Boston wants a extra conservative, pull no punches mayoral candidate to problem lefty Michelle Wu and it will likely be a missed alternative for the town if nobody emerges as that voice.
Metropolis Councilor Ed Flynn of South Boston, son of former Mayor Ray Flynn, is the closest the town has to filling that huge lane however for now he has determined to not be a part of the fray.
Flynn has the funds – about $1 million in marketing campaign money, which is quite a bit for a district metropolis council race – the identify recognition, and data of the important thing neighborhood points driving the race. He may faucet into extra reasonable areas of the town, not simply South Boston and never simply white voters.
Requested whether or not he has any misgivings about taking a cross on the mayoral race, Flynn instructed the Herald, “I’m running for district city council.”
If Flynn doesn’t run, there doesn’t seem like one other conservative on the market but who’s considering of getting within the contest. However that would change.
The one different declared candidate, Josh Kraft, son of Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft, has failed to achieve a lot traction but although he has raised some cash and will faucet into his household’s wealth.
Kraft to date has complained that Wu is stealing a few of his points, like inexpensive housing however that’s not a profitable technique. He has additionally sought to make Wu’s short-sighted proposal to show the dilapidated White Stadium into knowledgeable ladies’s soccer venue into a giant difficulty, however polls present residents are combined at greatest in regards to the plan. Wu is just not going to lose the race due to White Stadium.
Simply within the final week, 5 main labor unions endorsed Wu, demonstrating the facility she is wielding from Metropolis Corridor. She additionally introduced Monday the town is investing $10 million in federal funds for inexpensive housing in Mattapan. Kraft can’t compete with that.
On Monday, actual property developer Thomas O’Brien made it recognized that he’s excited about probably leaping within the mayor’s race, complicating Kraft’s bid much more.
O’Brien, the BRA chief beneath the late Mayor Tom Menino, can be simply one other wealthy white businessman drawing from the identical base as Kraft if he will get within the race. O’Brien is a Democrat, though Boston has a non-partisan election, and would give attention to housing, faculties and rising property taxes. He additionally has by no means run for public workplace.
Sound acquainted?
It’s a failing technique – a non-starter.
Each Kraft and O’Brien are additionally strolling billboards for battle of curiosity – O’Brien has various large initiatives within the metropolis just like the redevelopment of Suffolk Downs and the rehabilitation of the Authorities Heart Storage, whereas Kraft’s household is attempting to construct one other soccer stadium simply over the road in Everett that can have a significant influence on Boston site visitors.
O’Brien additionally was compelled to depart the BRA beneath an moral cloud for permitting a high aide to buy a backed rental meant for low earnings folks. That alone may kill his candidacy.
“It is clear some developers are willing to do whatever it takes to buy this office,” Julia, Leja, a Wu marketing campaign spokesman stated of O’Brien’s musings about getting within the race. “It seems that Josh Kraft is not turning out to be what they expected and now they are shopping for a new option.”
O’Brien didn’t return a name from the Herald on Monday.
Wu can be fortunate to face each Kraft and O’Brien in the identical area, as a result of she would demolish them each, leaving whoever is available in second place within the September preliminary election little likelihood of beating her within the November remaining.
Nobody goes to out lefty Michelle Wu. The one candidate who may beat Wu is somebody who’s keen to level out her inflexible progressive model is now working for a lot of Boston residents.
Solely Ed Flynn appears to acknowledge that, which is why it’s vital that he take a second take a look at the mayor’s race and change into that various voice.
Flynn was one of many first to lift the alarm in regards to the metropolis’s drug-infested Mass and Cass neighborhood, and in regards to the deteriorating situation and security of the Boston faculties. He additionally has been within the forefront of criticizing Wu for her failures in making Downtown Crossing a secure place to buy and stay.
Solely a conservative candidate would even be keen to level out that Wu’s stirring protection of Boston as a sanctuary metropolis in a congressional listening to final week may lose the town hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in federal funds.
