It says everything about Tom Menino’s five terms in office that the boldest act one can commit in Boston politics may be to run against him.
Consider that a generation of elected officials have gone out of their way to declare that under no circumstances would they ever consider running against the city’s five-term patriarch. Though the supplicants generally cite respect and affection as their driving forces, surely another consideration is the fear of being crushed like a bug.
Comments
Too bad when the older generation doesn't know how to bow out gracefully.
Connolly deserves credit as he is doing the city a huge service. Contested elections force issues to be discussed and performance to be evaluated. While political operatives who seek to crush competition are doing the bidding of the insiders, the pubic looses out as we are denied robust debate and exchange of ideas. The political industrial complex that thrives in our city and state actually impacts our ability to grow and prosper in the 21st century. Connolly's challenge should be seen as a step forward.
Connolly is being kind when he says there's energy missing in city government. There's a whole lot more than energy missing, and a whole lot of a lack of energy that needs to be swept out. I'd love to see it, but I've become so jaded with politicians...although I'd vote for Wally the Green Monster over Menino.
Kudos to John Connolly. He has made education his top issue and has done so by sitting in Parents living rooms across the City. The Mayor and BPS have made mockery of Public meetings by hiring outside facilitators and consultants to make up the proposed plans. We need to redemocratize our Minincipal Government and this starts with new leadership. I hope more people get in the race for Mayor and City Council and we have a nice healthy debate regarding Boston's future.
Go Connolly!
Connolly won't win---but he'll have been nicely groomed for the next round. Even Menino will endorse him then. Connolloy's father works at City Hall, too. So it's a nice familiar crowd between them.
It is time for a mayor who cares about developing high-quality schools, ending patronage and waste, and keeping middle class families in the city. It is middle class families that would challenge the status quo, but too often they leave because of the schools. We need them for a healthy city. Time for a change.
I'd like to see Dan Conley as Mayor.
Dan Conley is his own man and has potential. I wish he were a bit more hands on of his prosectors but its an underpaid broken system that is not his to own. Connelly's are the ultimate insiders. Johns interest in schools is based more in a suburban attitude then based in helping poor kids. Mayor Menino has earned the right to stay for as long as he like. His staff can carry the ball where he needs help.
There is more to Boston than the schools, though that is a worthwhile issue. Noone will win my vote without dealing with ALL the topics - strangleholds on business development and transportation issues and red-tape and fees and general quashing of night-life. We need and want a 24-hr 21st century city that serves all ages and all types of residents.