Ruthzee Louijeune announces she will be Boston City Council president without informing colleagues

Two days after topping the ticket in the election, Ruthzee Louijeune announced that she has the votes to become the Boston City Council’s next president, but didn’t tell at least five of her colleagues first, leaving at least two questioning her professionalism.

Louijeune, an attorney who worked as senior counsel for Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign, would assume her new role in January if her colleagues’ vote ultimately swings in her favor, in just her second term as an at-large councilor.  She needs seven votes from the 13-member body.

“I am humbled that my colleagues believe in me to lead the Boston City Council in the next term,” Louijeune said in a Thursday statement. “We have a lot of work to do when it comes to meeting the basic needs of residents and it’s clear that is what our communities want us to focus on.

“I look forward to strengthening relationships and building relationships with my colleagues joining in January,” she added.

District 4 Councilor Brian Worrell, who according to multiple sources was also seeking the City Council presidency in past weeks, said in a statement that he would instead become vice president.

“I’m proud to support our new Council President Ruthzee Louijeune as not only an amazing colleague, but an incredible friend,” Worrell said in a statement included in a press release distributed by Louijeune’s office.

The announcement hit the media before Louijeune told at least five of her colleagues that she had secured the seven votes needed to become the body’s next president. After the story was shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, Louijeune then began calling those colleagues, said two city councilors who agreed to speak on background.

Council President Ed Flynn, Councilors Tania Fernandes Anderson, Julia Mejia and Erin Murphy, and Councilor-elect John FitzGerald were left in the dark, the councilors said, noting that the decision pointed to arrogance on Louijeune’s part.

“I’m disappointed to learn about it in the media,” one councilor said. “A lot of us learned about it in the media once she got her seven votes. She went public with it. She didn’t bother engaging the other colleagues.”

The councilor said the decision to exclude certain colleagues was a “lousy way to do business” and start off her presidency.

‘Yes’ votes were attained through committee assignment promises, which is typical of the process of seeking the council presidency, a councilor said, noting that Louijeune likely has the votes of the three new Mayor Wu-backed councilors elected Tuesday, Henry Santana, Enrique Pepén and Benjamin Weber.

Louijeune did not respond to a request for comment on her colleagues’ remarks.

The way this particular announcement was made was atypical, however, particularly in not informing the outgoing Council president, a councilor said.

“It’s unprofessional of Ruthzee to do that, but I guess that’s what we’re going to expect from her, just the ongoing arrogance of her conduct,” one councilor said, while another added that it demonstrated “poor leadership” and kept the Council “divided.”

The blowback is in direct contrast with statements of support Louijeune solicited from two of her other colleagues, who were both quoted in her press release, and remarks she made about her desire to bring a divided City Council together.

“Ruthzee is the steady and competent leader ready to take the gavel as Council president,” Councilor Gabriela Coletta said. “She’s demonstrated the decisiveness to lead this body through difficult and complex situations.”

“I’m confident in her abilities, intelligence, and more importantly, her heart,” Coletta added.

Worrell said, “I’m honored to serve as vice president of the Council and I look forward to working closely with her and the Council to best serve our city. The diversity of our leadership team is a great sign of the progress and potential of our city.”

The Council president holds the responsibility to make key decisions on committee assignments, lead Council proceedings, and set a culture for the body as a whole, a press release from Louijeune’s office states.

Council rules dictate that the presidency be limited to a 2-year term.

Louijeune noted that her experience, “as the second Black woman to top the ticket and the third Black person to lead the Council,” and “deep love” for the city will prove beneficial to her new role.

She narrowly edged Murphy, by half a percentage point, to top the ticket.

“We are a city of diverse people and diverse needs,” Louijeune said. “We will not always agree, but we can come together to move this city forward and meet the pressing issues we are facing with joy, collegiality, and an unwavering work ethic on behalf of those who are often excluded.”