When Boston City Councilors Michael Flaherty and Sam Yoon declared their candidacies for mayor many months ago, the duo opened up what is normally a very narrow field for at-large Council candidates.
Despite the challenging state of municipal finances in this painful recession — which means that political expansionism will take a back seat to municipal triage — an exceedingly strong field of candidates entered the race.
That is all for the better. If ever there was a time when good ideas — that is, new approaches to old problems — were needed, it is now.
There are eight candidates seeking four citywide Council seats. It is a shame that voters will only get a chance to cast their ballots for half of the field. Most are impressive. And, in this cynical age, all have a refreshing desire to make a difference.
The two incumbents, JOHN CONNOLLY, 36, of West Roxbury, and STEPHEN MURPHY, 52, of Hyde Park, deserve re-election.
Connolly, who is finishing his first two-year term, has turned in the most impressive citywide debut since Lawrence DiCara, now a full-time lawyer, came to the Council in the seemingly ancient era of 1972.
Connolly has staked out three areas as his special turf: making government more accountable, working for a greener and more energy-efficient city, and — most noteworthy — tackling issues related to education, especially truancy, which drives Boston’s unacceptably high dropout rate.
The authority of a city councilor is narrowly prescribed by the city charter. But whoever is elected mayor would do well to endorse many of Connolly’s thoughtful ideas.
