Ward 21 Democratic Committee Endorses Four for City Councilor

The Ward 21 Democratic Committee in Allston-Brighton voted Wednesday night to endorse four candidates for Boston City Councilor -- one for District 9 City Councilor and three for the four positions of City Councilor-At-Large.

For District 9, the committee endorsed incumbent Mark Ciommo. For the at-large seats, the committee endorsed incumbent John Connolly and challengers Tito Jackson and Ayanna Pressley.

In a press release, committee chair Darrin Wilson said:

District Nine Councilor Ciommo and At-Large Councilor Connolly have worked hard for the people of not just Allston and Brighton, but all of Boston. We believe they will continue to work hard and do what is right for the citizens. Ayanna Pressley and Tito Jackson are wonderful candidates and will be wonderful At-Large Councilors at City Hall. They provide fresh, new solutions to Boston and have a vision for the future of Boston, including Allston and Brighton.

Connolly issued the following statement about the Ward 21 endorsement -- as well as noting two additional endorsements that he has received from elected officials here in Allston-Brighton and the endorsement of the Ward 22 Democratic Committee:

"I am honored to have earned the endorsement of both the Ward 21 and Ward 22 Democratic Committees, as well as the support of Representative [Kevin] Honan and Councilor Ciommo. I have worked hard to represent the best interests of Allston-Brighton and will continue to do so.

My law partners Cathi Campbell and Tim Schofield live in the neighborhood (in fact, we have an office in Brighton Center) and they help me to stay informed about the issues facing Allston-Brighton and to be responsive to the needs of the community."

Jackson responded to the news via email, saying: "I am truly honored by the Ward 21 nomination. I look forward to working with the residents of Brighton to continue to hear their issues and partnering with them to find solutions."

Ciommo also noted his endorsement by the Ward 22 Democratic Committee in an emailed statement:

I am honored to receive the endorsement of the Ward 21 Democratic Committee, especially in light of the fact that it requires a 2/3 consensus to secure. I was also endorsed by the Ward 22 Democratic Committee. These endorsements speak to my broad-based support throughout Allston-Brighton, and with ten days until the election, I welcome the support of grassroots civic groups like these.

Pressley's website also lists Rep. Honan, state Senator Steven Tolman, and the Ward 22 Democratic Committee as endorsing her. She issued a press release on endorsements that ran in the Allston-Brighton TAB's section on "Political Notes." (Pressley did not respond to a request for comment on the endorsements.)

While Felix G. Arroyo did not get the nod from either committee, his website lists an endorsement from Senator Tolman.

Two years ago the Ward 21 committee endorsed Ciommo for the district 9 seat, along with then-challenger Connolly, as well as then-incumbents Felix B. Arroyo and Sam Yoon for the at-large seats. The committee did not endorse for the district 9 seat in the preliminary municipal election last month; any perceived black eye from that non-endorsement appears to have healed over with the committee's new endorsement.


Image of Ward 21 Democratic Committee members in May 2009 from their website.