Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo and his father, Suffolk County Register of Probate Felix D. Arroyo, have endorsed acting Mayor Kim Janey's bid for a full term.
The dynastic political blessing marks the first declaration of support from a councilor in this year's mayor's race.
“Kim has been a strong progressive partner in our work to address racial and systemic inequities in both roles, and I know she shares my values," said the younger Arroyo in a press release from the Janey campaign.
Up until now, councilors had refrained from backing a candidate, staying neutral so as not to alienate potential allies.
Janey's stint as acting mayor has been punctuated with tension from the council, a point Arroyo dismissed.
“I haven’t really seen any evidence that is true,” Arroyo said, pointing to the recent budget vote.
Janey’s proposal passed on a 10-2 vote after she and the council haggled over a $31.5 million supplemental spending bill. Former Mayor Marty Walsh’s last budget passed on a slimmer margin of 8-5.
The Arroyo’s dual endorsement is also an attempt to help Janey court Latino voters, a move that could help expand her coalition ahead of the September primary.
In her last election, Janey held on to the Roxbury district seat by earning a total of 3,856 votes. Political observers say, when compared to her opponents who have campaigned city-wide, base expansion is key to her advancing past the primary.
With State Rep. Jon Santiago, who was actively courting Latino voters with bilingual campaign materials, now out of the race, the path to courting this community is eased.
The Arroyos plan to canvass for Janey on Saturday.
