State Rep. Marty Walsh of Dorchester today finally officially announced his bid for mayor in the fall elections. His campaign says he already has $200,000 in the bank, with commitments for $400,000 more in donations.

His press release:

Rep. Martin J. Walsh formally announced today that he is running for Mayor of Boston. "I love this city - its people, its institutions, its traditions and its innovations - and want to do all I can to see it continue to thrive. Boston is a diverse and welcoming center of creativity, where people are valued and possibilities are realized. The future of Boston depends on the education of our children, the strengthening of our working families, the protection of our vulnerable, and the growth of our businesses. I am running for Mayor because I have the skills, record and passion to do the job. I want to move our schools forward, create good jobs for local residents, and create an environment where families can prosper and businesses can grow."

Walsh opened up a campaign account this week and has over $200,000 in the bank. In the few days since he opened this account, Walsh has captured commitments for an additional $400,000 towards his campaign.

Walsh, a lifelong resident of Dorchester, has represented the 13th Suffolk District in Dorchester since 1997. In the Massachusetts House, he has been a steadfast voice for civil rights, working families, youth, seniors, and addiction and recovery services. He is the son of Irish immigrants, and attended St. Margaret's in Dorchester and Newman Prep. He graduated from Boston College in 2009, working his way through college at night while serving the the state legislature.

He currently holds a leadership position in the House as the Chairman of the Committee on Ethics, and he is the Co-chair of the Massachusetts Democratic Party Labor Caucus. He serves as a Board Member for local organizations such as the Dorchester Boys and Girls Club, The Gavin Foundation, the University of Massachusetts Labor Caucus, Friends for Children, Project D.E.E.P., and the Neighborhood House Charter School. In the past, Rep. Walsh has been President of the Columbia Savin Hill Civic Association, Dorchester Allied Neighborhood Association, and the Savin Hill Baseball League. Walsh has also been the Business Manager of the Boston Building Trades, a position which he is resigning effective Friday, April 12, 2013 to pursue the mayoral bid. He is a member of the Laborers Local 223.

Walsh will kick off his campaign on Saturday, May 4 at 10 am with a rally at a Dorchester location to be announced. Said Walsh, "We plan to gather hundreds of supporters, neighbors and friends, and begin a grassroots neighbor-to-neighbor campaign that will take us to all corners of the city. I will be a Mayor for all of Boston, and I look forward to meeting with voters and taking that message out there."

NorthEndWaterfront.com reports Philip Frattaroli, owner of Ducali Pizzeria, could go citywide.

Michael Jonas tweets he formally announce at the offices of SEIU 615, where he was an organizer before getting elected a city councilor.

The Galway Independent finds an area man who used to live here to exult that state Rep. Marty Walsh would make a great mayor, at least as far as Galway is concerned:

If he were elected Mayor of Boston, I think he would try to push and pursue whatever kind of collaborations and links between Galway and Boston that he could. He would be great for Galway, there's no doubt about that.

City Councilor Rob Consalvo (Hyde Park, Roslindale, Mattapan) says he's running for mayor. His statement:

Boston City Councilor Rob Consalvo announced today that he would be a candidate for Mayor of Boston. Rob pledged to lead Boston into its next generation of greatness and continue working at making Boston better.

"For the last 11 years I have built a very strong record as a Boston City Councilor bringing new ideas, new energy, and new vision all across our city," Consalvo said.

Under Consalvo's leadership, the city has embraced new "Shotspotter" technology that has enabled Boston police officers to respond at the scene within minutes of shots being fired.

As a parent of two Boston Public School children, Consalvo has strongly advocated for the Boston Public Schools and worked with parents to create an innovative community school district in Roslindale – the first of its kind in the city and a model for the new assignment plan.

Under Consalvo's leadership, Boston became the first city to pass an ordinance called "John's Law" to help stop drunken driving. John's law and a similar law in New Jersey served as the catalyst for national legislation later passed by Congress.

Consalvo authored a groundbreaking foreclosure law that holds banks accountable for blighted properties in Boston's neighborhoods.

"I am running for Mayor because I love the City of Boston and I am prepared and ready to serve all of our neighborhoods. I have a proven record of innovation, leadership, compassion, and a strong commitment to public service," Consalvo said. "Boston is a great city. But there are ways to make it even greater and to make sure everyone in it benefits from that greatness – and that is what I want to do."

Consalvo will formally kick-off his campaign later this month.

Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley made it official today: He's running for mayor this fall.

His formal statement:

Boston is a great city, and with the right leadership and vision, its best days are still ahead. So today I am officially declaring that I am a candidate for Mayor of Boston.

My entire career has been dedicated to giving voice to the voiceless and hope to the most poor and vulnerable among us. Boston needs to be a city where long-time residents and those fixed on incomes can feel secure, and where middle class families aren't priced out. It means making Boston a place where younger residents can start careers and families, and where our poorest neighbors can find real economic hope and mobility.

To make Boston the city we want it to be requires a mayor who can make tough decisions, even when they offend powerful interests and upset the status quo. It's going to require a mayor who leads with integrity, for whom transparency is a way of doing business and not just a buzzword, and who will ensure that city government is responsive and accountable to the people it serves. We'll need a mayor who can manage and innovate in good times and tough times. We'll need a mayor who has worked with residents and businesses in every neighborhood and has built partnerships with every conceivable constituency. Finally, we need a mayor who recognizes Boston as a city defined not by old divisions and superficial differences but by our shared hopes and aspirations.

I've done these things. These qualities are the hallmarks of my career and the leadership I will bring to the Mayor's office. So if you are like me and love this city and want to see it live up to its full promise and potential, then my campaign is your campaign. Boston can only reach its full promise and potential when every one of its residents has a fair chance to reach theirs. I intend to put my heart and soul (and several pairs of shoes) into this campaign. I ask for your support, your energy, and your ideas and together we'll make Boston the most livable and workable city in America.

UPDATE: The Herald reports state Rep. Marty Walsh of Dorchester is running.

City Councilor Matt O'Malley (Jamaica Plain, West Roxbury) this week took himself out of the running for mayor this fall. But in an e-mail to supporters today, Councilor Felix Arroyo (at large) says, yes, he's thinking about running - but first he wants to see if he can raise the $1 million he says it would cost:

If you believe, like I believe, in a Boston where everyone has opportunities to succeed, where we invest in all of our communities, where every child can receive a quality education, where we care for our elderly, where everyone can live in a safe neighborhood, and where we all have a say in the direction of our city, I ask that you please give now and give as generously as possible. Your donation will make this campaign a reality.

So far, most of the speculation about who will join John Connolly (oh, OK, and Will Dorcena and Charles Clemons) in the race for mayor has focused on people who have already held public office. Chris Faraone ponders the possibility that one of our local Bloomberg wannabes might want to break open the piggy bank and waltz into City Hall:

Neither over-educated Commonwealth residents, nor our region's relatively competent media, are above propping a filthy rich egomaniac for office. Just four years ago, Bain Capital alum and Boston Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca bought himself a podium on the U.S. Senate debate stage, and was for some reason not laughed out of the state for suggesting that owning a basketball team is a relevant prerequisite for Congress. This is insane.

David Bernstein (who broke the news that Hizzona was not running again) wonders what exhibits the curators of a Menino museum simply must have (needless to say, it would have to be located near the Menino Arts Center and the Menino Wing of the Hyde Park library):

What should go in a Menino Museum?

David Bernstein asks.

Storified by Adam Gaffin· Thu, Mar 28 2013 09:18:42