Massachusetts: Michael Flaherty

Dems, Repubs, Independents, Jews, Arabs, Cat People, Dog People, Mods, Rockers, Cops, Firefighters, David, Peter Porcupine, Hee Haw Fans, Monte Python Fans, O.J. Simpson, The Brown Family, Mayor Menino, Michael Flaherty, Sam Yoon, The Other Guy, Howie Carr, Tom Finneran, Oliver Wendy Murphy, Martha Coakley, John Rogers, Petro, Deleo, DiMasi, Richard Vitale, The UnNamed Rich Guy From Newton, Judge Mark Wolf, Disco Fans, Rock Fans, People With Innies, People With Outties, Bernie, Phil, Their Three Kids, Barry, Elliot, Bob, Bob's Wife, Larry Luchino, Dan Conley, and Ernie Boch Sr., Jr., and The Third ALL AGREE...

THAT THIS VMT CHIP SOUNDS WAY TOO DICEY AND WE WANT ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ASAP!!

1.

At-large city councilor Sam Yoon is running for mayor of Boston, he told the Phoenix this afternoon.

Yoon spent this weekend in retreat with his wife to make the final decision, as this blog was the first to report. Having decided in the affirmative, he spoke with Mayor Tom Menino and fellow councilor and mayoral candidate Michael Flaherty to inform them of his decision.

A formal announcement will come later, "in the next few weeks," Yoon said.

"The campaign will be about the future -- looking to the future of the city, and not to the past," Yoon said. At least for the next nine months, the city's future looks pretty interesting, with both Yoon and Flaherty, as well as businessman Kevin McCrea, running for the top job; Menino has not yet declared his intentions, but is widely expected to seek re-election.

--Deval Patrick announces his budget proposal this morning at 11:00. An hour later House Dems meet to appoint Bob DeLeo Speaker; he may not want the job after hearing what Patrick has to say.

--Michael Flaherty sez "the mayor is too secretive, and I know what that's like!"

--Oh, and by the way, this line in Laurel Sweet's article yesterday had them howling in City Hall: "Last year, Flaherty voluntarily surrendered his five-year hold on the council presidency by turning the gavel over to Maureen Feeney, the board’s only female representative."

--Jean-Claude Sanon has a spiffy new web site for his at-large city council campaign. Slogan: "United We Can." That has a familiar ring to it, no?

--All I can say after reading the Herald this morning is that I hope my in-laws appreciate the "mind-boggling," "swanky," "state-of-the-art," "lavish," "massive" TV we bought them for Christmas.

Andrew Kenneally, a longtime City Hall aide, confirmed on Tuesday that he formed an exploratory committee last week to consider whether he will run for an at-large seat on the Boston City Council seat next year.