Boston Mayor Kim Janey launches campaign for full term

BOSTON — The race for Mayor has grown by one. The woman leading the city right now threw her hat in. Acting Boston Mayor Kim Janey says she’s throwing her hat in the ring for mayor in the fall election.

“I would prefer seeing something that has a clear plan moving forward,” one Boston voter told Boston 25.

Janey became the city’s first female and first person of color to take the office when she was sworn in on March 24 after Marty Walsh resigned to become President Joe Biden’s labor secretary.

“As we recover together as a city we can’t simply go back to the way things were. Our option is to go better,” said Mayor Janey.

Mayor Janey makes the race six candidates. Three current city councilors, one former city official, and a state rep are also running. Boston University Associate Professor Tom Whalen is already calling the race for Mayor Janey.

“Unless something really dramatic happens I think she will win election quite easily,” said Whalen.

Whalen believes the crowded field has to start focusing on what they are most passionate about while also addressing key issues like the pandemic, economic recovery, and one of the more turbulent topics in the city -- racism.

“The work to address the challenges we face from COVID-19 and the racial inequalities that have been inherited from centuries of structural racism will take longer than a few months to change,” Mayor Janey said in a statement. “It is going to take fearless leadership, bold action, and a commitment to doing the hard work to make Boston the equitable city our residents want, need, and deserve. I am 100% committed to leading this change.”

Mayor Janey has focused her first days in office on equality and making sure everyone is at the table as decisions are made.

“I’m the 55th mayor of the city of Boston,” Janey added in a newly released campaign video. “For our city, it’s been a long time coming. Now, Boston having its first woman and first Black mayor, that’s just the start. We’ve got work to do.”

Janey is holding her first campaign event Tuesday morning in Nubian Square.

The former city council president enters a growing field of candidates running for mayor, including councilors Michelle Wu, Andrea Campbell, and Annissa Essaibi George. State Representative of the 9th Suffolk District Jon Santiago and former Boston Chief of Economic Development John Barros are also running.

Whalen points out former Mayor Tom Menino was also interim Mayor when he first won office.

“He certainly made good use of the office to kind of springboard him to a permanent position that November when he took over,” said Whalen.

Acting Mayor Janey announces full-term run Acting Mayor Kim Janey announces full-term run

On Sept. 21, Boston voters will choose two of those candidates. They will then go head-to-head in the November election.

Whalen does not think any additional major contenders will enter the race at this point but more candidates still have time to file.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW