CITY COUNCIL campaigns in Boston are often a parade of familiar faces. This year is different, at least in the contest for the panel’s at-large spots. Two open seats have generated an outpouring of interest. Several of the 15 candidates have long connections to local government – either through family ties or in their own right – but virtually all are running on their ability to broaden the public dialogue. So much for the view that young Bostonians and minority communities are alienated from city politics; this talented field looks like a mosaic of Boston today.
On Tuesday, voters in the city will narrow the field down. Voters pick up to four candidates, and the top eight will appear on November’s ballot. Especially for political newcomers, making the final round in one election cycle is often a prelude to getting onto the council the next time around. These candidates, we believe, have the most to offer:
At 35, first-term incumbent John Connolly is the youngest current member of the council, but he brings a mature approach to the job. He takes a keen interest in increasing parental responsibility for chronic truants, who drive Boston’s dropout problem. He works diligently on energy efficiency in both public and private buildings. And he takes a grounded approach to improving transparency at City Hall, including fines for councilors who fail to disclose conflicts of interest. Connolly, who lives in West Roxbury, wears better with each month in office.
