2009 Boston mayoral election

The 2009 Boston mayoral election occurred on Tuesday, November 3, 2009, between incumbent Mayor of Boston Thomas Menino, and Michael F. Flaherty, member of the Boston City Council and former Council president. Menino was re-elected to a fifth term, the first mayor to do so in Boston history. A nonpartisan municipal preliminary election was held on September 22, 2009, where Flaherty and Menino advanced to the general election.

2009 Boston mayoral election
November 3, 2009
 
Candidate Thomas Menino Michael F. Flaherty
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote 63,123 46,768
Percentage 57.27% 42.43%
Results by ward
Menino:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Flaherty:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Mayor before election

Thomas Menino

 Elected Mayor

Thomas Menino

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31% of registered voters turned out to vote in the election.[1][2]

Campaign

After the preliminary election, Flaherty and fellow-Councillor Sam Yoon, who had finished third, declared they had formed a ticket. If Flaherty were victorious, he vowed to appoint Yoon deputy mayor, a position that had not existed in Boston since the administration of Kevin White, who left office in 1984.[3] Details of the position, including salary, were never finalized.

Candidates

Candidates who advanced to general election
Candidate Experience Announced Ref
The following candidates advanced to the general election held on November 3 [4]

Michael F. Flaherty		 Boston city councilor at-large since 2000
Former president of the Boston City Council (2002–2006)		 January 25, 2009 [5]

Thomas Menino		 Incumbent mayor of Boston since 1993 April 22, 2009
 [6]

Candidates eliminated in the primary
Candidate Experience Announced Ref
The following candidates were eliminated in the primary election and did not advance to the general election [4]

Kevin McCrea		 Businessman
2005 Boston City Council candidate		 January 23, 2009 [7]

Sam Yoon		 Boston city councilor at-large since 2006 March 3, 2009 [8]

Primary election

Endorsements
Michael F. Flaherty
Labor unions
Newspapers and publications
Thomas Menino
Labor unions
Organizations
Newspapers and publications
Sam Yoon
State officials
Individuals

Results
2009 Boston Mayoral preliminary election[4]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Thomas Menino 41,026 50.52
Nonpartisan Michael F. Flaherty 19,459 23.96
Nonpartisan Sam Yoon 17,179 21.16
Nonpartisan Kevin McCrea 3,340 4.11
Write-in
Total votes 100%

General election

Campaign

Following the preliminary election, Flaherty immediately began an aggressive campaign, attacking Menino as ineffectual.[16] Sam Yoon and Michael Flaherty announced that they would run as a ticket in the general election, with Flaherty pledging to appoint Yoon deputy mayor if he won.[17] Kevin McRea also announced that he would endorse Flaherty.[18]

Endorsements

Names in bold endorsed after the preliminary election.

Michael F. Flaherty
State officials
  • Mel King, former state representative for the 9th Suffolk District; Candidate for Mayor in 1983[19]
Local officials
Labor unions
Newspapers and publications
Thomas Menino
Labor unions
Organizations
Newspapers and publications

Results
2009 Boston mayoral general election[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Thomas Menino 63,123 57.27
Nonpartisan Michael F. Flaherty 46,768 42.43
Write-in 0.40
Total votes 100%

See also

References
  1. "Results" (PDF). www.cityofboston.gov. November 3, 2009. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  2. "Results" (PDF). www.cityofboston.gov. November 3, 2009. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  3. Levenson, Michael (September 29, 2009). "Yoon is joining Flaherty as deputy". The Boston Globe. p. B.1. Retrieved March 2, 2018 – via pqarchiver.com.
  4. "Unofficial election results". Boston.gov. October 3, 2016.
  5. Drake, John C. (January 26, 2009). "Flaherty starts his mayoral quest". The Boston Globe. p. A.1. Retrieved March 2, 2018 – via pqarchiver.com.
  6. Thys, Fred (April 22, 2009). "Supporters To Gather Downtown For Menino Campaign Kick-Off". www.wbur.org. WBUR-FM. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  7. "Kevin McCrea announces his candidacy for mayor". Boston Herald. January 23, 2009. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  8. 'Yoon announces candidacy for mayor', The Boston Globe February 8, 2009
  9. Keohane, Joe (July 24, 2021). "Man Versus Machine". Boston Magazine. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  10. Boston Globe Editorial Board (September 20, 2009). "Our choice for mayoral final: Menino vs. Flaherty". The Boston Globe. Retrieved November 14, 2021 – via Boston.com.
  11. Wedge, Dave (April 15, 2009). "Five labor unions kick-start effort to re-elect Thomas Menino". Boston Herald. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  12. Gaffin, Adam (June 2, 2009). "Gay-rights group endorses Menino". Universal Hub. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  13. Gaffin, Adam (August 10, 2009). "Mel King endorses Sam Yoon". Universal Hub. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  14. Weir, Richard (August 11, 2009). "Sam Yoon gains Mel King's favor". Boston Herald. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  15. Derjue, Amy (September 25, 2008). "Gather Ye Endorsements While Ye May". Boston Magazine. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  16. Levenson, Michael; Slack, Donovan (September 24, 2009). "With odds steep, Flaherty comes out swinging". Boston.com. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  17. "Former Rivals Flaherty, Yoon Team Up To Take On Menino". WBUR. September 29, 2009. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  18. Weir, Richard (October 29, 2009). "Kevin McCrea to announce endorsement of Michael Flaherty". Boston Herald. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  19. Weir, Richard (October 15, 2009). "Raymond Flynn, Mel King pledge their support for Floon". Boston Herald. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  20. Editorial (November 4, 2009). "For Mayor: Vote Flaherty + Yoon". Boston Phoenix. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  21. Conti, Matt (November 1, 2009). "Mayoral Political Article Roundup". North End Waterfront. Retrieved November 23, 2021.

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