City Councilor Matt O'Malley takes hat out of ring

Matt O'Malley, who has a 6 tattooed on his arm for the city-council district he has served for ten years, announced today he won't be running for re-election next year.

In e-mail to supporters, O'Malley, long one of the council's leaders on environmental issues, said he is proud of the work he's done for the residents of Jamaica Plain, West Roxbury and the rest of the city, but that fatherhood - and ensuring a future for all children - beckons. Earlier this fall, he and his wife Kathryn are now the proud parents of Margot Gillian, born earlier this fall:

Simply put, Margot’s birth is the greatest moment of my life. As difficult as any pregnancy during the pandemic can be, we had additional early complications as well as the memory of a devastating miscarriage. Thankfully, Margot is strong, healthy, and has stolen our hearts!

Building a just, sustainable, and more equitable planet for Margot and every other child is what drives me, now more than ever. The work ahead of us is daunting, but we can and must do it. I look forward to continuing this work, albeit in a different role in 2022.

This wasn’t an easy decision to make, but the right one for me and my family. While politics (particularly in Boston) can be rough and tumble, the support and votes of confidence this district has given me time and time again is a lot to walk away from. I am forever grateful. Parenthood offers one helluva perspective. As proud as I am to be called Councilor, being called Dad will be the greatest title I can ever earn.

Kendra Hicks of Jamaica Plain was already running for the District 6 seat.