BOSTON (WHDH) - Boston City Councilor Michael Flaherty announced Wednesday he will not seek re-election, vowing to finish his current term but withdrawing a bid for an 11th term on the council.
Flaherty served on the City Council from 2000 to 2008. He then spent time practicing law after an unsuccessful mayoral campaign in 2009. Flaherty returned to the council in 2013 and has remained a city councilor ever since.
Flaherty, who will mark 20 years spent on the Boston City Council this year, said he made his decision to not seek re-election “after much deliberation and self reflection over the past few months, and in close consultation with my wife and family.”
“I believe I have served the city of Boston and its residents faithfully and effectively during my tenure, but it is now time to turn the page and move on to the next chapter of my life,” Flaherty said in a statement shared on Twitter.
Flaherty thanked his friends and supporters as well as colleagues in city government and “the many hard-working employees in Boston City Hall.”
Flaherty said he has no plans to run for another public office but added “I will remain committed to the causes important to me and hundreds of thousands of other Boston residents.”
Various city officials reacted to Flaherty’s announcement on Wednesday and Thursday.
Among comments, fellow Councilor At-Large Erin Murphy said she considers it an honor to have served alongside Flaherty.
“From his days as one of the Council’s ‘Young Turks’ to his current role as it senior statesman, Michael has embodied public service with a passion and fervor for helping Bostonians,” Murphy said in a statement. “He has made us a better city.”
Current City Council President Ed Flynn described Flaherty, in part, as a “dedicated public servant and a true advocate for the people of Boston.”
At-Large Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune and District One Councilor Gabriela Coletta also shared their reactions, expressing gratitude for Flaherty’s service.
Outside City Hall, current State Rep. Rob Consalvo, who spent several years serving alongside Flaherty on the City Council, voiced his thanks.
“I was proud to serve with you,” Consalvo said to Flaherty in a tweet. “You helped thousands of constituents and that’s what government is all about!”
(Copyright (c) 2024 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)