State Rep. Jon Santiago announced his run for mayor of Boston on Tuesday, joining City Councilors Michelle Wu, Andrea Campbell and Annissa Essaibi George in the race, with other candidates waiting in the wings. Santiago, who is also a Boston Medical Center emergency room physician, spoke to Boston Public Radio Friday about his decision to run.
"I look at this race as one that I have something to offer, I bring a different level of experiences given my role in public service," he said. "I'm not your average politician, I'm someone who's really dedicated his life to public service."
Current Mayor Marty Walsh has done an admirable job during the pandemic, but constituents are ready for a different type of leader, Santiago said.
"I think people are more interested in the future of Boston and not necessarily in relitigating Marty Walsh's seven years as mayor of Boston — which a lot of good has come from — but there's no doubt that there's a lot of work we need to move forward on," he said. "Right now we are in the crisis, and I think I can be the leader to lead us through that crisis and to a recovery very much rooted in equity and opportunity."
Gov. Charlie Baker announced that cities and towns will move to step two of Phase 3 of the state's reopening plan Monday. This will mean that if restuarants abide by social distancing rules, they no longer have to place a limit on the number of customers. Santiago urged caution in the state's reopening.
"Infection rates and hospitalizations are coming down but I would just tred very lightly and slow down with the reopening process until we get a better handle on the vaccination process and understand what these vaccinations are doing across Massachusetts," he said. "Because if anything, we know that the coronavirus has this incredible ability to throw curveballs."
