Boston Mayoral Candidates Face Off For Final Time

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, left, stands with Harvard Professor Charles Ogletree Jr., debate moderator, and Michael Flaherty, right, before a mayoral debate at Faneuil Hall on Tuesday. (AP)
BOSTON — Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and City Councilor Michael Flaherty faced off in their final debate Tuesday night before voters cast ballots in next week’s mayoral election. The crowd and the questions seemed to favor Flaherty, but Menino remained unfazed.
Right from the start, the questions seemed to come straight from Flaherty’s talking points: Questions about whether the mayor would abolish the Boston Redevelopment Authority, put all public records online and require mandatory, random drug-testing for public safety officials. They’re all part of Flaherty’s platform.
Menino seemed to catch on, and occasionally raised his eyebrows in disbelief. He stayed calm, even though he was on the defensive far more than his opponent. But more than anything else, he was asked to defend his record on schools.
“There are 100 schools under-performing,” Menino said. “You know half the schools in Massachusetts are under-performing? Schools in Milton, not Milt– Brookline, Weston — Brookline — they have under-performing schools also.”
That set up Flaherty for his best line of the night.
“I’m not running for mayor of Brookline, Weston and Brookline. I’m running for mayor of Boston,” Flaherty said to laughter and cheers.

The crowd outside Faneuil Hall before the debate. (AP)
“And the barometer I use is 24,000 kids have dropped out of the Boston public schools,” Flaherty went on. “Let’s ask ourselves: Are they working? Do they have an education? Are they incarcerated? How many of them are dead? And how many them have children of their that now attend the Boston public schools? That’s who I’m fighting for.”
Tuesday night’s forum was sponsored by MassVote, a non-profit that advocates for civic participation. It wasn’t tightly choreographed like many other candidates’ events. Flaherty and Menino walked freely around a stage at Faneuil Hall, addressing a sometimes mouthy audience.
And it was the audience — not Flaherty — that provoked the most tense moment for Menino. The mayor was asked why he “only” has two minorities in his cabinet.
“I guess they don’t count Barbara Ferrer, who’s Latino, as a minority,” Menino answered. “There’s actually three in my cabinet right now.”
The mayor was interrupted by a shout from the audience.
“What’s the matter?” Menino said. “Latinos aren’t minorities?”
But after some disapproving sounds from the audience, Menino acknowledged falling short.
“Folks, I’m not going to stand here and say I’m perfect. We got to do a better job. And I’ll always try to do a better job,” Menino said. “It’s how you improve the quality of life for those people who live in the neighborhoods of Boston. Every neighborhood. Not just one neighborhood. Every neighborhood of Boston.”
“I think my administration for the last 16 years has done a good job improving the quality of life in many of our neighborhoods that were underrepresented over the last 25 years,” the mayor said.
As Menino made amends, Flaherty made promises, this time for a diverse administration.
“It’s about respecting each and every one of you, your communities and your great contributions to our city. You’ll all be part of the Flaherty administration,” he said.
If there is a Flaherty administration, residents didn’t learn much about it Tuesday night, since most of the questions targeted Menino and his record. But with polls pointing to another Menino term, this may have been the last chance to challenge the mayor before he goes back to business as usual.
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11th Annual Clothesline Project Benefit Concert
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At Nauset Regional High School





Looks like we lost, Flaherty/Yoon. Time for me to move outta Boston. I’ve had enough! Not another 4 years of the same ole thing. Yeesh!
Go Flaherty! We need a new mayor!
Don’t you think it is something that we have to wonder why and ask so many questions to someone who has been mayor of the city for 16 years…doesn’t that speak for itself?!? It is time for Menino to go. He sat there last night and didn’t even know how to defend himself because he can’t defend himself. There is no reason excect the fact that our mayor lost track somewhere in those 16 years of all the promises and goals he hoped to reach. It is finally time that we have a mayor in office that will keep their promises and make each neighborhood in Boston better not just the one they live in! VOTE FLAHERTY NOV 3RD!
Remember that presidential debate where John McCain was sort of aimlessly wandering around the set? That was kind of like Menino at this forum last night. The guy looks exhausted. I don’t know if we can afford another 4 years moving at the speed of Menino.
Michael Flaherty won hands down. Tom Menino was tired and out of touch.
Flaherty clearly won last night. The Mayor stumbled through answers and failed to provide clear plans for the drastic improvement our city needs. He’s had 16 years to make Boston into a great city, what makes you think he can finally do it during the next 4?
Malnourished? Are you serious? Flahety and Menino are a breath of fresh air for Boston. I am proud to be voting for Michael and Sam. This is the first chance we have had to elect a leader who will represent all of us, not just the wealthy developers.
Anne, you are right; we have corrected the spelling error.
I watched the entire debate and as an Independent voter, I concluded that Menino is probably the best choice. Flaherty looked nervous and malnourished from his dieting. His choice to have Yoon join him in the race sort of ended any chance he had.
“Unfazed,” not “unphased.” Sigh. Are there no proofreaders?