Menino Re-Elected in Boston for Fifth Term

Thomas Menino has been re-elected to an unprecedented fifth term as mayor of Boston winning 57% of the vote.

He was first elected in 1993 and so when he finishes his new term he will have been mayor for twenty years. Menino is by far the longest serving mayor in the city's history.

Menino did have actually have a legitimate challenger in City Councillor Michael Flaherty who served as City Council President between 2002 and 2006. While Flaherty is arguably more conservative than Menino he picked his Democratic primary opponent Sam Yoon to be his Deputy Mayor. Yoon is an ally of both President Obama and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick.

So I decided to vote for Menino. As Woody Allen said, "Half of life is just showing up." Menino shows up at everything. There are politicians who you only see at election time. Menino isn't one of them.

Mind you I don't want a mayor for life. But Menino is competent and the various communities in this city are comfortable with him. In a year where American politics has been dominated by the theme of change it is precisely that last thing that was wanted here.

Besides Menino isn't afraid to get into the face of fellow Democrats like John Kerry.

Menino is affectionately known as "Mumbles." Take a look for yourself.

Put it this way. Menino did a public service announcement with Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, who was born in the Dominican Republic. I wish I had a video link but guess who is easier to understand?