Politics
“I imagine I’ve served town of Boston and its residents faithfully and successfully throughout my tenure, however it’s now time to show the web page and transfer on to the following chapter of my life.”
After 10 phrases on the Boston Metropolis Council, Councilor At-Massive Michael Flaherty introduced Wednesday that he has withdrawn his title from the November poll and won’t search reelection.
In a statement posted to Twitter, Flaherty stated he intends to complete the remainder of his time period and at the moment has no plans to run for an additional public workplace.
“Whereas this determination will come as a shock to many, I reached it after a lot deliberation and self-reflection over the previous few months, and in shut session with my spouse and household,” Flaherty wrote. “By the top of this yr, I’ll have served on the Metropolis Council for twenty years. I imagine I’ve served town of Boston and its residents faithfully and successfully throughout my tenure, however it’s now time to show the web page and transfer on to the following chapter of my life.”
Born and raised in Boston, Flaherty first served on the council from 2000 to 2008, spending 5 of these years as council president, in accordance with his Metropolis Council bio. He made an unsuccessful bid for mayor in 2009 — falling quick to incumbent Mayor Tom Menino — earlier than returning to the Metropolis Council in 2013.
“I want to thank my many associates and supporters for his or her assist and encouragement over the previous twenty years, for I actually couldn’t have completed this with out them,” Flaherty wrote in his assertion. “I additionally want to thank my colleagues in authorities and the numerous hard-working workers in Boston Metropolis Corridor.”
He stated his devotion to Boston will proceed after he leaves public workplace.
“Whereas my time on the Metropolis Council could also be drawing to a detailed, I’ll proceed to combat in my very own means, in a brand new means, to assist preserve Boston the perfect main metropolis in America through which to dwell, work, and lift a household,” Flaherty wrote.
In a tweet accompanying his assertion, he added: “It has been an honor of a lifetime to serve town that I like.”
Information of Flaherty’s determination rapidly made the rounds on social media, the place metropolis officers, native advocates, and Boston voters weighed in.
Metropolis Council President Ed Flynn described Flaherty as “an excellent lawyer and dependable good friend” who championed LGBTQ+ and civil rights, public security, neighborhood preservation, reasonably priced housing, and different points.
“Though we’ll miss his brave management and unparalleled information of metropolis authorities to carry folks collectively, we’ll look to comply with his instance and legacy of treating all with respect and dignity to assist transfer Boston ahead,” Flynn shared in a statement.
In a statement of her personal, fellow Councilor At-Massive Erin Murphy wrote that Flaherty “has all the time introduced power, creativity, and imaginative and prescient to this job, and the Council will miss his common sense insurance policies and his devotion to all the time placing town first.”
A few of Flaherty’s former colleagues additionally shared their ideas, with former Councilor Matt O’Malley describing Flaherty’s determination to go on one other time period a “titanic loss for the Council.”
Former Councilor Josh Zakim referred to as it a “pleasure & a privilege” to work alongside Flaherty, including in a tweet: “His dedication to his constituents and institutional information had been invaluable to the residents of Boston and to us as his Council colleagues.”
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Originally posted 2023-07-06 15:46:46.