Boston City Councilor Michael Flaherty said Wednesday that he will not seek reelection this November.
Flaherty says he will finish out his current term, his 10th on the body.
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"while this decision will come as a surprise to many, I reached it after much deliberation and self-reflection over the past few months, and in close consultation with my wife and family," Flaherty wrote in a statement.
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Flaherty has served the council in an at-large capacity since 2014. Before that, he had a stint as a city councilor between 2000 and 2009, spending five years as council president. In 2009, he ran for the city's top office, losing a challenge to longtime Mayor Tom Menino.
In his statement, the outgoing councilor thanked his friends, supporters and colleagues.
"While I have no present plans to run for another public office, I will remain committed to the causes important to me and hundreds of thousands of other Boston residents," he wrote. "While my time on the City Council may be drawing to a close, I will continue to fight in my own way, in a new way, to help keep Boston the best major city in America in which to live, work, and raise a family."
More on the Boston City Council
Mayor Michelle Wu thanked Flaherty in a tweeted statement Thursday.
"Over these years, I've grown to treasure his friendship, wise counsel & deep loyalty to this City & community," Wu wrote. "Throughout his time in office, he's often been the first voice to champion needed change -- regardless of whether it was popular."
