Councilors Worrell and Mejia indicate they will stay in the race regardless.
Despite the confirmation process for the next City Council President not occurring until the council is sworn in this January, District 1 Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata announced Monday morning that she has gathered enough commitments to secure the position.
“I’m honored to have earned the respect and support of my colleagues on the Council, and I look forward to the work ahead to build an equitable, vibrant, and just Boston for everyone,” her announcement reads.
The presidency is currently occupied by Councilor At-Large Ruthzee Louijenue, who is barred from pursuing a consecutive term by the city charter. A new Council President is sworn in with each council, requiring the vote of at least seven other councilors.
Rumors have circulated that both Coletta Zapata and City Council Vice President Brian Worrell have been campaigning for the position behind the scenes. On November 5, Councilor At-Large Julia Mejia announced that she would also be seeking the presidency, doing so publicly to restore trust in the body by prioritizing open dialogue.
In a statement released Monday afternoon, Mejia shared she was deeply concerned over Coletta Zapata’s announcement.
“In a time marked by dangerous erosion to our democracy at the federal level, here in Boston, we have an opportunity to model behavior that inspires confidence in our leadership. We must demonstrate respect for our processes, all the voices that make up this body, and our constituents,” she said.
“I urge my colleagues to break the habit of rushing through votes before thoughtful and transparent deliberation can occur. We still have time for a thorough and democratic process as the official vote will not take place until January.”
Mejia said she plans to continue to push for due diligence and transparency in the Council’s selection process.
Worrell, too, has indicated he intends to stay in the race. “I’m honored to have colleagues’ nominations for Council President. I’ll spend the coming days listening to constituents and working with my colleagues to earn their vote on Jan. 5,” he said in a statement.
