Uphill Fight - Potential Challenger Takes Boston's Longest - Serving Mayor

BOSTON (Reuters) - A Boston metropolis councilor and education and learning recommend became the primary prospect that will launch his campaign with regard to mayor the following year, potentially setting up a challenge towards the longest-serving mayor throughout location history, Thomas Menino.

The challenger, John Connolly, may be a an old education coach who should encounter an uphill deal with in case Menino, 70, opts to search for your sixth expression in the office your dog features held seeing that 1993. Both usually are Democrats.

Menino have not still declared regardless of whether he'll run for a second time following a month-long hospitalization past due 2009 in connection with some sort of computer virus he contracted while on holiday getaway around Italy.

Connolly, 39, stated in a placing on his Web web-site which his target as mayor would be attempting to improve the city's school system.

"Mayor Menino is a great man," Connolly said. "I've caused him or her along with I respect him vastly nonetheless modifying your schools calls for fresh ideas, innovative electrical power along with a vibrant want to crack the level quo."

Incumbent mayors with Boston seldom eliminate re-election bids. Menino's predecessor, Raymond Flynn, walked down any time President Bill Clinton branded your ex boyfriend ambassador into the Vatican.

In this city's 2009 mayoral election, Menino's almost all critical obstacle originated then-city councilor Michael Flaherty, having since kept politics as well as gone into confidential suitable practice.

(Reporting By Scott Malone; Editing by means of Paul Thomasch and Nick Zieminski)