Boston Metropolis Corridor lawyer positioned on paid depart after saying bid to problem Mayor Wu

The Wu administration has positioned a metropolis lawyer on paid administrative depart days after he introduced he was difficult Michelle Wu for Boston mayor.

John Houton, who has labored within the metropolis’s regulation division for the previous 18 years and is listed on town payroll as assistant company counsel, mentioned he sees the Wu administration’s transfer to put him on depart as an “intimidation” tactic or try to preserve him off the mayoral poll.

“I feel the pressure, I feel the intimidation,” 58-year-old Houton instructed the Herald. “It’s taking me away from what I should be doing now, gathering signatures.”

Houton’s depart, which he mentioned was communicated to him in a gathering with metropolis officers final Friday and was confirmed by the mayor’s workplace on Tuesday, was first reported by Commonwealth Beacon.

“Now there’s other city employees, both in the previous election and in this election, that the mayor has supported and advanced, and celebrated their right as an employee to run for office,” Houton mentioned. “But evidently, that doesn’t work for me, so they’re coming at me. … If it’s to protect Boston and help Boston get get back to basics, I’m willing to take that risk.”

Kerry Augustin, a Metropolis Corridor receptionist for the Age Sturdy Fee, has additionally filed paperwork to run for mayor, however has not been positioned on depart.

When requested why his job standing was being impacted by his run for workplace, when that wasn’t the case for Augustin or different metropolis workers working for Metropolis Council, Houton mentioned town was attempting to pin it on his place as an lawyer, however that he’d let the Wu administration communicate for itself.

Finally week’s assembly, Houton mentioned he was knowledgeable that metropolis officers had an issue along with his standing as a candidate, and have been involved about ethics {and professional} accountability, or specifically battle of curiosity regulation as an lawyer.

A metropolis spokesperson mentioned the transfer was made to maintain the regulation division “non-political,” and sought to distance Mayor Wu from the matter.

“In order to perform its essential functions, the law department’s work depends on being fully non-political in its operations, and, importantly, the department must be perceived as non-political by cabinet chiefs and department heads seeking advice and counsel,” Jessicah Pierre, a Wu spokesperson mentioned in an announcement.

“Employment decisions relating to Mr. Houton, a law department official who represents the city’s finance department, are being handled by the city’s office of human resources, in consultation with outside counsel. Mayor Wu is not involved.”

Houton, a South Finish resident, mentioned he’s below assessment, and believes there’s an investigation into the matter of whether or not his depart ought to proceed so long as he’s campaigning. He mentioned town introduced in exterior counsel to reply the query of the battle of curiosity his candidacy could have created.

He insists that he’s accomplished all the pieces above-board, nevertheless, and sought ethics steering when he was contemplating a possible mayoral bid 4 years in the past. He additionally sought recommendation from his direct supervisor within the metropolis’s company counsel, he mentioned.

Whereas he’s on depart, and if he will get on the poll, campaigning, metropolis taxpayers will proceed to pay his wage, which was $144,779 final 12 months, per town payroll.

Houton mentioned he’s a Democrat, however believes town is transferring below the unsuitable route below the present mayoral administration.