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.
