City Hall lawyer John Houton, who recently tossed his hat into the ring for the Boston mayoral race, got a surprise last Friday when his bosses decided to put him on administrative leave. According to CommonWealth Beacon, Houton, an assistant corporation counsel with the city, shared that he was informed by city officials that they were looking for outside legal advice to determine if his candidacy was permissible. With 18 years of service under his belt at City Hall, Houton expressed his belief that this move was just a tactic to intimidate him by Mayor Michelle Wu’s administration. He even acknowledged that it’s quite a peculiar situation to have an attorney working for the city also running for mayor.
Houton maintained his innocence, stating, “Everything has been above board by me.” On the other hand, a spokesperson from the Wu administration clarified that decisions regarding Houton’s employment were being handled by the city’s human resources office and external counsel, with the mayor not directly involved. The spokesperson emphasized the importance of the Law Department being perceived as non-political in its operations to ensure its effectiveness. Despite the setbacks, Houton, who serves as in-house counsel to the city’s treasury department, is pushing forward with collecting signatures to secure his spot on the 2025 ballot. In an interview with The Boston Globe, the 58-year-old expressed his disappointment at facing challenges and intimidation but remained resolute in his goal to be on the ballot.
As the mayoral race heats up, incumbent Mayor Michelle Wu gears up for a second term, facing off against notable contenders like philanthropist Josh Kraft, son of Patriots owner Robert Kraft. With the city abuzz with political fervor, Houton’s unexpected administrative leave has added a new twist to the unfolding drama. The uncertainty surrounding his candidacy and the alleged intimidation tactics employed by the current administration have only fueled the intrigue surrounding the upcoming elections. Not really sure why this matters, but the clash between a City Hall attorney and the mayoral race dynamics has certainly captured the attention of many in the city. Whether Houton will overcome these hurdles and make it to the ballot remains to be seen, but one thing is clear – the Boston mayoral race is shaping up to be a thrilling spectacle of political maneuvering and power plays.
