Bill Linehan

Linehan was born in Boston and is the oldest of eight children. He has been active in politics since his teenage years. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Massachusetts Boston.

Before his election to the City Council, Linehan served as the Director of Operations for the City of Boston's Parks Department and later as the Special Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer of the City of Boston for six years.

Linehan was first elected to the City Council via a special election in May 2007, following the death of Councillor James M. Kelly. Linehan was reelected five times, until announcing in February 2017 that he would not run in the November 2017 election.{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/02/15/councilor-bill-linehan-says-will-not-seek-election/AAHYvBgR64nKidUsYbMKFP/story.html |title=Linehan says he will not seek re-election |first=Meghan E. |last=Irons |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date=February 15, 2017 |access-date=February 19, 2018 |url-access=limited}} Linehan was president of the City Council in 2014 and 2015.

Linehan's district included Downtown Boston, the South End, South Boston and Chinatown.[http://www.cityofboston.gov/citycouncil/councillors/linehan.asp "Bio: Bill Linehan"], City of Boston. Retrieved 2010-03-29.{{cite web | title=Boston City Council District 2. Map| website=bostonplans.org

| url=https://www.bostonplans.org/getattachment/1a9ab4d2-3ee2-4926-b4de-44666191b715 | access-date=7 April 2024}} In both his 2011 and 2013 elections, Linehan only narrowly defeated challenges from Suzanne Lee. These races against a female Asian American challenger from the Chinatown portion of his district were described by Benjamin Swasey of WBUR as having been viewed as contests pitting, "'old Boston' politics against a new, more diverse brand" as well as races that were, "representative of changes in the district itself."

Linehan served as chair of the post-2010 United States Census redistricting process. He faced criticism over a proposal he made to split Chinatown between two separate City Council electoral districts. Critics accused him of leveraging his influence in the process to draw a map that would increase his own electoral fortunes, as this proposal would have removed from his district two Chinatown wards that had voted strongly against him in previous city council elections.{{cite web |last1=Irons |first1=Meghan E. |title=Linehan stands by his council redistricting plan - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2011/11/29/key-councilor-says-final-boston-redistricting-map-will-make-colleagues-uncomfortable/iADEK6R9bF9BdfVJvJRscM/story.html |website=The Boston Globe |access-date=7 April 2023 |date=November 29, 2011}}{{cite web |last1=Bernstein |first1=David S. |title=Boston City Council Candidate Chat: Bill Linehan |url=https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2013/06/28/bill-linehan-candidate-chat/ |website=Boston Magazine |access-date=7 April 2023 |date=28 June 2013}} The map that Linehan proposed was adopted by the City Council, but vetoed by Mayor Thomas Menino. After a failed second attempt, the City Council later approved a third map with amendments by City Councilor Tito Jackson, which Mayor Menino then signed.{{cite web |last1=Dumcius |first1=Gintautas |title=Council approves third redistricting map with 11-2 vote {{!}} Dorchester Reporter |url=https://www.dotnews.com/2012/redistricting-debate-winds-city-council |website=www.dotnews.com |publisher=Dorchester Reporter |access-date=7 April 2023 |language=en |date=October 31, 2012}}{{cite web |last1=Conti |first1=Matt |title=New City Council Redistricting Map Impacts North End / Waterfront; Downtown & Wharf District Joins Southie – NorthEndWaterfront.com |url=http://northendwaterfront.com/2012/11/new-city-council-map-impacts-north-end-waterfront-districting/ |website=northendwaterfront.com |publisher=North End Waterfront |access-date=7 April 2023 |date=November 10, 2012}}

In 2013, Linehan proposed a home rule petition that would have seen Boston ask the state legislature to allow it to impose a 6.25% sales tax on alcoholic beverage purchases at stores with licenses permitting "off-premise" consumption of alcohol sold. He argued that such a tax could fund programs to combat substance abuse.{{cite web |last1=Annear |first1=Steve |title=City Councilor Bill Linehan Wants to Add Tax to Alcohol Purchases |url=https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2013/09/17/city-councilor-bill-linehan-sales-tax-alcohol-boston/ |website=Boston Magazine |access-date=7 April 2023 |date=17 September 2013}} Also in 2013, Linehan proposed legislation to raise the citation given for public smoking of cannabis in city parks to $200.{{cite web |last1=Annear |first1=Steve |title=Boston HempFest 2013: MassCann Rally Will Roll Forward For Two Days |url=https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2013/09/13/boston-hempfest-2013-court-injunction-two-days/ |website=Boston Magazine |access-date=7 April 2023 |date=13 September 2013}} In December of that year, Linehan was the only member of the Boston City Council to vote against advancing a home rule petition authored by Councilor Ayanna Pressley requesting that the state cede its control over the number of liquor licenses in Boston to the Boston Licensing Board.{{cite web |last1=Annear |first1=Steve |title=Boston Could Soon Do Away With Liquor License Cap |url=https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2013/12/18/liquor-license-cap-boston-city-council-vote/ |website=Boston Magazine |access-date=9 July 2023 |date=18 December 2013}}

In 2013, Linehan was one of five Boston city councilors that voted against a successful City Council rule change that effectively allowed for the City Council to effectively discharge from committee a bill that was being stalled in committee.{{cite web |last1=Bernstein |first1=David S. |title=Boston Mayoral Candidates and Their Council Votes |url=https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2013/09/21/mayoral-candidates-council-votes/ |website=Boston Magazine |access-date=7 April 2023 |date=21 September 2013}}

In 2014, Linehan was elected by his fellow councilors to serve as Boston City Council president during his fifth term. At the time, Linehan was regarded to be the council's most conservative member,{{cite web |last1=Kim |first1=Young Jin |title=Michelle Wu, Boston Official, Marches Toward A 'New Boston' |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/michelle-wu-boston-official-marches-toward-new-boston-n562781 |website=NBC News |date=19 May 2016 |access-date=August 30, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=August 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830071247/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/michelle-wu-boston-official-marches-toward-new-boston-n562781 |url-status=live }} and as representative of "old Boston" politics.{{cite web |last1=Swasey |first1=Benjamin |title=Boston Councilor Linehan Won't Seek 6th Term |url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2017/02/15/linehan-no-sixth-term |website=www.wbur.org |publisher=WBUR |access-date=7 April 2023 |language=en |date=February 16, 2017}}

In 2014, Linehan and fellow city councilor Stephen J. Murphy authored an ordinance that would have significantly increase the salaries and pensions of members of the Boston City Council.{{cite web |last1=Bernstein |first1=David S. |title=The Bill Linehan and Steve Murphy Pension-Padding Act of 2014 |url=https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2014/10/09/bill-linehan-steve-murphy-pension-inflation-act-2014/ |website=Boston Magazine |access-date=7 April 2023 |date=9 October 2014}}{{cite web |last1=Ryan |first1=Drew |title=City Council raises would substantially increase pensions - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/10/20/city-council-raises-would-substantially-increase-pensions/dlSrjuS1m71kMFvuC5NBrL/story.html?p1=Article_Inline_Related_Box |website=The Boston Globe |access-date=7 April 2023 |date=October 20, 2014}} Also in 2014, Linehan championed a proposal to rename South Boston's Branch Library for former Massachusetts Senate President William M. Bulger.{{cite web|last1=Fox|first1=Jeremy|title=Trying to put a tribute to William Bulger in the books|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/07/29/council-president-bill-linehan-proposes-naming-south-boston-library-for-william-bulger/72lFuf83h1m0Lw3tDD3bPP/story.html|website=www.bostonglobe.com|publisher=The Boston Globe|access-date=30 July 2014}} Linehan also advocated for increased scrutiny and regulation of ridesharing companies such as Uber and Lyft.{{cite web |last1=Annear |first1=Steve |title=City Official Wants to Talk About Regulating Uber in Boston |url=https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2014/07/29/uber-boston-regulations-hearing/ |website=Boston Magazine |access-date=7 April 2023 |date=29 July 2014}}

On October 18, 2017, Linehan made the surprise move of immediately retiring from the council two months before his term had been set to expire. He endorsed Ed Flynn's campaign to be elected his successor.{{cite web |last1=Valencia |first1=Milton |title=Bill Linehan to leave City Council two months early - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/10/18/bill-linehan-leave-city-council-two-months-early/kimGkZAPX9cqK2QQRyt53I/story.html |website=The Boston Globe |access-date=7 April 2023 |date=October 18, 2017}}{{cite web |last1=Daniel |first1=Seth |last2=Treffeisen |first2=Beth |title=Councilor Linehan Quits Council Abruptly,Endorses Ed Flynn – The Boston Sun |url=https://thebostonsun.com/2017/10/21/councilor-linehan-quits-council-abruptlyendorses-ed-flynn/ |website=thebostonsun.com |access-date=7 April 2023 |date=October 21, 2017}}

Linehan and his wife, Judy, have four children and six grandchildren.

{{dagger}} write-in votes

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite news |url=https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2013/06/28/bill-linehan-candidate-chat/ |title=Candidate Chat: Bill Linehan |first=David S. |last=Bernstein |website=Boston |date=June 28, 2013 |access-date=February 21, 2018}}
• {{citation |url=http://www.commonwealthmagazine.org/The-Download/777-Linehan-What-the-f.aspx |work=Commonwealth Magazine |title=Linehan: What the F? |date=September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006102109/http://www.commonwealthmagazine.org/The-Download/777-Linehan-What-the-f.aspx |archive-date=2014-10-06 }}
• "Linehan's name game". The Boston Globe. November 22, 2014.
• Irons, Meghan E. and Ryan, Andrew. "Council head now says raise can wait: Before expected vote, Linehan cites ethics panel advice". The Boston Globe. October 7, 2014.
• Ryan, Andrew. "Linehan proposes 29% raise for City Council". The Boston Globe. September 16, 2014.
• "Linehan stirs up resentments with proposal to honor Bulger". The Boston Globe. August 15, 2014.
• Baker, Billy. "Linehan to skip St. Patrick's parade: City Council leader invited to Ireland". The Boston Globe. February 13, 2014.
• Irons, Meghan E. "Linehan elected council president". The Boston Globe. January 7, 2014.
• Irons, Meghan E. "Linehan poised to take council reins: Appears to have secured backers". The Boston Globe. December 10, 2013.
• Irons, Meghan E. "Linehan, Lee: The rematch: Incumbent city councilor talks up his accomplishments as a 'persistent' rival aims to finish what she began 2 years ago". The Boston Globe. October 24, 2013.
• Irons, Meghan E. "Councilor Bill Linehan pulls out of District 2 debate". The Boston Globe. October 24, 2013.
• {{citation |url=http://www.commonwealthmagazine.org/The-Download/554-Linehans-total-isolation.aspx |work=Commonwealth Magazine |title=Linehan's total isolation |date=October 2013 |access-date=2014-10-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006065228/http://www.commonwealthmagazine.org/The-Download/554-Linehans-total-isolation.aspx |archive-date=2014-10-06 |url-status=dead }}
• Ryan, Andrew. "Song in back pocket, Linehan steps up: Councilor warily prepares for a St. Patrick's Day tradition in Boston". The Boston Globe. March 16, 2013.
• Cassidy, Chris. "Linehan sings praises for St. Pat's Day fest". McClatchy - Tribune Business News . February 17, 2013.
• Irons, Meghan E. "Linehan stands by his council redistricting plan". The Boston Globe. November 29, 2011.
• MacQuarrie, Brian. "Linehan keeps District 2 seat in recount: But councilor's redistricting plan draws fire". The Boston Globe. November 24, 2011.
• Wedge, Dave. "Bill Linehan, recount behind him, vows more focus on schools". McClatchy - Tribune Business News . November 24, 2011.
• Ryan, Andrew. "Linehan is facing his first challenge". The Boston Globe. September 26, 2011.
• Van Sack, Jessica. "Southie reigns supreme ; Linehan captures Kelly seat". Boston Herald. May 16, 2007.
• Matt Viser. [http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/05/12/shoe_leather_makes_it_a_race/ Shoe leather makes it a race]. Boston Globe, May 12, 2007
• Slack, Donovan. "Passoni, Linehan reshift focus - Begin groundwork for council seat". The Boston Globe. April 19, 2007.
• Slack, Donovan. "Passoni, Linehan top race for council". The Boston Globe. April 18, 2007.
• Johnson, O'Ryan. "Passoni, Linehan to battle for council seat". Boston Herald. April 18, 2007.

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090414221755/http://billlinehanforcitycouncil.com/ City of Boston], official Boston City Councillors website
• Universal Hub. [http://www.universalhub.com/taxonomy/term/1924 Various articles about Linehan]

{{S-start}}

{{succession box |before =Stephen J. Murphy |title =President of the Boston City Council |years=2014–2015 |after =Michelle Wu}}

{{S-end}}

{{Presidents of the Boston City Council|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Linehan, Bill}}

Category:Presidents of the Boston City Council

Category:People from South End, Boston

Category:People from South Boston

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Living people

Category:Massachusetts Democrats