Marty’s mum
Walsh walks early from first press conference after Labor nomination
So long, Marty.
Boston Mayor Martin Walsh skedaddled in the middle of his first press conference since becoming President-elect Joe Biden’s nominee for Labor secretary a week previous, leaving without taking questions about the move or the potential mayoral transition.
Walsh held the press conference in the main mezzanine of Boston City Hall on Thursday morning, which he began by echoing several of the themes in his State of the City address earlier this week.
“I just want to thank the people of Boston for their strength and resilience over this past year and always, and I want to say thank you for all the well wishes and kind words I received over the past week,” Walsh said.
Before turning the mic over to Boston Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius and Health Chief Marty Martinez, he wrapped up with “I will not be taking any questions.”
As Cassellius spoke, Walsh promptly ducked out, making his way back up the stairs to the fifthfloor office he’s soon likely to depart.
Martinez read a statement from the mayor saying that there are no credible safety threats to the city.
Asked why Walsh wasn’t there to answer questions himself, Martinez said, “Because we’re focused on COVID and what we’re learning around COVID around reopening, we are focused on being able to answer those questions.”
When Martinez was then asked whether Walsh will be taking questions ever again as mayor, Walsh’s communications staff cut in and said this press conference was for coronavirus and schools questions.
Another Biden nominee just south of the border used the same playbook. Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo, Biden’s pick for Commerce, reportedly took off in the middle of a press conference on Wednesday.
Biden’s transition team didn’t respond to a request for comment about whether or not they’re instructing nominees to cut short public comments.
It’s not clear when a U.S. Senate confirmation vote for Walsh might happen, and hizzoner hasn’t been available to be asked about the transition directly. If Walsh leaves before March 5, the city’s charter requires a special election to fill out his term, which runs through the end of the year. If it’s after that date, the general election in November will elect the next full mayor. City Council President Kim
Janey will serve on a temporary basis as acting mayor either way.
A Walsh spokesman said later in the day that the mayor will continue to make public appearances and said any questions can be directed to the press office.
“As Mayor Walsh embarks on his confirmation process to become Secretary of Labor, we believe it’s a priority to set up continuity for Boston on important matters such as the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” his office said.