The City Council has emerged as a progressive stronghold in the city and experts predict the body will continue trending leftward in the upcoming municipal election, as more women and candidates of color seek office.
“I think we’ve seen a sea change in Boston politics,” said former City Councilor John Nucci, currently a board member at Massport. “The council has become increasingly progressive, and I see no reason that that trend won’t continue.”
Three incumbents, Tim McCarthy (D-5), Josh Zakim (D-8) and Mark Ciommo (D-9) have announced they aren’t seeking reelection, opening the door for a field of newcomers to seek office in those districts.
Ciommo, who has served on the council since 2007, currently chairs the Ways and Means committee and serves as a fiscal watchdog on the council. The committee’s vice chair, McCarthy, is also leaving.
Boston Municipal Research Bureau President Pam Kocher says she expects one of the committee’s current members, should they get reelected, to rise up to take the reigns of the budget-writing committee.
“We are seeing some longtime veterans leaving, but a lot remain,” Kocher said. “The Ways and Means committee is a pretty key position. We’ll be watching to see who else steps up as candidates. It’ll have to be someone thoughtful about finances.”
Amy Diamond, a co-chair of the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus, said her organization sees the district vacancies as an opportunity for more women to fill seats.
“I think it’s incredibly important that we have a diverse council,” she said. “We definitely see this as an opportunity for more women on the council and I think it’s looking very good. The candidates are solid candidates.”
Gail Jackson-Blount, also of the MWPC, said the emergence of former City Councilor and current Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley on the national stage will have a lasting effect by inspiring candidates to run for a seat in the council.
“Women of color are going to follow in her footsteps,” she said. “They’re going to go through a process where they are starting in a municipal seat.”
The three open district seats have garnered the most applications for nominations from candidates so far, according to the elections department.
There are currently 15 candidates who have pulled papers for the four at-large seats on the council. Each incumbent has signaled they intend to run for reelection.
Current Councilor At-Large Althea Garrison won her seat after finishing fifth in the 2017 municipal election. Garrison stepped into Pressley’s seat after she was elected to Congress.
“Councilor Garrison is the one that might be seen as the most vulnerable, but it’s too early to tell and you just never know,” Nucci said. “The way the rules are set up, a fifth place finish in an at-large race is not a bad consolation.”
Pam Wilmot, the executive director of Common Cause, predicts that despite the large field of candidates and the potential to field the most diverse body the council has ever seen, voter turnout will remain low.
“We have had issues with turnout in non-mayoral races,” Wilmot said. “There’s just too many elections and people get burned out.”
Candidates must file nomination papers by May 21. There will be a preliminary election on Sept. 24 and the general municipal election is set for Nov. 5.
Below is a list of candidates who have pulled nomination papers:
AT-LARGE
Domingos DaRosa, Hyde Park
Michael F. Flaherty (incumbent), South Boston
Michel Denis, Hyde Park
Raymond R. Duran, Dorchester
Priscilla E. Flint-Banks, Roslindale
William A. King, Dorchester
Althea Garrison (incumbent), Dorchester
David Halbert, Dorchester
Herb Alexander Lozano, Boston
Julia Mejia, Dorchester
Roy Owens Sr., Roxbury
Jeffrey Michael Ross, South End
Alejandra St. Guillen, Mission Hill
Taushawn Tinsley, Dorchester
Steven A. Wise, Dorchester
Michelle Wu (incumbent), Roslindale
Annissa Essaibi-George (incumbent), Dorchester
DISTRICT 1
Lydia Edwards (incumbent), East Boston
DISTRICT 2
Edward M. Flynn (incumbent), South Boston
DISTRICT 3
Frank Baker (incumbent), Dorchester
Raymond R. Duran, Dorchester
District 4
Andrea Joy Campbell (incumbent), Mattapan
District 5
Ricardo Arroyo, Hyde Park
Maria Esdale Farrell, Hyde Park
Cecily Leticia Graham, Hyde Park
Yves Mary Jean, Roslindale
Justin Matthew Murad, Hyde Park
Alkia T. Powell, Hyde Park
Jean-Claude Sanon, Roslindale
Mimi E. Turchinetz, Hyde Park
Michelle von Vogler, Roslindale
DISTRICT 6
Matt O’Malley (incumbent), West Roxbury
DISTRICT 7
Kim Janey (incumbent), Roxbury
Roy Owen Sr., Roxbury
Valerie Hope Rust, Dorchester
Steven A. Wise, Dorchester
DISTRICT 8
Priscilla Kenzie Bok, Boston
Robert Couture, Boston
Montez David Haywood, West End
Kristen Mobilia, Boston
Helene Vincent, Boston
DISTRICT 9
Jonathan Lamar Allen, Brighton
Brandon David Bowser, Allston
Liz A. Breadon, Brighton
Craig R. Cashman, Brighton
Lee Nave Jr., Brighton
Amanda Gail Smart, Brighton
