Excellence in field of City Council candidates
Recent media attention has focused on Boston’s mayoral race — and the swirling drama centering on Acting Mayor Kim Janey. Her ascent from City Council president, representing District 7, to the corner office as the first woman and first African American to hold the post has been historic.
The mayoral race is exciting to be sure, but so are the races to fill seats on the council. Two at-large councilors (Michelle Wu and Annissa Essaibi George) and one district councilor (Andrea Campbell, District 4) are relinquishing their seats to run for mayor. Several district seats are open, including that of Matt O’Malley representing District 6, and the District 7 seat vacated by Janey, who is running to keep her seat for a full term as mayor
I feel a special connection to the city council because my husband, Bruce Bolling, who won an at-large seat on the council in 1981, was the first African American to serve under district representation for Roxbury’s District 7. In addition to actively promoting diversity during his 12 years of service, particularly for African Americans, women, gay and Latino members, Bruce became the first African American president among his predominantly white fellow city council members.
The caliber and commitment of the people running for City Council today are phenomenal. Here are a few standouts:
Kelly Bates — Many activist types, including myself, have long been trying to convince Bates to run for public office. The president of the Interaction Institute for Social Change, Bates is a quintessential public servant and a terrific problem solver. She is a champion of redistricting, women’s rights and immigrant rights and education.
Ruthzee Louijeune — This young Harvard Law dynamo cut her teeth supporting the Haitian American community, and is the former Warren for President legal counsel. Two Haitian American leaders — former Massachusetts State Rep. Marie St. Fleur and Linda Dorcena Forry, a former Massachusetts state rep. and state senator, both support Louijeune.
We are not quite where we should be when it comes to diversity on the council — no Haitian American has ever served, despite Massachusetts boasting the third highest population of Haitian Americans in the country. There is also no African American man currently serving since Tito Jackson lost his seat when he lost the mayoral race in 2017.
I am happy to report that we have a plethora of accomplished Black men seeking a seat
David Halbert is running a second time for a citywide seat building on an impressive first-time run. As a former aide to Governor Deval Patrick and having worked in city government, he knows what it takes to get things done — and we have a lot to do particularly following a pandemic year.
My friend Leonard Lee is running for the District 4 seat. Lee is a powerhouse, knowledgeable about the workings of political strategy and how to get things done. As general manager and curator of the Melnea A. Cass Recreational Complex and Roxbury Heritage State Park/Dillaway Thomas House, Lee has lifted the profile of Roxbury history.
And from the “Like Father, Like Son” file, some impressive candidates running for the first time have family ties to public service in Massachusetts.
Nick Vance — A Gov. Baker appointee on the Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee and a member of the Dorchester YMCA Board of Advisers, Vance is running citywide. His dad, Mike Vance, CEO at Central Boston Elder Services, is highly respected, but Nick has his own portfolio of service.
William Dickerson III —A former city council aide, Dickerson is running for the District 4 seat. In fact D4 has the largest number of competitors. His father, the Rev. William Dickerson II, pastor of Greater Love Tabernacle, is one of the city’s top activist ministers.
Marisa Luse — The Campus Engagement and Collaborations manager at Northeastern and Roxbury Community Champion is running for Janey’s District 7 seat. The Luse family, like the Janeys, are well known for their community activism writ large.
I am proud of everyone who takes the opportunity to run and serve.