The Boston Phoenix
January 28 - February 4, 1999

[Features]

The council at a glance

by Ben Geman

Boston politics are top-heavy, with the mayor wielding enormous clout. A critic like city councilor Peggy Davis-Mullen, by contrast, fights for attention on a 13-member body headed by South Boston conservative Jimmy Kelly, recently reelected as council president. Nine of the councilors represent specific neighborhoods; four more are elected by voters across the city. So what's this gang all about? Read on.

DISTRICT COUNCILORS
	Style/Issues	Voted for Kelly	Relationship to Menino
Paul Scapicchio, 33 (East Boston, Charlestown, North End)	Up-and-comer who ousted East Boston's Diane Modica; says city made better when parking is easier and dog poop doesn't clutter the parks.	Yes.	Apparently good so far -- hasn't tested the waters with any significant shots across the mayor's bow. But both are headstrong, so there's potential for eruption.
James Kelly, 58 (Downtown, Chinatown, South Boston, South End)	Powerful and conservative, the affirmative action-hating South Boston councilor has tight grip on council presidency.	Yes.	Good, but questions around housing in the Seaport could strain the rapport.
Maureen Feeney, 50 (Dorchester)	Conservative and pro-labor Dorchester councilor with a fiery side; apparently does her homework on constituent issues.	Yes.	Once rocky, but they have allegedly made their peace.
Charles Yancey, 50 (Mattapan and North Dorchester)	Firmly planted on council's progressive bloc, the Mattapan councilor has sought higher office on several occasions. Long-time councilor has a good base -- Mattapan/North Dorchester.	No.	Not great, but Yancey has not emerged as a potent adversary, either.
Daniel Conley, 40 (Hyde Park, Roslindale, West Roxbury)	Hyde Park councilor and attorney keys in on public safety; said to be interested in district attorney's office.	Not present; probably would not have supported.	Not great -- Conley takes an occasional shot, but no major fireworks on the surface.
Maura Hennigan, 47 (Jamaica Plain, West Roxbury)	Low-key councilor focuses on educational "innovation," launching a West Roxbury pilot school. May try to up visibility in effort to blunt expected challenge this fall.	Yes.	Not best of friends but not at each other's throats, certainly not on the surface.
Gareth Saunders, 39 (Roxbury, South End)	One of just two African-Americans on the council, Saunders champions housing and civil rights; provides welcome dissenting voice to Kelly.	No.	Fine, but he does not play the game. Willingness to unload on Kelly might cause Menino more headaches if Saunders's profile were higher.
Tom Keane, 42 (Back Bay, Mission Hill, Beacon Hill, Fenway)	Brainy "ideas" councilor mixes quality-of-life issues with broader interests, like running for Congress and swimming against the current on controversial "living wage" ordinance.	No.	Can be a thorn; critical of city's plans for City Hall Plaza, but far from a constant adversary.
Brian Honan, 35 (Allston/Brighton)	Nuts-and-bolts councilor from politically strong family pays attention to town-gown concerns, quality-of-life issues, and housing in his student-heavy district.	Yes.	Good.

AT-LARGE COUNCILORS
	Style/Issues	Voted for Kelly	Relationship to Menino
Francis "Mickey" Roache, 62	Affable councilor is big on constituent work; some say eyeing a run at mayor himself. Pro-labor -- broke with Menino over merger of Boston City Hospital and Boston University Medical Center Hospital in 1996, largely because of labor dissent to the deal.	Not present; probably would have.	Not outwardly problematic, but they're said to eye each other warily.
Albert "Dapper" O'Neil, 78	Old-school social conservative and champion of white Boston; his reactionary tirades aren't taken seriously anymore but retain some power to offend. Now living at a Stoughton health facility, he's part councilor, part institution. His favor at the ballot box is waning.	Yes.	"Dapper is Dapper," as one colleague puts it. Translation: Who cares?
Stephen Murphy, 41	Hyde Park conservative who hasn't proven as hard-right as advertised. Stresses elderly and public-safety issues.	Yes.	Rocky and roller coaster are words used frequently; not great probably applies as well.
Peggy Davis-Mullen, 39	South Boston resident who's conservative on schools but has reached out to progressives. Frequent Menino critic.	Yes.	Davis-Mullen has practically staked her future on bashing Menino, so safe to say that it's poor.

CHALLENGERS
The city's best political story in 1999 may be Peggy Davis-Mullen's effort to position herself for a mayoral run in two years. Elsewhere, Boston's fall elections could resemble a college bowl game between teams with no shot at the title: only true football fans will watch. Most predict low voter turnout, scant interest, and incumbents thriving in a race expected to draw mostly die-hard voters. The at-large race, though, has far more going for it. There's uncertainty, challengers with name recognition, and -- with Dapper O'Neil in frail health but pledging to run again -- a race for fifth place and the right to be waiting in the wings should the aging councilor not finish another term. Here are the likeliest and highest-profile challengers.		Frank Jones, 65 The Jamaica Plain attorney is allegedly mulling another try at becoming the council's only black at-large councilor. A progressive with strong credentials, Jones (who could not be reached for comment by the Phoenix) nonetheless faces questions about his ability to put together a workable grassroots effort to complement his obvious qualifications. Jones finished sixth in the race for the city's four at-large seats in 1997.
		Suzanne Iannella, 47 The daughter of the late city councilor Chris Iannella has name recognition aplenty -- but, like any challenger this year, she'll have to convince the electorate that it wants new blood. Iannella says she's definitely a candidate -- the Back Bay resident came within about 200 votes of victory when she ran in 1997. She reportedly had the backing of Menino last time around, but some say she hasn't been highly visible since the last election.
		Greg Timilty, 24 The son of former state senator, city councilor, and mayoral hopeful Joseph Timilty -- who once counted Menino among his staff members -- brings immediate name recognition to the race. But the West Roxbury investment banker, who says he's "leaning heavily" toward a run, is still an unknown quantity. Timilty pledges to make education and improving the schools a top focus as a councilor. Join the club.