The

Boston City Council The Boston City Council is the legislative branch of government for the city of Boston, Massachusetts. It is made up of 13 members: 9 district representatives and 4 at-large members. Councillors are elected to two-year terms and there is no ...

election was held on November 6, 1979, with preliminary elections on September 25, 1979.

Candidates

All nine incumbents (

Lawrence DiCara Lawrence "Larry" S. DiCara (born in Dorchester, Boston) is an American attorney and author. Early life and education DiCara was born in Dorchester, a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, and is a graduate of the Boston Latin School. He hold ...

Raymond Flynn Raymond Leo Flynn (born July 22, 1939) is an American politician who served as 52nd Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts from 1984 until 1993. He also served as United States Ambassador to the Holy See from 1993–1997. Flynn was an All-American c ...

Louise Day Hicks Anna Louise Day Hicks (October 16, 1916 – October 21, 2003) was an American politician and lawyer from Boston, Massachusetts, best known for her staunch opposition to desegregation in Boston public schools, and especially to court-ordered b ...

, Christopher A. Iannella,

Frederick C. Langone Frederick Charles Langone (October 31, 1921 – June 25, 2001) was an American politician who served as a member of the Boston City Council from 1961 to 1971 and from 1973 to 1983. He was Council President in 1966. Langone, unofficially dubbed the ...

Patrick F. McDonough Patrick F. McDonough (died June 20, 2001 in Plymouth, New Hampshire) was a Connemara, Ireland-born American police officer, attorney, and politician who served as a member of the Boston City Council from 1956–64, 1966–70, and 1972–82. He wa ...

Dapper O'Neil Albert Leo "Dapper" O'Neil (April 12, 1920 – December 19, 2007) was an American politician who served as a socially conservative member of the Boston City Council for twenty-eight years. Prior to joining the council, he served on the Boston Lic ...

, Rosemarie E. Sansone, and

Joseph M. Tierney Joseph M. Tierney (January 1, 1941 – December 13, 2009) was an American politician who served as a member of the Boston City Council from 1972 to 1987. He was the President of the City Council in 1977, 1979, and from 1983 to 1985. He was a cand ...

), ran for reelection.

Elected

, member of the Boston City Council since 1972. *

, member of the Boston City Council since 1978. Member of the

Massachusetts House of Representatives The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from 14 counties each divided into single-member ...

from 1971 to 1979. * Christopher A. Iannella, member of the Boston City Council since 1970. Previously served on the council from 1958 to 1968. *

, member of the Boston City Council since 1973, previously served from 1964 to 1971 and in 1961. *

, member of the Boston City Council since 1972. Previously served on the council from 1956 to 1964 and 1966 to 1970. *

, member of the Boston City Council since 1971. *

John W. Sears John Winthrop Sears (December 18, 1930 – November 4, 2014) was an American lawyer, historian and politician. His great-great-grandfather was David Sears II. He was the grandson of seven time National tennis champion Richard Dudley Sears and ...

, former chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party (1975–1976), Metropolitan District Commissioner (1970–1975), Sheriff of Suffolk County (1968–1969), and member of the

(1965–1968) *Rosemarie E. Sansone, member of the Boston City Council since 1978 *

, member of the Boston City Council since 1972.

Lost in general election

* James T. Brett, account manager for New England Telephone. *Edward Brooks, Boston State College student and community organizer. *Stephen C. Farrell, private consultant and former staff member under Mayor Kevin White. *

, member of the Boston City Council since 1979 and previously from 1970 to 1971 and 1974 to 1978. Former member of the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the Lower house, lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States Senate, Senate being ...

(1971–1973) and Boston School Committee (1961–1970). *Terence P. McDermott, attorney. *David Joseph McKay, assistant English teacher at St Gregory's High School. *Richard M. Lane, former Suffolk County assistant district attorney. *Barbara A. Ware, legislative aide to state senator Bill Owens. * Charles Yancey, director of administration for the Massachusetts Office of Communities and Development from 1978 to 1979.

Eliminated in preliminary election

*Eugene A. Cavicchi, youth counselor. *Stephen Michael Cidlevich, legislative assistant. *Peter K. Hadley, consulting engineer. Member of the

Libertarian Party Active parties by country Defunct parties by country Organizations associated with Libertarian parties See also * Liberal parties by country * List of libertarian organizations * Lists of political parties * Outline of libertarianism ...

. *Phyllis Igoe, traffic supervisor for the

Boston Police Department The Boston Police Department (BPD), dating back to 1854, holds the primary responsibility for law enforcement and investigation within the city of Boston, Massachusetts. It is the oldest municipal police department in the United States. The ...

. *Jeannette L. Tracy, computer programmer and pro-choice and antiwar activist. Member of the Socialist Workers Party.

Results

The top 18 candidates in the preliminary election moved on to the November general election. The top nine candidates in the November election were seated on the city council.

References

{{1979 United States elections City Council election Boston City Council elections Boston City Council election