Boston Mayor Menino elected to a record 5th term

BOSTON -- Boston Mayor Thomas Menino won an unprecedented fifth consecutive four-year term Tuesday, holding off City Council President Michael Flaherty in his toughest reelection challenge.

Menino, 66, already has been in office for 16 1/2 years -- longer than any mayor in the city's history.

In his acceptance speech, Menino thanked Flaherty for his leadership and the challenge of the campaign.

"You made us earn this spot, and that's the way it should be," Menino said.

During the campaign, Menino deflected criticism that his administration has grown too complacent, too entrenched.

Even critics concede Menino has a laudable work ethic, and clearly loves the job, showing no ambition to use it as a stepping stone to anything else.

Flaherty, 40, came into the race with history working against him: No incumbent had lost the seat in 60 years. The last one was James Michael Curley, who was ousted by John Hynes in 1949 after a term that was interrupted by a five-month federal prison sentence for mail fraud.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Menino had 57 percent of the vote to Flaherty's 42 percent.

"This is not the end. We've made significant progress, but sadly it was not enough this time," Flaherty said in conceding the race. "What we've learned tonight is that change needs some time."

Flaherty campaigned in an unusual partnership with City Councilor Sam Yoon, who had finished third behind Menino and Flaherty in the preliminary election. Though only Flaherty's name appeared on the ballot, the two campaigned as a "ticket," and Flaherty had vowed to make Yoon his deputy had he won the election.

That was not enough to tip the scales.

Menino's tenure has been marked by relatively little scandal, and a recent flap over deleted City Hall e-mails failed to generate much traction for Flaherty. A top mayoral aide, Michael Kineavy, took a leave of absence and the state attorney general's office announced it would investigate whether public records laws were violated.

Thousands of the e-mails were recovered and Menino had them posted on the city's Web site to bolster his contention the deletions were accidental, not an attempt to hide something.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)