Photo: Madison Rogers/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Members of the Boston City Council are moving to waive a special election to fill the District 7 seat if Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson resigns.
Ruthzee Louijeune, city council president, and Liz Breadon, a councilor representing District 9, filed a home rule petition Monday that would waive a special election if the seat is vacant more than 180 days before a general election, and would seat the candidate who wins the November general election as soon as possible.
“Given the accelerated timeline, the risk of excluding residents from the process is significant. With the general election approaching later this year, it would be inequitable to ask the public to participate in such a hastened process that will leave voices out" Louijeune said.
Fernandes Anderson agreed to plead guilty to federal corruption charges last week, and quickly announced her plans to resign. There are 203 days until the general election, and Louijeune said the city clerk has not yet received a notice of vacancy.
Read More: City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson Signs Plea Deal In Corruption Case
Additionally, the city council would have to go through sentencing to remove Fernandes Anderson.
“With preliminary and general elections already scheduled for September and November, and several candidates having declared their intention to run in District 7, seeking special legislation to bypass the city charter and forego a special election during a mayoral election year is the responsible course of action,” Breadon said.
Louijeune said Secretary of State William Galvin also supports bypassing a special election, along with several other city councilors.
Josh Kraft, who will challenge Boston Mayor Michelle Wu in the mayoral election, said the council should not wait until November to fill the seat.
“District 7 deserves to exercise their right to elect their next representative in the City Council, and leaving the seat vacant is just another example of how this community - the largest Black community in Boston - continues to face underrepresentation and economic challenges. Mayor Wu has been silent on this, but needs to answer some questions about a flagrant double standard, which is defined as a rule or principle which is unfairly applied in different ways to different people or groups. So what’s good for Beacon Hill isn’t good for Fort Hill?” Kraft said.