And the Edge Goes to Yoon
September 3, 2009
By: Scott Lehigh
This was the key question going into the first televised mayoral debate: Who would establish himself as the most credible challenger to Thomas Menino?
That’s primarily a contest between City Councilors Sam Yoon and Michael Flaherty. I gave Yoon the edge. Polite but pointed in his critique of Menino, Yoon returned repeatedly to his contention that a strong-mayor system – a system that gives Menino tremendous power – isn’t good for Boston. His performance would have been more persuasive with concrete examples of how the governance changes he advocates would make Boston better. Still, he gave voters a serious matter to mull.
As for the incumbent, he never got rattled, not even when developer Kevin McCrea went after him with blunt charges that his administration has exchanged favors for political donations. But neither did Menino give viewers much of an idea of what an unprecedented fifth term would mean, beyond a continuation of the incremental leadership we’ve seen so far. And he sometimes played into the criticism that he is too powerful by dismissing his rivals’ critiques with broad assertions – his administration is working with the neighborhoods, the schools are getting better – rather than a convincing array of specifics.
Notably, Menino did modify his stance on police details. Although he insisted they are needed on major thoroughfares, he said civilian flaggers would suffice on side streets. Question: What will the mayor do to make that so?
Flaherty came off as sincere and likable. But he was nether as focused or well spoken as Yoon nor as aggressive as McCrea, who at least added some real spice to the exchange.
Like WBZ-TV’s Jon Keller, who did a skillful job as moderator, I was left wanting more.
