Nick Martin, a spokesman for the Menino campaign said, “These two gentlemen (Flynn and King) have endorsed everyone from George W. Bush to Ralph Nader.” Menino has received endorsements from leaders in the faith community, MassEquality and the National Organization of Women, and several Democratic wards.
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In 1983, Ray Flynn and Mel King faced off in an emotional mayoral race that drew the highest voter turnout in city history. Yesterday, the two men cast their support behind Michael Flaherty less than three weeks before he faces off with incumbent mayor Thomas Menino at the polls.
The endorsements of Flynn and King — who will serve as political advisers to Flaherty — drew parallels to current mayoral challengers-turned-allies in Flaherty and former candidate Sam Yoon. The bold move is the latest in a series of twists and turns that have created a whirlwind of a campaign, including Flaherty’s alliance with Yoon and an e-mail controversy that put the Menino administration on the defensive.
“I think this is the team that can move Boston forward,” Flynn said yesterday, adding Flaherty and Yoon joining hands after the preliminary was “what this city really needs.”
While Flaherty has touted himself as the candidate for Boston’s future, the endorsements tap into the city’s past and are “unprecedented,” in the words of longtime City Hall observer Lawrence DiCara.
Flynn once helped Menino ascend to the mayor’s post after nominated as ambassador to the Vatican, but the pair haven’t always seen eye to eye since.