and even if it did, that it wouldn’t make a real difference. Plus, I was super, super busy, right? What an idiot I was. Today, I know people who turn voting into an occasion to celebrate. Some use it as an excuse to go on a date. Others grab lunch, dinner or even a drink afterwards with friends. I’ve even re-watched “Dave” or “The American President” to get myself in the spirit of positive politics. Maybe we should have elections take place on holidays when people don’t have to work! (OK, won’t get too carried away, for now.)

But here’s the bottom-line: Do whatever you must to motivate yourself and your friends and colleagues to go to the polls.

For the record, I’ve remained intentionally open to who I believe should become our next Mayor … right up until this past weekend. Even in Presidential elections, I do my best – to my ultra-liberal mother’s dismay – to be open to all candidates while they campaign right until the final days prior to the election. I keep listening. It’s hard sometimes, but it’s my own little game and I enjoy it.

I supported my friend Mike Ross in the preliminaries – as well as Mike’s countless efforts to bolster the communities of Boston over many years. I was sorry to see him lose. As for these two finalists, I didn’t know either Marty Walsh or John Connolly beyond a few relatively unmemorable handshakes at random events over the years. But in the past few weeks, I’ve made it my business to learn everything possible about each of them. And what I know is that they are both strong, often charismatic leaders who want to do right by Boston and its citizens. Of those basics I am certain.

However, we have to choose one, and very quickly we become mired in the myriad, complex issues that John and Marty have to tackle and debate. Over time the various soundbites can lead to even more confusion. So often they sound the same. You have to listen really, really carefully to find discernible differences.

In the end, I’ve finally found the differences that matter most to me, and I hope matter to most of you reading this (that is, if there are any of you left reading this!).

It is John Connolly who best fits the bill for Mayor of tomorrow’s Boston. I fall back on one aspect in particular: his unique willingness and hard-earned freedom to make difficult, independent choices. He’ll say it himself, and I’ll repeat it here: His track record demonstrates true independence relative to his opponent year after year after year.

Being Mayor is tough. Hard calls will need to be made. When John Connolly was faced with potentially career-destroying decisions with respect to the teachers’ contract, the student assignment system and even running for mayor against Mayor Menino, he separated himself from literally everyone else in the pack – and especially from Marty Walsh.

In my eyes, the brand reputation of Boston, as a great place to live, work, visit and start a business, still hangs in the balance. One of the real holdbacks is the fact that Boston’s administration lacks a culture of consistent, genuine and caring customer service. The obstacles, red tape and attitudes business owners (and citizens) run into while building organizations and trying to add to the vitality of Boston can be downright ridiculous and comical – and are legendary across the country.

We would never stand for this kind of behavior in a local burrito shop, so why do we accept it when it comes to local government?

The Mayor who finally decides to fight this culture of rudeness, disrespect and even threats is in for a long, hard battle and will need to fight decades of crony-ism and ingrained bad habits. But when the changes finally do take place, this city will be ready for global leadership in so many critical areas for decades to come. Many of the people I know agree that this change must happen. And as far as I can tell, John Connolly is uniquely the man who can withstand the heat to see it through.

I’m voting for John Connolly for all of the reasons that he and so many others have previously shouted from our city’s rooftops – and yes, his position on education and the public schools is a standout for me. But I’m mostly doing it because I love Boston and I love his overall vision for Boston and can’t imagine anyone else with the backbone, independence and raw intelligence to make the cultural changes necessary to substantially benefit everyone who calls this city home.

BostInno has publicly endorsed John Connolly for Mayor of Boston. However, the information, views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of BostInno.