City hall

The life of Brian

by Ben Geman

HONING IN: on an at-large spot

Call it a city-council conundrum. You're a young, well-liked Boston city councilor who covets higher office one day (you all do). But maybe the seat you really want is locked up for a while. How do you raise your stature in the smallest of small ponds in local politics, otherwise called the city council?

If you're Allston-Brighton city councilor Brian Honan, the answer might be to run as an at-large candidate instead of gunning again for your district seat in next year's city-council election. (The city's four at-large councilors are elected by voters across the city, unlike the nine district councilors.)

Honan, 37, says there's a chance he'll jump into the at-large field if there is a vacancy -- which is a real possibility now that at-large councilor Francis "Mickey" Roache may make a suicide bid to topple Mayor Tom Menino next year. Reached by the Phoenix, Honan says he's still leaning toward his district seat but certainly doesn't rule out the at-large race. "You always keep your options open and see what the field is going to be," says Honan, who was first elected in 1995.

The liberal councilor, who's made affordable housing a priority, covets the district attorney's office. The former Suffolk assistant DA still practices law, albeit on a much reduced basis -- "less than five hours a week" -- for Salon & Kantrowitz LLP. But incumbent Suffolk DA Ralph Martin probably isn't going anywhere for a while, and Honan rules out challenging his former boss. So while he's waiting in the wings for that or another higher office to open, the at-large platform would let him establish political ties across the city.

A citywide run wouldn't be entirely new for Honan -- back in 1995, he was an at-large candidate but jumped into the district race when Allston-Brighton incumbent Brian McLaughlin called it quits. And what's more, Honan's in a good position to scour for votes -- he's politically close to Menino and would benefit from the mayor's political machine. He's also maintained ties to the DA's office, which comes with its own political support network.

Roache, or even at-large councilor Peggy Davis-Mullen, who's also mulling a mayoral run, is unlikely to get anywhere against Menino. But their loss could be Honan's gain if either one leaves an opening in the at-large-councilor field.