Copyright The Boston Globe
She said that those backing her on the council “chose to elevate me to this role, not despite being pregnant, but because of it and [the] lived experience of what that means, of growing a family while serving in public office, I think that makes it even more special for me.” Coletta Zapata has represented East Boston, Charlestown, the North End, and the wharf district on the council since she won a special election in 2022 to succeed her former boss, Lydia Edwards, who successfully ran for a state Senate seat. Coletta Zapata won reelection to a second full term last week, and is the current chair of the council’s powerful government operations committee. She’s also known for being an outspoken supporter of Mayor Michelle Wu’s climate and sustainability initiatives. Despite Coletta Zapata’s claim of support, her colleagues District 4 councilor Brian Worrell and at-large councilor Julia Mejia were not willing to immediately cede the presidency to her. Worrell in particular indicated he intends to pursue and challenge Coletta Zapata for the role during the council’s formal vote in January. Coletta Zapata declined to share the names of her colleagues that are supporting her for the presidency, but said she is backed by “more than a majority.” Coletta Zapata, who lives in East Boston, also said she and her husband, Sebastian Zapata, are thrilled to be preparing to start their family. She intends to take some time off after giving birth, but is unsure about what her timeline for returning to work will look like, or if she will take a formal maternity leave. “My intent is to continue working,” she said. But “like any new parent, I will listen to my doctor and ensure that we’re prioritizing my baby’s health and well-being, and making sure that I’m ready to lead effectively.” She pointed to Wu, who has centered her experience as a mother and caregiver as part of her own political identity and platform. Wu has publicly juggled motherhood and holding elected office, giving birth to her oldest son, Blaise, during her first year on the Boston City Council, and delivered her second son, Cass, during her time as council president. She had her third child, Mira, earlier this year while running for reelection to the mayor’s office. “True progress means that she won’t be the only one,” Coletta Zapata said of Wu, a political ally. “This isn’t just about me, it’s about normalizing what leadership can look like in all forms. . . . You don’t have to choose between family and leadership. You can do both, and you can do them well.” Coletta Zapata also announced that at-large councilor Henry Santana will serve as her vice president. Should she win the presidency, Coletta Zapata would succeed Ruthzee Louijeune, an at-large councilor who has served as president since January 2024. The council president is the ceremonial leader of the body, and presides over its full meetings. The position has the power to designate committee assignments and chairmanships for its 13 members, create new committees, and decide which committees review specific proposals before the body. The council president also fills in as interim mayor if the mayor is out of town or unable to serve, or if the job becomes vacant. While the council formally chooses its next president in January at the start of each two-year term, negotiations over who councilors will back for the job — often in exchange for committee assignments — typically happen well in advance of that vote. Worrell confirmed in a statement to the Globe on Monday that he’s vying for the role. “I’m honored that colleagues have expressed to me that they are nominating me for Council President,” Worrell said, adding that he looks forward to the formal vote on Jan. 5. Mejia had publicly said she, too, intended to seek the presidency, and said in a statement Monday that she was “deeply concerned” about the process. In a separate social media post, she said that “allegedly, someone has already been named the council president.” “I‘m very concerned because I was not spoken to,” Mejia said in the video. “I didn’t know what was going on, so many games are being played behind closed doors, and I didn’t even get invited in.” In her statement to the Globe, Mejia said she will continue to push for “due diligence and transparency” on the issue until the council’s formal vote in January. Coletta Zapata did not directly respond to Worrell or Mejia’s statements, but emphasized that, if elected president, she intends to focus on prioritizing trust and communication in her relationships with her colleagues. She also said she would work with Wu on issues such as housing, education, and climate resilience, despite arguments from some critics that the body has not provided enough of a check on the mayor’s power in recent years. She said there would “be areas where we agree and areas where we don’t.” “Independence is important so that we can provide that layer of accountability, but collaboration, especially in this moment, is also very important,” she said. “It’s really easy to admire a problem,” she added. “It’s harder, but far more meaningful, to roll up our sleeves and do the work together to fix it.”
