Title: Menino's 20-Year Mandate Comes With Conditions

" This is the WBUR news podcast. The podcast as a free service of WBUR Boston. To make a contribution to support the news go to our website wbur.org. I'm -- books coming up today. Boston mayor Thomas Menino has made it into the history books. The 66 year old won an unprecedented. Fifth term in office in yesterday's elections. When he defeated city councilor Michael clarity by fifteen points 57 to 42%. Even at fifteen points it was many -- toughest reelection yet. And some were surprised at how closest challenger came to unseating Jim Donald UB UR's Bianca -- is Thomas reports."

" In past elections Menino blew his opponents away by at least 35 percentage points. This time the need to spend a lot more money and challenger Michael flared he still got within striking distance. The fact Menino acknowledged last night in his victory --"

" Stories. May say that today. We beat out topless. Opponents. We haven't passed. The biggest obstacle yet. Complacency. Is the highest hurdle we've banks. Let's spend up the temptation. Term rests on past accomplishments. Are to walk a familiar paths."

" Complacency may not be an option. Menino has a mandate but there's a parenthesis attached as in we support you -- you need to do some work."

" After sixteen years I think. I won't say that he's done everything we've been."

" James Horton says Menino has transformed. The city for the better which is why he campaigned for the Mary in his neighborhood of Dorchester. And the -- party Horton was excited about the win and hopeful the race focused -- attention on improving Boston's public schools."

" I think his constituents. Have already had told -- let's and so what we're with the schools. You know I mean it's something that I think personally. Probably should've been done. You can put as much hope is that should have put out but I think now he knows how this. Election."

" May need no support for schools convinced Jamaica Plain resident Jerry you -- to keep him in office. That was despite disappointment with -- is handling of the Boston redevelopment authority and the lack of transparency at City Hall. We -- was turned off by allegations that many -- top aide systematically. Deleted emails."

" So I think those are. Flagrant problems that -- needs to attend to do don't do that sort of stuff. You're trying to comply with a with a loss and I partners. Some of perception that they made you know some of these guys made it up."

" Along but India and voters like we lock in Horton thought Menino was the safer choice. Others cited the economy is a good reason to keep Menino and office since the city is faring pretty well in the recession compared with other places. But a good chunk of the city took another view -- supported Michael Flaherty. And the issue a public schools motivated many of them to. Elizabeth Rogers lives in the Fenway. I'm a mom with a two year old and I'm looking at schools right now so we're really making that decision do we stand sitting. Or do we go and that really depends on the quality of schools and -- really attracted to the idea. Somebody could be interested in hurting the -- public school system. Rogers may have the opportunity to vote for flared again he says he told me Mina he's like he rematch in four years."

" I'm also gonna continue to keep my eye on the current administration -- there -- a lot of issues that I raised during the campaign that I have felt extremely passionate about. I'll be involved in."

" And the voters will be there to making sure -- Mino doesn't get complacent and his fifth term. For WBUR. I'm -- about this Thomas."

" And now Larry to -- joins us in the studio to analyze the mayoral election results a onetime city councilor and former mayoral candidate himself and in this election our political analyst good morning Larry thanks for. Jumping in on this Wednesday good morning off it was said to be his toughest reelection -- since he's been in office but yet Mayor Menino won by fifteen points surprised at all."

" Not really. He kept together the coalition which elected him. The first time and each time subsequently. It's the same loose coalition of people which is elected everywhere Boston. For the past fifty years. Michael clarity could not peel away people of color battalions. A lot of the city workforce. And people who were left of center the mayor did well in all those neighborhoods. And the clarity vote in South Boston doctors to Charlestown other places where did well just wasn't enough what what did flaring not view that he needed to do. I think it's very difficult. When one has been in public office for ten years. And one is endorsed by the firefighters. And the superior officers. To sell oneself as the candidate of change. I think that was the major difficulty. Certainly the same you hail Mary move gave him a week went peoples and while this could be different."

" Do you sense that there was one underlying issues that drove most voters to the polls in favor of Mayor Menino. I think the majority of people in the city are generally happy with the way of city government has rung city services are provided. The great exception to that is education. But the great number of people whose children attend public schools and not necessarily the same people who vote. Most of people who vote are older. Many of them are single. Many of them do not have children and therefore are not impacted directly. By the schools with many you know in his speech last night said he knows he's got work to do furious. --"

" We haven't made history with this election. Butler well. Well we create. Obvious. Clarity -- what do you think many -- has to create in his fifth term unprecedented fifth therm to make history as he puts it."

" My recommendation to him was to be bowled very bold. Whether repeat the charter school initiative. Whether it be consolidation. Of departments. Whether it be. Initiatives that may be no one has thought about. Don't just be the same here you were the first sixteen years as successful as that may have been. Certainly people give them very high grades for managing the city efficiently the bond rating is as high as anything in the country. But he has the opportunity now to establish his legacy. Both with buildings coming out of the ground. With programs. And with leaving the city government for years from now. As great as any in the history of this country."

" Minority neighborhoods came out in support of Menino yesterday right. They did as they always have so does Mayor Menino would need to address quickly one of the issues that came up in this campaign and that is the lack of minority representation in the top echelons at City Hall."

" I expect he will some of those are very difficult discussions because. When one hires upwardly mobile people they moved up quickly. Cindy Enrique as a woman of color was the head of the housing authority is now undersecretary of -- good for her. And this may be very difficult to get somebody to replace -- so I think that he'll make some changes in his team. But it's very difficult to attract people to city government. Given that we have both a residency ordinance and to pay -- which are far below that in the private sector."

" And what about Michael clarity he was very somber and delivering his concession speech last night but congratulated Mayor Menino. On the other hand he also left open the possibility of running again in four years you think that's."

" Possible. Anything is possible -- politics for years as a long time. Who knows who will be in office who will not be. Had we sat here a few weeks ago and discuss the Mayor Bloomberg would win in a squeaker and no one would have believed it. I anticipate this is the last term for Tom Menino. I expect there will be an open mayoral election in four years and they could be 678910. Viable candidates who will take a look at it."

" It even -- Mayor Menino himself said in a late in this campaign that you know he might run for a sixth seventh eighth term. Well no he might live to be a hundred and some might you have someone -- but I think it's unlikely but if Menino does run again would he be unbeatable. He might be he has the pieces in place. That same coalition which I mentioned a few moments ago. Which elected him in 1993 has reelected him every time and it held and unless someone can peel away portions of that coalition will be very difficult."

" Clarity -- former Boston city councilor and mayoral candidate currently partner in the Boston law firm of Nixon Peabody. Thank you very much for joining us many times during this campaign and again this morning my pleasurable. This podcast is a free service of WBUR Boston. To make a contribution to support the news go to our website wbur.org."