Boston mayoral election, 1983
Encyclopedia
The Boston mayoral election of 1983 occurred on November 15, 1983 between City Councilman Raymond Flynn
and activist Mel King
. Flynn was elected to his first term.
The nonpartisan municipal preliminary election was held on October 7, 1983.
King's victory in the preliminary election made him the first African-American to be a finalist for mayor in city history.
during the Boston Massacre
.
On March 15, former Deputy Mayor and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
general manager Bob Kiley
became the second candidate to enter the race.
On March 20, Mayor Kevin White told WCVB-TV
's Frank Avruch that he planned on running for an unprecedented fifth term. However, soon after the announcement, aides to the Mayor retracted his statement, saying that it was "facetious" and "jocular".
On April 19, City Councilman Frederick C. Langone
declared his candidacy. Langone was accused of running as a publicity stunt, a charge the Councilman denied. To prove that his campaign was serious he announced that he would not seek another City Council term.
On April 24, Suffolk County Sheriff
Dennis J. Kearney
declared his candidacy at Faneuil Hall
. He promised that if elected he would create an office of internal affairs to investigate "fraud, waste and abuse". He also promised to hire 99 new police officers each year for the next three years, a plan which would cost the city $3 million dollars.
Former School Board President and radio talk show host David Finnegan
announced his candidacy on April 21 at the Strand Theatre
in Uphams Corner
. Finnegan chose to make his announcement in Uphams Corner because White had not fulfilled his promise to rebuild the neighborhood and the man he appointed to run the project was jail. He attempted to portray himself as the best candidate to defeat Mayor White and used the campaign slogan "Finnegan or him again." After White announced that he was not running, Finnegan changed the slogan to "Begin Again with Finnegan".
On April 26, Lawrence DiCara
, David Finnegan, Ray Flynn, Dennis Kearney, Bob Kiley, Mel King, Frederick Langone, and Eloise Linger participated in the first mayoral debate.
On April 27, City Councilman Ray Flynn announced his candidacy. As part of his announcement he released "The Flynn Program for Boston", a 30 page booklet outlining his proposals for jobs, housing, crime, services, and other issues.
On May 6, LaRouche movement member Michael Gelber announced that he was entering the race.
On May 26, Mayor White announced that he would not seek a fifth term.
The first televised debate of the campaign was held on June 29. All nine candidates participated.
The League of Women Voters
of Boston and the Boston Chamber of Commerce hosted a debate between Kiley, Flynn, Langone, Kearney, Finnegan, and DiCara at Faneuil Hall. Gelber and Linger were excluded from the debate and King chose not to particapte in protest of the decision to exclude two of the candidates.
Shortly before the primary, Bob Kiley withdrew from the race and endoresed DiCara.
Two weeks before the preliminary election, a poll by the The Boston Globe
showed that King was in a dead heat with Finnegan and Flynn. King's campaign gained momentum through a voter registration drive and visits from Chicago Mayor
Harold Washington
and Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young.
Although he had the most campaign funds and was considered to be a favorite to make the runoff election, Finnegan was criticized for running a "safe" campaign and for "lack[ing] substance".
On October 7, Flynn and King received the most votes in the preliminary election and moved on to the general election. Flynn went on to win the general election 65%-35%.
Raymond Flynn
Raymond Leo Flynn , also known as Ray Flynn, served as Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts from 1984 until 1993. He was later appointed United States Ambassador to the Holy See by President Bill Clinton.-Early life:...
and activist Mel King
Mel King
Melvin H. King is an American educator, activist, and writer.King has been active across the landscape of neighborhoods and politics of Boston for over fifty-five years, while also being an educator, youth worker, social activist, community organizer and developer, elected politician, author, and...
. Flynn was elected to his first term.
The nonpartisan municipal preliminary election was held on October 7, 1983.
King's victory in the preliminary election made him the first African-American to be a finalist for mayor in city history.
Campaign
On March 5, 1983, former State Representative Mel King became the first candidate to officially enter the race. The focus of his campaign was decentralizing the city's government and bringing together its racially polarized population. His announcement came on the 213th anniversary of the death of Crispus AttucksCrispus Attucks
Crispus Attucks was a dockworker of Wampanoag and African descent. He was the first person shot to death by British redcoats during the Boston Massacre, in Boston, Massachusetts...
during the Boston Massacre
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre, called the Boston Riot by the British, was an incident on March 5, 1770, in which British Army soldiers killed five civilian men. British troops had been stationed in Boston, capital of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, since 1768 in order to protect and support...
.
On March 15, former Deputy Mayor and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, often referred to as the MBTA or simply The T, is the public operator of most bus, subway, commuter rail and ferry systems in the greater Boston, Massachusetts, area. Officially a "body politic and corporate, and a political subdivision" of the...
general manager Bob Kiley
Bob Kiley
Robert R. Kiley, better known as Bob Kiley, is a public transit planner and supervisor, with a reputation of being able to save transit systems experiencing serious problems...
became the second candidate to enter the race.
On March 20, Mayor Kevin White told WCVB-TV
WCVB-TV
WCVB-TV, channel 5, is a television station located in Boston, Massachusetts, owned by Hearst Television and affiliated with the ABC Television Network. WCVB-TV's studios and transmitter are co-located in Needham, Massachusetts. WCVB is also one of six Boston television stations seen in Canada by...
's Frank Avruch that he planned on running for an unprecedented fifth term. However, soon after the announcement, aides to the Mayor retracted his statement, saying that it was "facetious" and "jocular".
On April 19, City Councilman Frederick C. Langone
Frederick C. Langone
Frederick C. Langone was an American politician who served as a member Boston City Council in 1961 and from 1964 to 1983. He was Council President in 1966. Langone known for smoking cigars and long-winded speeches...
declared his candidacy. Langone was accused of running as a publicity stunt, a charge the Councilman denied. To prove that his campaign was serious he announced that he would not seek another City Council term.
On April 24, Suffolk County Sheriff
Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department (Massachusetts)
The Suffolk County Sheriff's Department is a law enforcement agency for Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The agency's primary responsibility is oversight of the Nashua Street Jail and the South Bay House of Correction in Boston, Massachusetts....
Dennis J. Kearney
Dennis J. Kearney
Dennis J. Kearney is an American attorney and politician who served as a Massachusetts state representative and Sheriff of Suffolk County. He is currently the President of the law firm Kearney, Donovan & McGee, P.C.-References:...
declared his candidacy at Faneuil Hall
Faneuil Hall
Faneuil Hall , located near the waterfront and today's Government Center, in Boston, Massachusetts, has been a marketplace and a meeting hall since 1742. It was the site of several speeches by Samuel Adams, James Otis, and others encouraging independence from Great Britain, and is now part of...
. He promised that if elected he would create an office of internal affairs to investigate "fraud, waste and abuse". He also promised to hire 99 new police officers each year for the next three years, a plan which would cost the city $3 million dollars.
Former School Board President and radio talk show host David Finnegan
David Finnegan
David I. Finnegan is an American attorney, talk show host, and politician. He is currently a partner at Finnegan, Underwood, Ryan & Tierney.-Political career:...
announced his candidacy on April 21 at the Strand Theatre
Strand Theatre (Dorchester, Massachusetts)
Strand Theatre is a restored vaudeville house located in Uphams Corner in Dorchester, Massachusetts.-History:The Strand was built in 1918 as a movie and vaudeville house...
in Uphams Corner
Uphams Corner
Uphams Corner is a section of Dorchester, the largest neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The intersection of Dudley Street and Columbia Road is the heart of Uphams Corner, and one of Dorchester's main business districts. Uphams Corner is served by several bus lines and the MBTA's...
. Finnegan chose to make his announcement in Uphams Corner because White had not fulfilled his promise to rebuild the neighborhood and the man he appointed to run the project was jail. He attempted to portray himself as the best candidate to defeat Mayor White and used the campaign slogan "Finnegan or him again." After White announced that he was not running, Finnegan changed the slogan to "Begin Again with Finnegan".
On April 26, Lawrence DiCara
Lawrence DiCara
Lawrence "Larry" S. DiCara is an American attorney and politician who is currently a partner at Nixon Peabody.From 1972 to 1981, DiCara was a member of the Boston City Council. In 1978, he was the Council President...
, David Finnegan, Ray Flynn, Dennis Kearney, Bob Kiley, Mel King, Frederick Langone, and Eloise Linger participated in the first mayoral debate.
On April 27, City Councilman Ray Flynn announced his candidacy. As part of his announcement he released "The Flynn Program for Boston", a 30 page booklet outlining his proposals for jobs, housing, crime, services, and other issues.
On May 6, LaRouche movement member Michael Gelber announced that he was entering the race.
On May 26, Mayor White announced that he would not seek a fifth term.
The first televised debate of the campaign was held on June 29. All nine candidates participated.
The League of Women Voters
League of Women Voters
The League of Women Voters is an American political organization founded in 1920 by Carrie Chapman Catt during the last meeting of the National American Woman Suffrage Association approximately six months before the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution gave women the right to vote...
of Boston and the Boston Chamber of Commerce hosted a debate between Kiley, Flynn, Langone, Kearney, Finnegan, and DiCara at Faneuil Hall. Gelber and Linger were excluded from the debate and King chose not to particapte in protest of the decision to exclude two of the candidates.
Shortly before the primary, Bob Kiley withdrew from the race and endoresed DiCara.
Two weeks before the preliminary election, a poll by the The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
showed that King was in a dead heat with Finnegan and Flynn. King's campaign gained momentum through a voter registration drive and visits from Chicago Mayor
Mayor of Chicago
The Mayor of Chicago is the chief executive of Chicago, Illinois, the third largest city in the United States. He or she is charged with directing city departments and agencies, and with the advice and consent of the Chicago City Council, appoints department and agency leaders.-Appointment...
Harold Washington
Harold Washington
Harold Lee Washington was an American lawyer and politician who became the first African-American Mayor of Chicago, serving from 1983 until his death in 1987.- Early years and military service :...
and Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young.
Although he had the most campaign funds and was considered to be a favorite to make the runoff election, Finnegan was criticized for running a "safe" campaign and for "lack[ing] substance".
On October 7, Flynn and King received the most votes in the preliminary election and moved on to the general election. Flynn went on to win the general election 65%-35%.
Candidates
- Raymond FlynnRaymond FlynnRaymond Leo Flynn , also known as Ray Flynn, served as Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts from 1984 until 1993. He was later appointed United States Ambassador to the Holy See by President Bill Clinton.-Early life:...
, Member of the Boston City CouncilBoston City CouncilThe Boston City Council is the legislative branch of government for the city of Boston. It is made up of 13 members: 9 district representatives and 4 at-large members. Councilors are elected to two-year terms and there is no limit on the number of terms an individual can serve...
since 1978 and state representativeMassachusetts House of RepresentativesThe Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
from 1971 to 1979. - Mel KingMel KingMelvin H. King is an American educator, activist, and writer.King has been active across the landscape of neighborhoods and politics of Boston for over fifty-five years, while also being an educator, youth worker, social activist, community organizer and developer, elected politician, author, and...
, Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1973 to 1983.
Candidates eliminated in primary
- Lawrence DiCaraLawrence DiCaraLawrence "Larry" S. DiCara is an American attorney and politician who is currently a partner at Nixon Peabody.From 1972 to 1981, DiCara was a member of the Boston City Council. In 1978, he was the Council President...
, member of the Boston City Council from 1972 to 1981, Council President in 1978. - David FinneganDavid FinneganDavid I. Finnegan is an American attorney, talk show host, and politician. He is currently a partner at Finnegan, Underwood, Ryan & Tierney.-Political career:...
, president of the Boston School Committee from 1975 to 1979 and a radio/television talk show host. - Michael Gelber, member of the LaRouche movementLaRouche movementThe LaRouche movement is an international political and cultural network that promotes Lyndon LaRouche and his ideas. It has included scores of organizations and companies around the world. Their activities include campaigning, private intelligence gathering, and publishing numerous periodicals,...
. - Dennis J. KearneyDennis J. KearneyDennis J. Kearney is an American attorney and politician who served as a Massachusetts state representative and Sheriff of Suffolk County. He is currently the President of the law firm Kearney, Donovan & McGee, P.C.-References:...
, Sheriff of Suffolk County since 1981. - Bob KileyBob KileyRobert R. Kiley, better known as Bob Kiley, is a public transit planner and supervisor, with a reputation of being able to save transit systems experiencing serious problems...
(dropped out), Deputy Mayor from 1972 to 1975 and general manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority from 1975 to 1979. - Frederick C. LangoneFrederick C. LangoneFrederick C. Langone was an American politician who served as a member Boston City Council in 1961 and from 1964 to 1983. He was Council President in 1966. Langone known for smoking cigars and long-winded speeches...
, member Boston City Council in 1961, and from 1964 to 1983. - Eloise Linger, member of the Socialist Workers PartySocialist Workers Party (United States)The Socialist Workers Party is a far-left political organization in the United States. The group places a priority on "solidarity work" to aid strikes and is strongly supportive of Cuba...
.
Results
| Candidates | Primary Election | General Election | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |
| Raymond Flynn Raymond Flynn Raymond Leo Flynn , also known as Ray Flynn, served as Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts from 1984 until 1993. He was later appointed United States Ambassador to the Holy See by President Bill Clinton.-Early life:... |
48,118 | 28.86 | 128,578 | 65.07 |
| Mel King Mel King Melvin H. King is an American educator, activist, and writer.King has been active across the landscape of neighborhoods and politics of Boston for over fifty-five years, while also being an educator, youth worker, social activist, community organizer and developer, elected politician, author, and... |
47,848 | 28.70 | 69,015 | 34.93 |
| David Finnegan David Finnegan David I. Finnegan is an American attorney, talk show host, and politician. He is currently a partner at Finnegan, Underwood, Ryan & Tierney.-Political career:... |
41,657 | 24.99 | ||
| Lawrence DiCara Lawrence DiCara Lawrence "Larry" S. DiCara is an American attorney and politician who is currently a partner at Nixon Peabody.From 1972 to 1981, DiCara was a member of the Boston City Council. In 1978, he was the Council President... |
15,148 | 9.09 | ||
| Dennis J. Kearney Dennis J. Kearney Dennis J. Kearney is an American attorney and politician who served as a Massachusetts state representative and Sheriff of Suffolk County. He is currently the President of the law firm Kearney, Donovan & McGee, P.C.-References:... |
10,992 | 6.59 | ||
| Frederick C. Langone Frederick C. Langone Frederick C. Langone was an American politician who served as a member Boston City Council in 1961 and from 1964 to 1983. He was Council President in 1966. Langone known for smoking cigars and long-winded speeches... |
2,262 | 1.36 | ||
| Bob Kiley Bob Kiley Robert R. Kiley, better known as Bob Kiley, is a public transit planner and supervisor, with a reputation of being able to save transit systems experiencing serious problems... |
316 | 0.19 | ||
| Michael Gelber | 207 | 0.12 | ||
| Eloise Linger | 168 | 0.10 | ||