Mayor Menino: Walsh will bring new energy, ideas to City Hall

BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) -- Outgoing Boston Mayor Thomas Menino shared his support for Mayor-Elect Marty Walsh on the FOX 25 Morning News Wednesday.

Mayor Menino said he had a phone conversation Tuesday night with the man who will succeed him in office next year. The mayor said he congratulated Walsh on a great campaign.

"I said anything I can do to help, Marty, we'll be there for you," said the mayor.

When asked about what he feels Walsh will bring to the office, Menino said he feels the state representative will bring new ideas.

"I think Marty will bring new energy, new individuals who will be a part of his administration, and new ideas and that is what Boston is looking for right now, is how we move the city to the next plateau," Mayor Menino explained. "I just say that I am very supportive of the new mayor."

Boston's longest serving mayor also called Walsh's opponent, City Councilor John Connolly, to congratulate him on a good campaign. He told FOX 25 he encouraged Connolly to stay involved in the business of government and to stay involved in the issues that are most important to him, especially education.

With 95 percent of the votes counted, unofficial totals showed Walsh with 51 percent to 49 percent for Connolly, who conceded less than two hours after the polls closed.

Walsh and Menino also held a meeting Wednesday morning to discuss the transition between administrations. The pair set a plan in place for the transition.

"This is not about Marty Walsh and Tom Menino, it's about the city of Boston and how we continue to move the city forward," Menino explained. "I have a lot of confidence in this young man. We go back a few years we had some conversations this past year. Back when I was sick Marty came to visit me and we talked about the future and Marty was talking about his future."

The mayor went on to say the city has a building on Franklin Street that the mayor-elect can use as office space during the transition period.

Walsh thanked Mayor Menino for advice he gave him and for his more than 20 years of service to the city.

Menino, who will not say which candidate he voted for, also denied reports suggesting he supported Connolly and that there was a rift between him and the mayor-elect.

"There's people out there who want to have us fight with each other, they're trying to drag me into the campaign by saying certain things about me. I've kept my cool during the whole thing, I'll continue to do that," Menino replied.

Menino, who chose not to seek re-election after a series of health issues, will leave the post he has held since 1993 in January. He finished his interview with FOX 25 Wednesday morning by expressing how much he has enjoyed serving the city's residents for two decades.

"I've been a very fortunate individual for the last 20 years, I've enjoyed every minute of it. I love this job, I love the people of Boston and this city is very special to me," said Mayor Menino.

Cox Media Group