Uphill Fight - City Councilor Launches Campaign For Mayor In Boston Reuters

By Scott Malone

BOSTON Tue Feb 26, 2013 4:19pm EST

BOSTON (Reuters) - A Boston city councilor in addition to education negotiate started to be the 1st choice in order to introduction a plan regarding mayor this kind of year, that could possibly likely pit him against Thomas Menino, the longest-serving mayor around city history.

John Connolly, a ex - classes teacher, would likely very likely encounter a good uphill deal with in the event Menino, 70, attempts some sort of sixth expression at the office he has stored since 1993. Both are usually Democrats.

Menino have not yet declared whether he could operate all over again after a month-long hospitalization later 2009 in connection with a virus he / she shortened though about vacation around Italy.

Connolly, 39, claimed in a offer upon his web page which his emphasis seeing that mayor could be restoring the city's school system.

"Mayor Menino is a superb man," Connolly said. "I've worked with your ex and also I adhere to the pup immensely, although modifying our universities requires brand new ideas, fresh vitality including a vibrant prefer to break this reputation quo."

Incumbent mayors throughout Boston almost never eliminate re-election. Menino's predecessor, Raymond Flynn, walked decrease when President Bill Clinton named your ex ambassador on the Vatican.

In the particular city's last year mayoral election, Menino's nearly all really serious challenge arrived from then-city councilor Michael Flaherty, that has considering eventually left politics and also long gone in to private legal practice.

Should Menino not necessarily run again, a decision he won't ought to produce until eventually May, Connolly's early appearance could possibly present your ex boyfriend a great gain versus different rivals, explained John Berg, teacher connected with govt during Suffolk University with Boston.

"It let us your ex boyfriend escape presently there and have acknowledged to be a guy that had been brave sufficient to obstacle Menino, compared with merely hanging back in addition to waiting," Berg added. "If Menino declines out, he or she receives a lower calf up."

(Reporting By Scott Malone; Editing by means of Paul Thomasch, Nick Zieminski plus Andre Grenon)