Former Boston Economic Development Chief Barros Announces Mayoral Run

Former Boston Chief of Economic Development John Barros is joining the mayoral race, just days after stepping down from his city post.

The Dorchester resident is also a restaurant owner, former community organizer and was previously executive director of the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initative.

"A John Barros agenda would prioritize equity, would prioritize participation and involvement, would prioritize climate change," Barros said Thursday during an interview on WBUR's Radio Boston. "We would make sure that Boston was a city that was welcoming to everyone. That our economy allowed for participation. We would also make sure it was a accessible in a way where people could afford housing. They could pay for rent. ...We would make sure to prioritize children and young people. My work has always been about young people and in a Barros administration we would make education a priority."

Barros previously ran for mayor in 2013 — the year Mayor Marty Walsh was first elected — but was eliminated in the preliminary election.

He joins four other candidates — city councilors Michelle Wu, Andrea Campbell, Annissa Essaibi George and state Rep. Jon Santiago — in competing for the office, which is expected to be vacated by Walsh, who appointed to serve as President Biden's labor secretary. Walsh has not yet been confirmed.

There has been much speculation around whether Barros would run since his resignation. He plans to make an official announcement from his restaurant, Restaurante Cesari in Dorchester, at 10 a.m.