The Story:
Bostonians will vote on Tuesday, Nov. 2, for the next Mayor of Boston. This is a run-off, so the city is choosing between the two top vote-getters from the September round: Annissa Essaibi George and Michelle Wu, each city councilors.
Background:
It has become conventional to describe George as the “moderate” candidate in this race, and Wu as the “progressive.” George has the endorsement of a former Boston police chief, William G. Gross, the head of a “super PAC.”
A PAC, or “political action committee” is an organization recognized in U.S. tax and campaign law that pools the money of contributors to political candidates or causes. A “Super PAC” is a PAC that aids campaigns “independently,” for example by funding television advertisements in favor of a particular candidate or against its opponent, without coordinating with the candidate they favor.
The Thing to Know:
George and Wu have worked together on the city council. Early this year, they partnered up on proposing paid sick leave for any municipal employees who felt ill after receiving a dose of a Covid vaccine. But the two disagreed on some Covid-related issues. In particular, Wu supports mandatory vaccination of all city workers, George does not.
