Pro-gay Passoni campaigns for Boston Council seat

[Ian David]

SUSAN PASSONI ONE OF EIGHT VYING FOR SEAT FORMERLY HELD BY JAMES M. KELLY; TOOK 40 PERCENT OF VOTE IN 2005

In her first run for a seat on the Boston City Council 16 months ago, Susan Passoni impressed voters and political observers alike with her vigorous campaign and strong showing against a well-known and popular incumbent, James M. Kelly. His death earlier this year created a vacancy in the District 2 seat, which includes a highly visible gay enclave neighborhood, the South End. Passoni, who left a 20-year career as a Wall Street investment banker, is running again. This time she intends to win.

&width=300&height=800
Susan Passoni (PHOTO: Chuck Colbert)

"When a first-time candidate gets 40 percent of the vote against a 20-year incumbent, you stand up and take notice," said Barbara Hoffman, a gay community leader who whole-heartedly supports Passoni in what is shaping up to be competitive battle for the vacated seat.

Counting Passoni, there are eight candidates for the seat, including Edward M. Flynn, son of former Boston Mayor Ray Flynn and City Hall insider Bill Linehan, supposedly backed by current Mayor Thomas M. Menino. The other challengers are Robert O'Shea, Brian Mahoney, Robert Ferrara, and Mary Cooney.

Still, Passoni has been through one election cycle already. That experience gives her a base of support not only in her South End home neighborhood, but also across the district, which also includes Bay Village, Chinatown, the Leather District, part of Dorchester, Downtown, and South Boston, the late councilor Kelly's stronghold.

More:
http://www.innewsweekly.com/innews/?class_code=Br&article_code=3666