Boston City Council sworn in for new two-year term; Murphy expected to be re-elected as president

By Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff

The 13-member Boston City Council took the oath of office today at a formal ceremony at Faneuil Hall, marking the start of a two-year term.

One new member joined the legislative body, Frank Baker, who won an open seat representing a district that includes most of Dorchester. Baker replaced Maureen E. Feeney, who left office after almost two decades to become city clerk.

Many of the other city councilors who stood on the dais and raised their right hands for the oath have served for years, and in some cases, decades. Voters in Mattapan and Dorchester first elected Charles C. Yancey in 1983.

Councilor Stephen J. Murphy of Hyde Park was first elected in 1997. Later, in the City Council chamber, Murphy won another year as council president on a 13-0 vote.

The new term comes after a hard-fought election last fall in which Michael F. Flaherty, a former City Council president and mayoral candidate, tried unsuccessfully to win a seat back on the council.

The big winner on Election Day was Councilor Ayanna Pressley, who was making her first bid for reelection. Many city political observers expected Pressley to lose her at-large seat to Flaherty. But Pressley soared to the top of the ticket and garnered more votes than anyone else in the city.

Flaherty ultimately finished in fifth place, narrowly losing to Murphy, who held his at-large seat by less than 1,000 votes. Councilor Felix Arroyo finished second in the at-large race, followed by Councilor John R. Connolly.

The other incumbents who won reelection were Salvatore LaMattina, Bill Linehan, Robert Consalvo, Matt O?Malley, Tito Jackson, Michael P. Ross, and Mark Ciommo.

Also today, the Boston School Committee held its annual organizational meeting, re-electing the Reverend Gregory Groover as its chairman and installing Michael O?Neill as its vice chairman.

The board welcomed a new member, Meg Campbell, founder and executive director of Codman Academy Charter Public School in Dorchester.

She was appointed to the committee on Saturday by Menino, filling a vacancy created by Marchelle Raynor, the committee?s former vice chairwoman who decided to step down after many years on the committee.

Source: http://feeds.boston.com/click.phdo?i=7e99c16beb30998d611352025d3bb42b

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