With Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” playing in the background, Mayor Thomas Menino walked slowly to the low stage with the assistance of a cane and his family by his side.
Applause greeted him every step of the way from an audience of several hundred admirers and supporters.
"Thank you," he said. "All right, enough is enough. You’re making it harder than it is."
When the cheering finally subsided, the mayor immediately sought to answer the question that seemed to be on the minds of many. Why was he resigning?
"For the past few months, I've been weighing my own place in Boston's great future," he said. "During that time, I've been blessed to regain so much of my health. My physical therapy is going great. That's where I should be right now, but I'm here. I feel better today than I have in a long, long while. I'm back to a mayor's schedule, but not a Menino schedule."
But Menino was also defiant.
"I can run," he said. "I can win."
With those words the Faneuil audience Hall again audience rose to its feet.
A who’s who of political, religious, and business leaders mixed in with city workers, teachers, carpenters, bus drivers, cops, firemen, and the unemployed, on both the lower and upper levels of Faneuil Hall. In the audience also was a bevy of individuals who may be jousting for the mayor’s job.
"I have no plans to pick the person to fill this seat," Menino said. "I just ask you choose someone who loves this city as much as I do."
City councilor John Connolly is already campaigning. Other names mentioned, or likely leaked by the potential candidates themselves, include city councilors Ayanna Pressley, Tito Jackson and Rob Consalvo. There’s also a fellow named Dan Conley.
"It caught me off guard," Conley said. "The mayor was very focused on doing the job that he loves, and I was focused on doing my job, and my job is an important job in the city, keeping the public safe, holding people accountable for their actions, serving victims. So I was totally focused on that. We have a religious holiday ahead, I'm going to be around family and friends. We're going to talk it over very carefully, think it over very carefully, and probably have something to say about that."
"I can't handicap it right now," Conley added. "I'm going to think it over and give it some serious thought."
Another name mentioned in the upcoming run for mayor is that of Councilman Mike Ross.
"We'll have a lot of time to talk about what I'll do and what my colleagues will do and what everyone else will do in the next few days, but today is for Mayor Menino."
Marvin Venay, executive director of the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Council, said Menino’s legacy sets the bar for the next mayor very high.
"I don't think that there is a candidate as of yet that compares to the synergy of Mayor Menino," he said. "He was a people person, and he was able to exude a level of energy that touched even most common individual to the most successful individual. So I think that's going to be a lot to try to replace. I wouldn't suggest anybody try to fill his shoes. I would suggest they come out as the best candidate for themselves, stand strong, relate to the people the best way they know how, and give a city for how we're going to move forward."
Whoever runs will be running in the shadow of a legendary mayor, who—reminded his audience– that he has not yet retired.
"All I'm doing today is saying I'm not running," Menino said. "I have nine months left. Just think what I could do in nine months. And I don't have to worry about anything, no voters, anything. We could have some real fun."
Menino presided over a city that has gone from being described as gritty and balkanized to a 21st century persona: more secure about its identity, more neon, more stylish and more open.
"Thirty years ago, when I first ran for office, my father Carl worried I would end up unemployed," he said. "Well, January first, Pa. Instead, my neighbors put their trust in me. I'm so humbled and grateful. I will find a way to thank all of you, and to celebrate together. But first, we still have much work to do. I have no intention of letting up just yet."
And from the podium at Faneuil Hall, Menino spoke of proudest accomplishment: His relationship with the people of Boston whom he got to know one hand shake at a time.
“I did it my way,” he said.
