Boston City Councilor Erin Murphy has successfully blocked an immediate vote on a contentious measure introduced by City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune, aimed at bypassing a special election for Tania Fernandes Anderson’s seat following her resignation.
The measure’s delay means that a decision will not be made until at least Friday, when a special City Council meeting has been scheduled.
Murphy, who supports the idea of moving forward with a special election, objected to Louijeune’s motion to expedite a vote on the same day the home rule petition was introduced during Wednesday’s meeting.
Fernandes Anderson, embroiled in a federal corruption case and set to plead guilty to two charges on May 5, was absent from the meeting.
“As an at-large city councilor, I am compelled to address this recent home rule petition, which seeks to cancel a special election in District 7,” Murphy stated.
She emphasized, “I believe that this move would deny residents of Roxbury, Dorchester, Fenway, and the South End their rightful representation at City Hall.”
Her objection automatically forwarded the petition to a subcommittee for further review, but Louijeune stated that she intends to call for a subsequent vote on Friday.
“We want to move quickly on this HRP so that we can actually give the residents of D7 time in making sure that they’re able to vet and elect the candidate of their choice,” Louijeune said.
She added, “This is all about bringing the people closer to democracy, and I understand the questions of representation, which is why this home rule petition goes out of its way to ensure that whoever wins in November would also be seated.”
Councilor John FitzGerald challenged Louijeune’s argument, asserting that a true democratic approach would respect the existing city charter rather than circumvent it.
“If we’re going to let democracy play out, that would be actually following the letter of the law, which we should let play out,” FitzGerald asserted.
He further argued that it’s not the responsibility of residents to vet candidates, but rather the candidates’ duty to engage with the community.
“I also want to remind people, it’s not the residents’ jobs to vet the candidates, but rather, it’s the candidates’ job to vet the community,” he said.
FitzGerald also expressed skepticism over claims that not holding a special election would offer a political advantage.
“I don’t know who, I don’t care, but it’s politically advantageous to somebody to not have a special election as well,” he remarked.
Councilor Julia Mejia voiced her usual opposition to special elections, arguing that they often favor special interests and influential political brokers.
In a twist of events, Breadon, a co-sponsor of the home rule petition, blocked Murphy’s proposal for an immediate vote on a competing measure.
Breadon described Murphy’s resolution as “moot,” citing the fact that Fernandes Anderson had not officially resigned nor had a notice of vacancy been issued for the District 7 seat.
Such notice is required to trigger a special election.
Louijeune acknowledged that their proposal could indeed become irrelevant if Fernandes Anderson does not resign by May 8.
However, she maintained that it was important to move forward with the legislation to ensure certainty regarding the election timeline for District 7 residents.
“This is about us being proactive and providing certainty to the residents of District 7 and to everyone involved about the timeline for what elections would be,” Louijeune stated.
Both Louijeune and Breadon have argued that their proposal reflects community desires to avoid a special election, which could occur mere weeks before the preliminary election in September.
At least one declared candidate for the District 7 seat, Said Ahmed, expressed support for a special election.
“District 7 cannot afford to be without a voice,” Ahmed, a youth track coach, stated in a press release.
He continued, “Our community is facing urgent challenges, from housing insecurity, to underfunded education, to public safety … Blocking this election would silence the very people who rely on their city councilor the most.”
The ongoing discussion surrounding the home rule petition has sparked questions about the City Council’s differing approach compared to two years ago.
During a similar timeline when Kenzie Bok resigned, a special election was held for the District 8 seat she vacated.
Bok stepped down from the Council in April 2023 to lead the Boston Housing Authority after being appointed by Mayor Michelle Wu.
Councilor Sharon Durkan, who was endorsed by Wu and later elected in a special election, commented on the current situation, saying, “Thank you all so much for mentioning my election so many times. I really was proud to have gotten elected in that special election.”
Durkan stated that while she considers her election legitimate, she favors waiving a special election in this instance based on feedback from city and state officials representing District 7 communities.
Mayoral candidate Josh Kraft criticized the differing approaches taken by the Council as a “flagrant double standard,” urging Mayor Wu to clarify her position on the matter.
Breadon and Louijeune have cited various factors for their current position, including a city Elections Department under receivership and Secretary of State William Galvin’s opposition to a special election.
The uncertainty surrounding when Fernandes Anderson will resign has also played a role in the Council’s deliberations.
Murphy reiterated concerns regarding the inconsistency in the process during Wednesday’s session.
In response, some councilors suggested amending the city charter to either extend the 180-day rule or eliminate the preliminary election in cases of special elections.
“I’d like for whatever choice we make to be the standard going forward,” stated Council Vice President Brian Worrell.
He expressed a desire for greater consistency within the Council’s actions, suggesting a review of the city charter.
“I want more consistency in the choices we make, and I think that goes into looking to change this charter … I don’t think what we should do is continue to keep changing the standards with one-offs,” Worrell added.
A majority of the City Council appears to support the home rule petition, with Councilors Murphy, FitzGerald, and Ed Flynn standing out as the main dissenters.
If the Council approves the petition, it will still require passage by the state Legislature to take effect.
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