Uphill Fight - Potential Challenger Takes Boston's Longest - Serving Mayor

BOSTON (Reuters) - A Boston town councilor in addition to education recommend became the initial pick that will establish his marketing for mayor this year, perhaps setting in place quite a job towards longest-serving mayor around location history, Thomas Menino.

The challenger, John Connolly, may be a former college tutor would you very likely experience an uphill struggle in the event Menino, 70, opts to search for some sort of sixth phrase within the office he has used given that 1993. Both tend to be Democrats.

Menino has not however reported whether he will manage again immediately after a new month-long hospitalization later not too long ago in connection with a virus your dog caught when on holiday in Italy.

Connolly, 39, explained in a advertisment about his Web website that his center because mayor could be seeking to improve the city's university system.

"Mayor Menino is a superb man," Connolly said. "I've did wonders by using the pup as well as I regard him or her immensely however transforming our schools requires fresh ideas, brand new electrical power including a vivid prefer to break this rank quo."

Incumbent mayors around Boston not usually drop re-election bids. Menino's predecessor, Raymond Flynn, walked decrease when President Bill Clinton branded your ex ambassador for the Vatican.

In the city's 2009 mayoral election, Menino's most significant concern came from then-city councilor Michael Flaherty, having since eventually left politics and gone into private legitimate practice.

(Reporting By Scott Malone; Editing by simply Paul Thomasch as well as Nick Zieminski)