Mel King endorses Janey in mayoral race
Former state Rep. Mel King has endorsed Acting Mayor Kim Janey, her campaign announced as night fell on the eve of the preliminary election.
King, one of the most influential Black politicians in modern Boston history, was the first person of color to advance into a Hub mayoral preliminary election. He ultimately lost the 1983 contest to Ray Flynn.
“I am 92 years old,” King, who’s been in poor health this year, said in a statement in which the lifelong South Ender said Janey is “carrying that torch” from his campaign. “I have known Kim and her family for decades — in fact, she volunteered as a teenager on my campaign for Mayor in 1983. And I have seen her grow into a passionate advocate and leader for equity and excellence in our schools, for affordable housing for every family, for continuing to build a city to open the doors for the jobs and education opportunity, and for closing the wealth and opportunity gaps that still plague our city.”
This isn’t the first time the longtime community activist and politico came in with a late, influential endorsement. He’s credited with helping Mayor Martin Walsh get over the hump in a close race in 2013, when King came out about a week before the general election with a strong endorsement of Walsh.
This endorsement of Janey, though, comes at truly the last minute, showing up in reporters’ email inboxes at 9 p.m. — after thousands of people have cast early mail-in and in-person votes.