The day after his mayoral rival rolled out two high-profile endorsements, Councilor John R. Connolly announced three endorsements of his own.
Standing in the South End on Wednesday morning, Connolly accepted the backing of state Representative Aaron M. Michlewitz, who represents Chinatown, Bay Village, and parts of the South End and Beacon Hill.
“John has been a true progressive leader in Boston and no doubt will be the true progressive mayor for the city of Boston,” he said.
Michlewitz, who was an early supporter of Charlotte Golar Richie during the preliminary race, said that he considered both candidates closely before deciding to back Connolly.
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“John and I share the same belief that young families are the lifeblood and the future of this city,” Michlewitz said. “And I know that John will be ready to roll up his sleeves as mayor and take on the tough issues that will help young families thrive in the city of Boston for generations to come.”
Standing alongside Michlewitz was Susan Passoni, who ran unsuccessfully for state representative in 2009 and is serving as one of Connolly’s campaign cochairs.
“He’s a smart, dynamic, open-minded, and progressive candidate who is well positioned to take our city forward as Boston’s next mayor,” Passoni said.
Hours later, Connolly added two other endorsements: Councilor Sal LaMattina, who represents East Boston, Charlestown, and the North End, and state Senator Sal DiDomenico of Everett, whose district includes parts of Allston, Brighton, and Charlestown.
“I have seen the way he listens to parents and students, and his deep understanding of our schools,” LaMattina said during his endorsement. “I have no doubt that if he is elected he will transform our schools so that every child can attend a high-quality school.”
The endorsements gave Connolly a near monopoly on support from elected officials in the North End, with the only significant exception being state Senator Anthony Pettruccelli, who is backing Walsh.
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“We’re focused on great schools, how that connects to safe and healthy neighborhoods, how that connects to job opportunity and economic development in this city,” Connolly said. “We look at the North End as a key piece of that.”
The trio of endorsements came just a day after Connolly’s opponent, state Representative Martin J. Walsh, celebrated endorsements by former mayoral candidates Felix G. Arroyo and John Barros, coveted support expected to help him in minority communities.
With Barros and Arroyo declaring their support for Walsh, the attention shifts to Golar Richie, who came in third in the preliminary race.
Both campaigns have courted Golar Richie, whose support is thought to have the potential to help either candidate attract women and minority voters. As of Wednesday, however, people close to Golar Richie said it remains unclear whether she had made up her mind, or if she will endorse at all.
“I don’t know where she stands,” Connolly said during the morning news conference. “I think endorsements make a big difference, but ultimately . . . it’s up to the candidates to work extremely hard and relay their vision to the voters.”
Political group launches television ad for Walsh
An independent political group launched a new television ad Wednesday, touting mayoral hopeful Martin J. Walsh. The spot from the Virginia-based American Working Families began airing on Boston broadcast and cable TV stations, the group said.
The organization spent about $220,000 to air the ad through Oct. 20, according to three people with knowledge of the ad buy.
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Outside groups have spent more than $1 million supporting Walsh during the mayoral race, vastly outpacing the roughly $60,000 of outside spending supporting his opponent, Councilor John R. Connolly, according to state filings.
American Working Families reported Wednesday that it spent $123,000 on behalf of Walsh from Sept. 23 through Wednesday, increasing its total reported expenditures supporting him to almost $523,000, according to filings with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance.
The group is not legally required to disclose its donors until after the mayoral election, although records show it received $5,000 in September from a local union that has endorsed Walsh.
Though the group has previously criticized Connolly on Twitter, the new ad is positive and includes a graphic calling Walsh a progressive mayor for Boston’s future.
“It’s an independent expenditure,’’ Walsh spokeswoman Kate Norton said. “By law, we’re prohibited from coordinating with them on this type of thing. Personally, I think it’s a great ad.”
Connolly spokeswoman Natasha Perez said: “This election should be decided by the voters of Boston and not by super PACs from Virginia.”
American Working Families organized in Massachusetts as an independent expenditure political action committee in July. It listed its address as a post office box at a UPS store in Alexandria, Va., according to records with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance.