Thomas Menino

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Thomas Michael Menino (born December 27, 1942) is the current mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, United States and the city's first Italian-American mayor as well as being the city's first non Irish-American mayor since 1884.

Born in Readville, a part of Boston's Hyde Park neighborhood, Menino was educated at Chamberlayne Junior College (AA, Business Management, 1963) and the University of Massachusetts Boston (BA, Community Planning, 1988). He currently resides in Hyde Park with his wife, Angela Faletra. They have two children: Susan and Thomas Jr.

Menino had served nine years on Boston's city council when Ray Flynn left the mayor's seat to become US ambassador to the Vatican. The council president at the time, Menino became acting mayor for four months before being elected to his first term in November 1993, defeating State Representative Jim Brett with 64% of the vote. After running unopposed for a second term in 1997, Menino soundly defeated Boston City Councillor Peggy Davis-Mullen in 2001 for a third term with 76% of the vote [1] and in 2005 rang up 67% of the vote in beating Maura Hennigan, another councillor [2].

Should Menino complete his fourth term, and if the four months as acting mayor are included, he would become the longest-serving mayor in Boston history. Though hardly the most eloquent of politicians (because of his poor diction he has been nicknamed "Mumbles Menino" by Howie Carr, a writer for the Boston Herald, and a nationally syndicated radio talk show host), a large part of Menino's success seems to hinge on his refusal to use city hall as a stepping stone. While it may be true that he would have little success at seeking higher office, Menino maintains that being mayor of Boston is the only job he's ever wanted. He is considered a "nuts and bolts" mayor, focusing on making sure that potholes are filled, garbage and snow are removed and crime is down. He tirelessly attends functions all around the city, and his administration has remained relatively scandal-free.

Among some working people (particularly those of color) controversy surrounds Menino's oversight of the gentrification of many Boston neighborhoods. Menino has also encountered criticism from civil liberties groups regarding various issues of free speech, including the heavy and disruptive police presence during the 2004 Democratic National Convention, and his handling of the Stop Snitchin' controversy.

In 2006, Menino proposed two major construction projects which would have a major impact on the city. The first, Trans National Place is a proposed 1,000 foot tower to be built on the site of a city owned parking garage in Boston's Financial District. The second proposal, calls for the city to sell Boston's City Hall, a 1960's icon of Brutalism architecture. Menino would then have the city use the proceeds from the sale to fund construction of a new seat of government on the South Boston waterfront, on the site of the current Bank of America Pavillion (Drydock 4). This project would fit into Menino's ongoing efforts to spur development in this section of South Boston, and would complement the new convention center, as well as benefit from new Big Dig transportation connections to the area.

[edit] Health

Menino has been hospitalized several times since taking office. He has been admitted for abdominal pain and intestinal inflammation, and was treated for kidney stones in 1995 and 1997. In 2003, Menino underwent surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital to remove a rare sarcoma (DFSP) on his back. The tumor had not spread, and the mayor was able to return to work in a matter of days. In 2004, the mayor's doctors confirmed he has been diagnosed with Crohn's disease, helping to explain his recurring intestinal problems. The condition requires life-long treatment with anti-inflammatory medication and careful monitoring of his diet [3].