Liz Breadon Elected Boston City Council President in Surprise One-Vote Victory
In a stunning upset, Liz Breadon was elected president of the Boston City Council on Monday, signaling a potential shift in the legislative body’s direction for the new year.
The Allston-Brighton district councilor secured the presidency after a closely contested vote, winning by a single margin. The outcome followed intense, behind-the-scenes negotiations among council members, with Breadon herself not actively campaigning for the position prior to Monday’s meeting. She will succeed Councilor-at-Large Ruthzee Louijeune.
Breadon, who has served on the council since 2020, made history as the first openly gay woman to hold the position. A resident of Brighton with her wife, she immigrated to the United States from Northern Ireland in 1995. “I didn’t know I would be here at this time yesterday, but with that being said, I am ready to lead. I feel like I can bring a certain mentality to this position,” Breadon stated during the contentious meeting.
The vote tally revealed a narrow victory for Breadon, who received seven of the council’s 13 votes. District 4 Councilman Brian Worrell, previously considered the frontrunner, garnered six votes. This outcome represented a significant reversal of expectations, as Worrell had been actively seeking support from his colleagues throughout the day. He was observed engaging in a particularly animated discussion with District 6 Councilman Ben Weber during breaks in the proceedings.
Councilman Weber ultimately cast his vote for Breadon, expressing hope that she would foster “calm” within the legislative body. He also voiced criticism of the selection process itself, stating, “The last 24 hours have not been the best in this council.”
Following the announcement of Breadon’s win, Worrell joined his colleagues in applauding her achievement.
The election of a new council president is a crucial initial step in the new legislative session, occurring every two years as councilors are sworn in for new or continuing terms. The majority of council members currently serving are incumbents. Beyond the symbolic role, the council president presides over meetings, sets the legislative agenda, and, crucially, assumes the role of acting mayor in the event of a vacancy in the city’s chief executive office – a precedent set by Kim Janey’s transition from council president to acting mayor in 2021 following Marty Walsh’s nomination as Secretary of Labor by President Joe Biden.
The process of selecting a council president in Boston has been described as a “black box,” characterized by private lobbying and negotiations between councilors in the period following the November general election and the January swearing-in ceremony. The inherent opacity of this system was underscored on Monday, with several councilors openly lamenting the nature of the behind-the-scenes dealings.
The path to Monday’s vote was marked by unexpected twists. In December, District 1 Councilor Gabriella Coletta Zapata announced she had secured enough commitments to win the presidency. However, she abruptly withdrew from the race last weekend, leaving the field open. Worrell and Councilor-at-Large Julia Mejia had previously challenged Coletta Zapata’s claim of majority support.
Councilor Mejia expressed dissatisfaction with the process, asserting that Worrell was the only candidate who demonstrated genuine leadership. He also suggested that Breadon’s late entry into the race was emblematic of Boston’s political landscape. “If that doesn’t alarm you while you decide which vote you are going to cast today… all eyes are on us,” he stated.
In a final address to his colleagues, Worrell outlined his vision for the presidency, emphasizing improved communication with the public, addressing inequity gaps, and empowering councilors to advocate for their districts’ priorities. While Breadon and Worrell often align on votes, Worrell has cultivated a reputation for collaborating with more conservative members of the council.
Despite the outcome, Worrell offered his congratulations to Breadon, joining the applause following the announcement. He later told reporters he was focused on moving forward, declining to elaborate on the events of the past 24 hours. “I am grateful for the opportunity to serve,” he said.
The role of council president extends beyond ceremonial duties, encompassing the responsibility of presiding over meetings and setting the legislative agenda. The president also serves as mayor in the event of a vacancy in the chief executive’s office. The selection process, however, remains largely opaque, relying on private negotiations rather than public campaigning.
Breadon revealed that she had not received a call from the mayor’s office regarding her candidacy, but that Council members Enrique Pepén and Sharon Durkan approached her late Sunday night, proposing her as a “compromise candidate.” “This is my fourth term on the city council, so I’ve thought about it before, and it just seemed like this door opened at the last minute, and I had the support of other council members, and I was honored to be asked to consider it,” she explained.
