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Report: Biden picks Walsh for labor secretary; move would make Janey acting mayor
By adamg on Thu, 01/07/2021 - 1:45pm
Politico reports Marty Walsh, a former union president, could be moving from Lower Mills to Washington soon.
If it happens, the timing of his resignation would determine for how long Council President Kim Janey becomes acting mayor. Quoting City Clerk Maureen Feeney, herself a former councilor, the Dorchester Reporter reports that if Walsh resigns before March, Janey would only serve as mayor until a special election called by the City Council, but that if he resigns after, then she would serve until at least Jan. 1 - when the winner of the regularly scheduled fall elections is inaugurated. The timing is set by the city charter.
This is how Tom Menino became mayor back in the day, after Ray Flynn left to become ambassador to the Vatican.
Two other councilors - Michelle Wu and Andrea Campbell - are already running for mayor this fall.
Wu wasted no time congratulating Walsh, mayor since 2014.
Congratulations to Mayor Marty Walsh on his nomination as Labor Secretary for the Biden Administration. He will be the first union member to serve in this role in nearly 50 years, and his leadership will come at a critical time for the labor movement. There is much work to do to clean up the backwards, anti-worker policies of the Trump administration that have hurt so many here in our city, and Boston needs a partner to fight for working families at the federal level.
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Comments
First Woman Mayor of Boston!
And possibly to be succeeded by another woman. To quote Chuck Schumer, "Buckle up".
Even extra firsty: she could
Even extra firsty: she could be succeeded by the first black trans Republican woman mayor of Boston.
Baltasar?
Which one of the Reyes left Wu this present?
Not quite
She would be "acting mayor". There are a few differences. She wouldn't be able to make permanent appointments and only take action for things which can't be delayed by getting a new mayor.
She wouldn't be the official next mayor unless she won the election.
Hopefully, he'll shut the
Hopefully, he'll shut the lights off on his way out the door, saving money and energy.
And another Bostonian going to DC
Lisa Monaco, nominated to be Deputy AG.
https://www.masslive.com/boston/2021/01/massachusetts-native-lisa-monaco...
Maybe instead of both Walsh
Maybe instead of both Walsh and Monaco, Biden could just tap Mark Walhberg as a composite character.
They really ought to fix the
They really ought to fix the Accidental Mayor for Life system. At least the next election is less than a year away that the current council president won't be a shoo-in for reelection.
Accidental Mayor? Lines of
Accidental Mayor? Lines of succession exist for a good reason, and they are not a secret. Who would you like to be next in line in the event of a loss of a mayor, for any reason?
EDIT: You edited yours first. Okay, mayor for life. I don't know, go for term limits? That seems to be the fix for elected X-for life positions.
Obviously you warm the seat
Obviously you warm the seat with either 1) the council president or 2) the runner-up from the last election. But then hold a Special Election within a couple of months to fill out the term. That's what the city does when District Councilors resign mid-term.
Incumbency is such a strong advantage for this position that it's important to maintain a competitive election for it, when you can.
Wha?
The runner-up from the last election has no standing of any sort. Isn't even on the city council any more.
I know that people like to dream up scenarios to otherwise uncomfortable facts, and that's okay but they need to be grounded in reality as well.
Reread what Adam wrote
If Walsh resigns by the end of February, we get a special election, followed by the regular elections in September/November.
I love elections (haven't missed one in 30 years), but I kind of hope that Walsh plays this so we will only be voting for mayor once this year.
And nothing against Kim Janey (congrats to her if the news is true) but I think that Wu and Campbell may be stronger candidates this year. And of course who knows who might come out of the woodwork to run now that it is an open race. We had a competitive race when Flynn went off to Rome, and we'll have another one this year.
One small thing that could be
One small thing that could be done is regulate the number of things that the mayor is allowed to stamp their personal name on. You can't take a step in Boston/Somerville/etc without tripping over some mundane City-owned object serving as a free campaign ad.
Just about to post the same sentiment
It probably wouldn't make a difference for the election but it should be *prohibited* for any sign to list the Mayor or anyone else by name.
If they want their name on a sign, they can pay for one personally out of campaign funds.
Agreed, in Boston I think it
Agreed, in Boston I think it was Menino who started this trend. I never understood how people let them get away with it; it's expensive (not the place where I like my tax money to go) and narcissistic.
It basically feels like
It basically feels like extortion. "Nice essential items, would be a real shame if you elected someone else and had to pay millions of dollars to replace all the names on them."
It's a common complaint
When Walsh took office he was asked about it and responded that the only place he expected to see his name was on his office door.
A few months later, it's all over the city.
I don't hate Walsh but he's plenty slimy.
I very much agree
I've been a Walsh fan since he was in grade school, but man, when he "pulled a Menino" by slapping his name on everything he could in the city, it pissed me off.
People can say all they want about Mitt Romney (and they do), but one of his best moves was to forgo putting his name on all the state signs. That was a good precedent.
Kevin White had his name on plenty of things
Then Ray Flynn took office and swapped the signs.
If a mayor wants his name to remain, it better be carved into stone or on a brass plaque.
Don't blame Menino
Putting politicians' names on structures built during their tenure has been going on forever. I sometimes walk by the Jamaicaway Bridge, built under FDR's auspices in 1936. The plaque also names other officials.
Congrats Marty
Now Godsmack will be only one degree removed from global political power
Saw it on UHUB first!
FWIW, I saw this when you first posted, checked all the usual suspects, nothin! Then it started dribbling out, BBJ, etc. How do you do it?
I noticed the same thing
Adam appears to have scooped WaPo.
He’s gotbto have killer sources in City Hall.
Nobody gets to the story on UHub’s home turf faster!
Thanks, but ...
I didn't scoop anything - I linked to Politico, which got the scoop.
Good For Him
Now I am just going to sit back and watch the hate for him flow.
It would funny as hell if Marty asked Joe to nominate Michelle Wu to be an ambassador somewhere.
Don't hate him
but he's extremely average and I have no idea why he's cabinet level material? Some other patronage stooge probably would have done about the same given the robust local fundamentals he's coasting on...
USDOL
A serious agency with responsibility for enforcement of multiple complex statutes. Marty is way over his head. The professionals will probably tell him to come in every morning, log onto the computer, then exit through a tunnel and come back after lunch.
https://www.dol.gov/general/aboutdol/orgchart
Agreed
He's been an acceptable mayor, but I think he'll be in over his head in DC. Good luck Marty!
I mean
Have you seen the type of people in DC these days? I think he'll be ok.
He's been a ward heel union bagman his whole
career. Now he's going to be a Federal brainless union bagman.
Yup
They could have got Robert Reich, but that would lead to accelerated pearl-clutching. Instead they got this schmo.
Why do I get the feeling...
...that somehow we get stuck with Althea Garrison on the Council again?
Anyone know who gets bumped up?
I haven't seen any mention here or in the Globe about who finished 5th. Is that who would get added to the Council?
Alejandra St. Guillen
You may recall that, after a recount, she lost the 4th-place position by one vote, to Julia Mejia. She chose not to contest the election further, perhaps anticipating that she would eventually be lifted onto the Council anyway.
Local Pluckings
Just south of her, it looks like Gina Raimondo (RI's Gov) is going to head Commerce Department.
No love for Marty
but I get this feeling (in combination with Warren, Markey, Moulton & Pressley).. life for the next 4 years will be good to New England.
Requires or Not?
The question is is a special election required or is its required to vote on it? If the city council gets to vote I’d assume they’d vote against a special election.
a good man but
I’m sad to say it but I’m glad to see Marty leave office. I hope this means that the city will stop promoting its inhumane policy of developing microunits and calling it housing. Shame on Marty for promiting this destruction of the fabric of our neighborhoods.
No way!
I love her! She’s so great on The West Wing, which I just started watching.
Good boy
BTU must have said he excelled at obedience. 125 BPS schools have been closed since MARCH to all but the highest needs kids while Marty pants at the feet of the BTU. BPS kids watch youtube & are targeted by online predators while their working parents can’t monitor their online activity instead of getting the education that is one of their civil rights. 1000+ families across all of Boston signed a petition to open BPS in less than one week. https://www.change.org/p/mayor-marty-walsh-school-is-essential-resume-in.... It’s time for a Mayor of the people. ‘Bye, Marty.
Will the used syringes be
Will the used syringes be following him to DC?
Marty Walsh, really? He's
Marty Walsh, really? He's the best and brightest for this position? The tradition of political patronage over the taking care of the needs of the citizenry continues. Alas, yet again, so much for change.
Will his beard
be moving with him or will he and mom relocate to Swampoodle?