One of the most outspoken religious leaders of Boston’s black community, Pastor Bruce H. Wall of Global Ministries Christian Church in Codman Square, is considering a campaign for the 13-member Boston City Council, the Phoenix has learned — a move that could involve an explosive and potentially divisive campaign.“I am praying about it,” Wall confirms, adding that his decision will depend on family considerations, fundraising potential, and the support of the four current minority council members — who call themselves “Team Unity.”
That last piece might be a bigger problem than Wall anticipates. While he says that the four councilors — Felix Arroyo, Chuck Turner, Charles Yancey, and Sam Yoon — are considering backing him as a potential fifth member of their progressive bloc, sources close to those councilors suggest otherwise. To be blunt, the self-promoting and sometimes incendiary Wall might be too hot a potato for them.
Wall, an original founder of the Ten Point Coalition, has been openly critical of the city’s response to gun violence. He called for a black police commissioner to replace Kathleen O’Toole, and he recently criticized Menino’s plans for a summer camp for at-risk youth.
Menino and new police commissioner Ed Davis now won’t even meet with him, Wall claims.
Wall would clearly use a city-council run to air his grievances with Menino. “There is a growing erosion between the mayor and the city’s black pastors,” he says. “I’d like to get into City Hall and say to the mayor, ‘You want this budget item? First do this for our children.’ ”
That dynamic would be even juicier if Wall chooses to run in District Five, rather than at-large, which he says he is considering.
District Five covers Hyde Park and parts of Mattapan — and is Menino’s home neighborhood. Wall would be campaigning to unseat councilor Robert Consalvo, widely seen as Menino’s favorite on the council.
If Wall can paint the race as a choice between a well-known African-American representing the community, and a pawn of the mayor, it would put high-profile minorities — particularly the four Team Unity councilors — in a tough spot. Four years ago, Yancey himself successfully used that formula to beat Ego Ezedi.
Of course, District Five is not as minority-heavy as Yancey’s predominantly Dorchester district, and Wall is a divisive figure even within the city’s black community: he is critical of some high-profile leaders who, he says, have become too close to Menino.
But Team Unity would love to have more members to increase its power on the council, say sources close to them — and they have yet to find other candidates willing to run. Will Wall convince them to back his quest? Will Menino go berserk if they do? It could be not only explosive, but highly entertaining.
