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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — A familiar face on the Boston City Council will not be seeking re-election in the fall.
Longtime City Councilor At-Large Michael Flaherty announced Wednesday that he filed paperwork with the Election Department to withdraw his name from nomination from the upcoming November ballot.
Flaherty said he intends to finish out the remainder of his tenth term on the council and has no plans to run for another public office.
"While this decision will come as a surprise to many, I reached it after much deliberation and self-reflection over the past few months, and in close consultation with my wife and family," Flaherty wrote in a statement.
Flaherty has served on the council for nearly 20 years, first from 2000 to 2008, then from 2013 to the present. In 2009, Flaherty ran for mayor, losing to incumbent Mayor Thomas Menino.
"I wish to thank my many friends and supporters for their help and encouragement over the past two decades, for I truly could not have done this without them," wrote Flaherty. "I also wish to thank my colleagues in government and the many hard-working employees in Boston City Hall."
"While my time on the City Council may be drawing to a close, I will continue to fight in my own way, in a new way, to help keep Boston the best major city in America in which to live, work, and raise a family," he concluded.
WBZ's Brooke McCarthy (@BrookeWBZ) reports.
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