Bill Linehan to make exit from Council
Sudden move made to become consultant
District 2 City Councilor Bill Linehan will step down today, three weeks before the election to fill his seat and more than two months before the end of his term, saying he wants to establish himself as a private consultant.
And while he initially said he would not back a candidate to replace him while he was a sitting councilor, he is endorsing tomorrow as soon as he leaves office. Linehan did not say whether he would support Ed Flynn or Mike Kelley, and said the opportunity to endorse did not play any role in his decision to leave early.
Linehan served as city councilor for Chinatown, South Boston and the Seaport, as well as parts of Downtown and the South End, for 10 years and worked in City Hall for 20 years before that. He announced he would not run for re-election in February, but by backing out now, he leaves office before his term expires at the end of 2017.
Linehan said he was leaving early to establish himself as a consultant and while he wants to continue being involved in city matters, did not want to work for another company.
“My plan is to work for myself,” Linehan said, adding he was interested in housing, jobs and openspace projects. “I want to get out there and establish myself as someone who can work from the outside in.”
Under state ethics law, former municipal employees are barred for one year after they leave employment from appearing before any agency in connection with matters that were under their authority in the two years prior to leaving.
Linehan said he would not rule out doing work on the city’s forthcoming Amazon bid.
“I’m willing to entertain anything,” he said, “then weigh it based on what I’ve done in the past that is most important to me.”