Gross reportedly ‘90% in’ to run for Hub mayor
Sources say he’s just discussing it with family
The Boston mayoral race could get another candidate throwing their hat into the ring this week.
Boston Police Commissioner William Gross is “90% in” for a mayoral run, a source in direct contact with Gross told the Herald over the weekend.
An announcement from Gross could come as soon as midweek, about a week after Mayor Martin Walsh was nominated to become Labor secretary in the Biden administration. The final 10% of Gross’ decision is talking to his family first, the source said.
After rising through the ranks of the Boston Police Department for three decades, Gross became BPD’s leader in 2018. He is Boston’s first Black police commissioner.
As a patrol officer, Gross spent many years in the Gang Unit and Drug Control Unit, as well as serving as an academy instructor. Gross achieved the ranks of sergeant and sergeant detective, and was promoted to deputy superintendent in 2008.
Throughout his career, Gross “has maintained a strong connection with the community, and has been awarded numerous awards for bravery, meritorious service and community partnership,” his biography reads on Boston.gov.
Meanwhile, City Councilors Michelle Wu and Andrea Campbell have been running for mayor for months.
Since the news broke that Walsh was being tapped to join the Biden administration, other names have been floated. State Sen. Nick Collins, state Rep. Aaron Michlewitz and At-Large City Councilor Annissa Essaibi-George are all mulling runs.
City Council President Kim Janey, who is set to become acting mayor, has not stated whether she’ll run for a full mayoral term. She would be the first Black person and first woman to be mayor.
Boston Economic Development Chief John Barros, Rep. Jon Santiago and Suffolk Sheriff Steve Thompkins are also names being floated.
The timeline of Walsh’s departure from City Hall still remains unclear.
If Walsh leaves before March 5, the city charter would require a special election about four months after his departure. Janey would serve as acting mayor for those four months, and the special election winner would then serve out the remainder of Walsh’s term, which ends in January 2022.
City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo said Friday he would be filing a home rule petition to avoid that special election. Whether it could be passed in time, however, remains an open question.
If Walsh doesn’t leave until after March 5, then no special election would be required. In that scenario, Janey would serve as acting mayor until next January.