Althea Garrison Explained

Althea Garrison
Office:Member of the Boston City Council
At-Large
Term Start:January 9, 2019
Term End:January 6, 2020
Predecessor:Ayanna Pressley
Successor:Julia Mejia
Office1:Member of the
Massachusetts House of Representatives
from the 5th Suffolk District
Term Start1:1993
Term End1:1995
Predecessor1:Nelson Merced
Successor1:Charlotte Golar Richie
Birth Date:October 7, 1940
Birth Place:Hahira, Georgia
Nationality:American
Occupation:Human Resources
Politician
Residence:Dorchester, Boston, Massachusetts
Party:Independent (1988, 2000, 2008, 2012-2015; 2017-present)
Democratic (1982–1986, 1998–1999, 2010–2012)
Republican (1990–1996, 2002–2006, 2016)
Alma Mater:Newbury Junior College
Suffolk University
Lesley College

Althea Garrison (born October 7, 1940)[1] is an American politician from Boston, Massachusetts who previously served a single term in the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1993–1995) and a partial term as an at-large councilor on the Boston City Council (2019–2020). She is considered the earliest transgender person known to have been elected to a state legislature in the United States.[2] [3] She was outed against her will by the Boston Herald after her 1992 election. She is a perennial candidate, having been an unsuccessful candidate for political office more than forty times.

In her only successful campaign, Garrison won election as a Republican to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1992. She served one term from 1993 to 1995, losing her bid for reelection in 1994. Both before and after this, she has run for office many other times. Her campaigns have seen her run under different party affiliations, varyingly running as Republican, a Democrat, and an independent.[4] [5] Garrison, in the 2010s, described her political ideology as "independent conservative".

Garrison served as an at-large member of the Boston City Council from January 2019 to January 2020 due to a vacancy left by Ayanna Pressley's election to the United States House of Representatives. Because Garrison was the next-place finisher in the 2017 Boston City Council election, Boston City Charter rules gave Garrison the right of first refusal to assume the seat vacated by Pressley.[6] Garrison lost her bid for re-election in November 2019.[7]

Background

Born in Hahira, Georgia,[1] as the youngest of seven children,[8] [9] [10] Garrison attended Hahira High School there.[1] Garrison moved to Boston to attend beauty school,[9] but went on to enroll in Newbury Junior College and received an associate degree there.[1] [9] Garrison later received a B.S. degree in administration from Suffolk University, an M.S. degree in management from Lesley College, and a certificate in special studies in administration and management from Harvard University.[1] [11]

According to records in the Suffolk County Probate Court, Garrison petitioned for a name change to Althea Garrison in 1976.[12] The petition stated that the name Althea Garrison "is consistent with petitioner's appearance and medical condition and is the name by which he will be known in the future."[12] [13]

Besides her one term in the Massachusetts House, Garrison has worked as a clerk in human resources for the Massachusetts state comptroller's office, where she used her vacation time to run for office. She served for four years on the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.

Political career

Early years

In 1982 and 1986, Garrison ran unsuccessfully for the Massachusetts House of Representatives as a Democrat.[14] She ran unsuccessfully for Boston City Council in 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, and 1991. During the 1991 campaign, the Boston Herald noted that she had run for office nine times,[15] although Garrison herself later described the race as her 10th or 11th bid for office.[16] In the 1991 race, Garrison finished in third place in the District 7 preliminary election.[17]

Massachusetts House

In 1992, Garrison ran successfully for the 5th Suffolk district in the Massachusetts House, representing the Dorchester and Roxbury areas of Boston. Garrison's 1992 election to the legislature was made possible in part by the fact that she challenged some of the signatures that the then-incumbent representative, Nelson Merced, had submitted to qualify for the Democratic primary ballot. Her challenge was successful and meant that Garrison did not have to run against an incumbent in the general election.[8] In the general election, Garrison defeated Democratic candidate Irene Roman, 2,451 votes to 2,014.[18]

The fact that Garrison had been formerly known as a male was not widely publicized until shortly after she was elected to the legislature.[8] [12] When the Boston Herald asked whether she was a man, Garrison denied it and ended the conversation when asked about her past, including her name change.[12] [19]

In the Massachusetts House, Garrison consistently voted in favor of labor unions, resulting in her being endorsed for re-election by the Massachusetts AFL-CIO[20] and eight unions.[14] On many votes, she voted with the Democrats in the legislature rather than with the Republicans.[14] However, she opposed same-sex marriage and abortion.

Garrison was defeated in her 1994 bid for re-election by Democratic nominee Charlotte Golar Richie by a margin of 2,108 votes to 1,718.[21]

Unsuccessful bids for office

Garrison has run for office at least 44 times, all but once unsuccessfully.

Offices sought (summary table)
Office Elections run Primary election campaigns General election campaigns
Massachusetts House style=text-align:center19 15 campaigns, 5 successes
9 Democratic primaries
6 Republican primaries (5 successes)
11 campaigns, 1 victory
(Republican nominee 6x, independent candidate 5x)
Massachusetts Senate style=text-align:center4 3 campaigns, 2 successes
2 Republican primaries
2 campaigns
(Republican nominee 2x)
Boston mayor
(nonpartisan)
style=text-align:center1 1 campaign
Boston City Council at-large council seat
(nonpartisan)
style=text-align:center10 9 campaigns, 7 successes
(note: 2017 election lacked a primary)
8 campaigns
Boston City Council district-constituency seat
(nonpartisan)
style=text-align:center8 8 campaigns, 2 successes 3 campaigns
(2x on ballot, 1x as a write-in)
Suffolk County Register of Probate style=text-align:center1 1 campaign
(independent candidate 1x)
Republican State Committeewoman style=text-align:center1 1 campaign

Boston City Council tenure

Garrison took the at-large seat of former councillor Ayanna Pressley on the Boston City Council, as Pressley left the City Council following her November 2018 election to Congress from Massachusetts's 7th congressional district.[22] City rules require that vacancies for the at-large council seats are filled by the next-placed candidate in the previous election, which was Garrison in November 2017.[23] Garrison was sworn in on January 9, 2019.[24] [25] Garrison claimed that she had, despite ideological differences, supported Pressley's campaign for the House of Representatives with the knowledge that, if Pressley were elected, Garrison would have the opportunity to be Pressley's City Council successor by virtue of her own finish in the previous city council election.

Garrison differed ideologically from the rest of the city councilors. She was noted to be the only strong conservative on the Boston City Council. She was noted to be a strong supporter of then-president Donald Trump and an ardent backer of the Boston Police Department.[26] Around the time she joined the Boston City Council, Garrison described herself as an "independent conservative".[27] She once explained, "I'm basically a conservative, but I also have some liberal ideas," and also explained, "I am a conservative, I am independent also," calling herself "a Black conservative."[28] In a separate instance, she described herself and her voter base as being "moderate to conservative". She described her views as more closely aligned with the Republican Party than the Democratic Party.

As a city councilor, Garrison supported reviving rent control in the city.[29] [30] In April 2019, she introduced a home rule petition for the city to seek state permission to reinstate rent control in the city. The petition was heavily criticized by many fellow city council members.[30] [31] She also voiced support for eviction control and price controls related to development. Garrison was supportive of the controversial "Operation Clean Sweep" effort by the police in August 2019 which saw 34 arrests in a two-day period in the so-called "Methadone Mile".[30] Garrison proposed a pro-police resolution in the aftermath of Super Happy Fun America's 2019 "Straight Pride Parade" and unrest that occurred related to it.[32] [33] Garrison opposed a proposal by Councilor Michelle Wu to generate revenue by imposing fees for residential parking permits. While believing that planning and development needed to be "community based", Garrison dismissed a proposal by Councilor Wu to abolish the current Boston Planning and Development Agency as merely being a ploy for reelection by Wu.[34]

In late-February 2019, Garrison proposed a measure to hold a hearing on the possibility of withholding city payments to the MBTA over the state of its service. At the time, the MBTA was proposing divisive fare increases. The measure was signed-onto by a majority of councilors. Councilor Michelle Wu had introduced a similar measure the year prior.[35]

Boston City Councilors can invite local religious leaders to deliver the City Council's convocation.[36] In her first turn to select the convocation, Garrison invited pastor and right-wing perennial candidate Roy Owens. Owens is vocally anti-LGBT.[36] [37]

Garrison was a candidate for re-election in the November 2019 election, but finished seventh in the general election field of eight candidates.[38] In that election, she had urged voters to unseat the three other three sitting at-large city councilors (Michael F. Flaherty, Annissa Essaibi George, and Michelle Wu), and urged voters to "bullet vote" by casting a vote only for her in the at-large councilor column instead of voting for multiple (up to four) candidates.[34]

In December 2019, the lame duck Garrison was one of only three city councilors to vote against a home rule petition requesting that the state allow the city to impose a real estate transfer tax.[39]

Personal life

Garrison is a transgender woman. After being outed by the Boston Herald in 1992, Garrison did not publicly discuss her gender identity until 2023, when she shared that she identifies as trans and had begun the process of socially and medically transitioning in the 1960s.[40] Before 2023, despite it being public knowledge that she was transgender, Garrison avoided publicly discussing the topic of her being a transgender individual,[41] and had not publicly identified herself as being transgender; merely identifying herself as a woman, without any further elaboration.[28]

Garrison is known not to embrace the use of technology,[42] remarking in 2018, "I don't do computers, I don't do technology."[28]

Garrison is also seen as adverse to granting the news media access to herself, with Quincy Walters of WBUR writing in a 2018 profile,

Electoral history

Boston mayor

2001 Boston mayoral election
CandidatesPreliminary Election[43] General Election
Votes%Votes%
Thomas Menino (incumbent)31,71573.3768,01176.06
Peggy Davis-Mullen9,95823.0421,39323.93
Althea Garrison1,5523.59

Boston City Council

1983 Boston City Council at-large election
Candidates[44] Preliminary Election[45] [46] General Election[47]
Votes%Votes%
Michael J. McCormack (incumbent)52,31512.3%87,143
Christopher A. Iannella (incumbent)66,64715.6%85,204
Joseph M. Tierney (incumbent)62,85014.7%82,600
Dapper O'Neil (incumbent)64,41015.1%79,086
Terence P. McDermott (incumbent)61,43614.4%77,096
Jean Sullivan McKeigue48,26511.3%73,064
Willie Mae Allen21,3695.0%32,556
Althea Garrison19,9084.7%26,564
Joseph Mirisola14,9143.5% 
Leslie F. Payne14,1993.3% 
1985 Boston City Council at-large election
Candidates[48] Preliminary Election[49] General Election[50]
Votes%Votes%
Dapper O'Neil (incumbent)22,79236,686
Joseph M. Tierney (incumbent)17,01434,427
Christopher A. Iannella (incumbent)19,18333,883
Michael J. McCormack (incumbent)17,32927,976
Frederick C. Langone16,90026,365
Michael W. Kane10,01817,175
Willie Mae Allen626812,533
Althea Garrison35656402
Kenneth C. Davis2130 
John P. Scialdone1588 
Richard A. Black972 
Little L. Pittman808 
Edward P. Malik723 
1987 Boston City Council at-large election
Candidates[51] Preliminary Election[52] General Election[53]
Votes%Votes%
Dapper O'Neil (incumbent)29,05247,817
Christopher A. Iannella (incumbent)23,90645,472
Rosaria Salerno19,34639,089
Michael J. McCormack (incumbent)16,79336,326
Joseph W. Casper15,69432,548
Frederick C. Langone19,52130,447
Michael W. Kane13,67827,573
Stephen J. Murphy13,30922,744
Kevin A. McCluskey11,431 
Althea Garrison6669 
Edward T. Kelley5123 
David J. McKay4198 
1989 Boston City Council at-large election
Candidates[54] Preliminary Election[55] General Election[56]
Votes%Votes%
Dapper O'Neil (incumbent)21,76440,106
Christopher A. Iannella (incumbent)20,14238,357
Rosaria Salerno (incumbent)19,47835,654
Michael J. McCormack (incumbent)19,07331,170
John A. Nucci14,64630,466
John N. Flanagan13,67622,359
Joseph W. Casper10,10318,069
Althea Garrison504211,281
Glenn Fiscus2365 
1991 Boston City Council district 7 election
Candidates[57] Preliminary Election[58] General Election[59]
Votes%Votes%
Anthony Crayton8363129
Roy A. Owens9742314
Althea Garrison703 
Ben Haith691 
James A. West666 
Hattie Dudley395 
Natalie E. Carithers211 
1995 Boston City Council district 7 election
Candidates[60] Preliminary Election[61] General Election[62]
Votes%Votes%
Gareth R. Saunders (incumbent)12622361
Althea Garrison5531441
Roy A. Owens254 
Moses E. Wilson Jr.209 
1997 Boston City Council district 7 election
Candidates[63] Preliminary Election[64] General Election[65]
Votes%Votes%
Gareth R. Saunders (incumbent)8512278
Althea Garrison3601430
Roy A. Owens349 
Anthony Crayton341 
Robert L. Terrell200 
1999 Boston City Council district 7 election
Candidates[66] Preliminary Election[67] General Election[68]
Votes%Votes%
Chuck Turner11532419
Tracy Litthcut5901726
Julio Henriquez339 
Roy A. Owens314 
Althea Garrison282 
Anthony Crayton255 
Hassan Ali Williams122 
Richard Masterson115 
Scotland Willis70 
Kenneth Yarbrough65 
Roger Garvin51 
Thelma Barros47 
2003 Boston City Council at-large election
Candidates[69] Preliminary Election[70] [71] General Election[72] [73]
Votes%Votes%
Michael F. Flaherty (incumbent)20,30718.2136,38718.33
Felix D. Arroyo (incumbent)14,37912.8934,68517.48
Maura Hennigan (incumbent)15,91614.2733,59616.93
Stephen J. Murphy (incumbent)17,59715.7830,51015.37
Patricia H. White16,43914.7429,64914.94
Matt O'Malley7,0256.3012,9296.51
Althea Garrison5,0504.5310,5245.30
Roy Owens4,3563.9110,2045.14
Jacquelyne Payne-Thompson2,7232.44 
Phyllis Yetman Igoe1,9401.74 
Edward Puglielli1,7051.53 
Laura Garza1,6041.44 
Arthur "Lucky" Craffey1,5941.43 
Joseph Anthony Ureneck9070.81 
2005 Boston City Council at-large election
CandidatesPreliminary Election[74] General Election[75]
Votes%Votes%
Michael F. Flaherty (incumbent)17,82813.9049,22017.58
Felix D. Arroyo (incumbent)15,69012.2343,53315.55
Sam Yoon13,16510.2741,89114.96
Stephen J. Murphy (incumbent)14,09410.99 35,55312.70
John R. Connolly14,28711.1431,62911.30
Matt O'Malley12,0709.4128,31810.12
Patricia H. White12,89510.0526,9999.64
Edward M. Flynn11,0928.6521,7787.78
Althea Garrison48243.76 
Kevin R. Mccrea36612.85 
Roy Owens36222.82 
Laura Garza18071.41 
Gregory Joseph O'Connell11740.92 
Martin J. Hogan10310.80 
Joseph Ready6750.53 
Joseph Ureneck170.011330.05
Gibran Rivera170.01 
all others2970.238740.31
write-in votes
2009 Boston City Council district 7 election
CandidatesPreliminary Election[76] General Election[77]
Votes%Votes%
Chuck Turner (incumbent)3,64852.575,52159.83
Carlos Henriquez 1,65923.913,64439.49
Althea Garrison99514.34
Roy Owens6108.79
2011 Boston City Council district 7 election
CandidatesPreliminary Election[78] General Election[79]
Votes%Votes%
Tito Jackson (incumbent)1,87676.074,81884.35
Sheneal Parker 27311.0779913.99
Althea Garrison2168.76470.82
Roy Owens853.45
all others160.65480.84
Total2,4661005,712100
write-in votes
2013 Boston City Council at-large election
CandidatesPreliminary Election[80] General Election[81]
Votes%Votes%
Ayanna Pressley (incumbent)42,91516.7160,79918.30
Michelle Wu29,38411.4459,74117.98
Michael F. Flaherty39,90415.5455,10416.59
Stephen J. Murphy (incumbent)31,72812.35 44,99313.54
Annissa Essaibi George12,2444.7730,5389.19
Jeffrey Michael Ross13,9395.4328,8798.69
Martin J. Keogh15,7436.1326,5007.98
Jack F. Kelly III11,9094.6423,9677.22
Catherine M. O'Neill10,9524.26 
Althea Garrison10,2684.00 
Ramon Soto99283.87 
Philip Arthur Frattaroli58322.27 
Gareth R. Saunders53632.09 
Christopher J. Conroy34331.34 
Seamus M. Whelan31181.21 
Francisco L. White27451.07 
Douglas D. Wohn23820.93 
Frank John Addivinola Jr.22400.87 
Keith B. Kenyon19500.76 
Jamarhl Crawford210.01 
all others8320.3216580.50
write-in votes
2015 Boston City Council district 7 election
CandidatesPreliminary Election[82] General Election[83]
Votes%Votes%
Tito Jackson (incumbent)140966.40298366.64
Charles L. Clemons Jr.38117.95144432.26
Haywood Fennell Sr.1044.90 
Althea Garrison984.62160.36
Roy Owens743.49 
Kevin A. Dwire341.60 
all others221.04330.74
write-in votes
2019 Boston at-large City Council election
CandidatePrimary election[84] General election[85]
Votes%Votes%
Michelle Wu (incumbent) 26,62219.4141,66420.73
Annissa Essaibi George (incumbent)18,99313.8534,10916.97
Michael F. Flaherty (incumbent)18,76613.6833,28416.56
Julia Mejia10,7997.8722,49211.19
Alejandra Nicole St. Guillen 11,9108.6822,49111.19
Erin J. Murphy9,3856.8416,8678.39
Althea Garrison (incumbent)9,7207.0916,1898.05
David Halbert6,3544.7613,2146.57
Martin Marty Keogh6,246 4.55 
Jeffrey Michael Ross5,078 3.70 
Priscilla E. Flint-Banks4,0942.98 
Domingos DaRosa2,8402.07 
Michel Denis2,1081.54 
William A. King1,8091.32 
Herb Alexander Lozano1,5101.10  
all others7660.567040.35
2021 Boston City Council at-large election
CandidatePrimary election[86] General election[87]
Votes%Votes%
Michael F. Flaherty (incumbent)41,50915.0062,60217.42
Julia Mejia (incumbent)38,91914.0762,05817.27
Ruthzee Louijeune33,54612.1254,89815.28
Erin J. Murphy22,9388.2943,07611.99
David Halbert17,0126.1542,76511.90
Carla B. Monteiro18,9116.8339,87611.10
Bridget M. Nee-Walsh15,1915.4927,5917.68
Althea Garrison16,9066.1125,0786.98
Kelly F. Bates127874.62 
Alexander J. Gray11,3204.09 
Jon M. Spillane11,2174.05 
Said A. Abdikarim7,7672.81 
Domingos Darosa7,0112.53 
Donnie Dionico Palmer Jr.6,8612.48 
Roy A. Owens Sr.5,2651.90 
James Rignald Colimon4,6931.70 
Nick Vance3,9681.43 
Write-ins8730.321,3500.38

Republican State Committee Woman

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Book: 1993–1994 Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts . O'Neill . MacQueen . Robert E. . 1993 . General Court of Massachusetts . Boston . 132 . October 20, 2010.
  2. Book: Eaklor, Vicki L. . Queer America: A GLBT History of the 20th Century . 2008 . Greenwood Press . Westport, Conn. . 978-0-313-33749-9 . 212 . October 20, 2010 . The nineties also saw the first openly transgender person in a state office, Althea Garrison, elected in 1992 but serving only one term in Massachusetts' House..
  3. Book: Haider-Markel, Donald P. . Out and Running: Gay and Lesbian Candidates, Elections, and Policy Representation . 2010 . Georgetown University Press . Washington, D.C. . 978-1-58901-699-6 . 86 . October 20, 2010.
  4. News: On primary day, they'll elect to not vote . Marc . Larocque . The Boston Globe . February 3, 2008 . October 20, 2010.
  5. News: Reporter's Notebook: An endorsement, and another Fifth Suffolk write-in campaign . Dumcius . Gintautus . Dorchester Reporter . October 7, 2010 . October 20, 2010.
  6. News: Valencia . Milton . The Boston Globe . Finally, Althea Garrison will be a city councilor . September 6, 2018 . December 20, 2018 .
  7. Web site: City of Boston – Unofficial Results – UPDATED November 5, 2019 – Municipal Election. November 13, 2019. City of Boston. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191219202928/https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/embed/u/unofficial_race_totals_for_november_5_2019_-_updated.pdf . December 19, 2019 . November 29, 2019.
  8. News: The compulsive candidate: What makes Althea Garrison run? . Adam . Reilly . The Boston Phoenix . September 23, 2005 . October 20, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100205085413/http://bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/other_stories/multi-page/documents/04985020.asp . February 5, 2010 . dead .
  9. News: Garrison Undeterred by Long Odds . Sarah . Schweitzer . The Boston Globe . September 21, 2001 . B1, B14 . 2023-01-15 . Newspapers.com.
  10. Web site: Althea Garrison finally takes her seat on the Boston City Council – The Boston Globe. Levenson. Michael. January 10, 2019. BostonGlobe.com. Boston Globe. 2019-01-10.
  11. News: Race for City Council: Althea Garrison . The Boston Globe . B2 . September 4, 1999 . 2023-01-15 . Newspapers.com.
  12. News: New state rep leaves questions about past life unanswered . Eric . Fehrnstrom . The Boston Herald . November 5, 1992 . 29.
  13. News: Lawton best choice in 5th District race . Wayne . Woodlief . The Boston Herald . May 27, 1999 . 35 . https://archive.today/20120713-041542/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/41929773.html?dids=41929773:41929773&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+27,+1999&author=Wayne+Woodlief&pub=Boston+Herald&desc=OP-ED;+Lawton+best+choice+in+5th+District+race&pqatl=google . 2012-07-13 . dead . 2023-01-15.
  14. News: Garrison hopes to show win no fluke: Faces tough fight from Golar Richie to keep 5th Suffolk seat . Michael . Kenney . The Boston Globe . October 9, 1994 . 1.
  15. News: Most talked about pol in Dist. 7 running a different race . Andrea . Estes . Boston Herald . September 18, 1991 . 10.
  16. News: Crop of young up-&-coming pols keep tradition alive . Howie . Carr . Howie Carr . Boston Herald . October 9, 1991 . 12.
  17. News: Perennial Owens wins chance at Bolling seat . Andrea . Estes . Boston Herald . September 25, 1991 . 8.
  18. News: Hub voters break tradition & elect Republican state rep . Laura . Brown . Boston Herald . November 5, 1992 . 10.
  19. Web site: Osberg. Molly. The Tragic Story of Althea Garrison, the First Trans Person to Hold State Office in America. Splinter. January 19, 2018. November 8, 2017.
  20. News: Rumors don't undermine Garrison's power . Boston Herald . August 15, 1994 . 14.
  21. News: '95's new looks for Beacon Hill . Michael . Kenney . The Boston Globe . November 13, 1994 . 4.
  22. Web site: Congresswoman-Elect Ayanna Pressley, the City Council will Miss You! . boston.gov . December 7, 2018 . January 3, 2019.
  23. News: Finally, Althea Garrison will be a city councillor . Boston Globe . September 6, 2018 . September 6, 2018 . limited.
  24. Web site: Althea Garrison. Boston.gov. January 10, 2019. 2019-01-12.
  25. Web site: Althea Garrison Is Sworn-In To Boston City Council . www.wbur.org . WBUR . 18 April 2023 . en . January 9, 2019.
  26. Web site: Carr . Howie . Boston City Council's only conservative, Althea Garrison, wrangles for re-election . Boston Herald . 15 September 2021 . 21 September 2019.
  27. Web site: 78-Year-Old Conservative Althea Garrison Replaces Ayanna Pressley in Boston City Council . NBC Boston . 15 September 2021 . January 9, 2019.
  28. Web site: Walters . Quincy . Doing It 'Her Way': Althea Garrison Finds Herself On The Verge Of Public Office Again . www.wbur.org . 11 November 2022 . en . September 13, 2018.
  29. Web site: Valencia . Milton J. . April 12 . Updated . In City Council debate over rent control, the old guard faces the new class – The Boston Globe . The Boston Globe . 4 October 2021 . April 12, 2019.
  30. Web site: Gavin . Christopher . 'I am the independent candidate': Althea Garrison takes swings at fellow city councilors at forum . www.boston.com . 11 November 2022 . October 10, 2019.
  31. Web site: Gavin . Christopher . A rent control battle is brewing on the Boston City Council . www.boston.com . 11 November 2022 . April 11, 2019.
  32. Web site: Cotter . Sean Phillip . Council clashes over resolution supporting Hub cops following Straight Pride Parade . Boston Herald . 20 November 2022 . 11 September 2019.
  33. Web site: Thompson . Isaiah . Boston Councilor Proposes Banning Masks At Protests . WGBH . 20 November 2022 . en . 11 September 2019.
  34. Web site: Trojano . Katie . Garrison: Vote just for me, not any of the others Dorchester Reporter . www.dotnews.com . Dorchester Reporter . 29 July 2023 . en . October 24, 2019.
  35. Web site: Lisinski . Chris . Boston councilors want hearing on withholding payments to MBTA . WCVB . 29 July 2023 . 28 February 2019.
  36. Web site: Satanists can't get an invitation to lead the Boston City Council in a convocation, but one virulent homophobe can . Universal Hub . https://web.archive.org/web/20190307080304/https://www.universalhub.com/2019/satanists-cant-get-invite-open-boston-city-council . March 7, 2019 . March 6, 2019.
  37. Web site: Bedford . Tori . Boston Council Race Pits Trailblazer Against Perennial Candidate . www.wgbh.org . WGBH . 10 April 2023 . en . 27 October 2021.
  38. Web site: BOSTON MUNICIPAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 2019 . boston.gov . October 3, 2016 . November 5, 2019.
  39. Web site: Brown . Sarah . Boston City Council Approves Real Estate Transfer Fee – NorthEndWaterfront.com . NorthEndWaterfront.com . 29 July 2023 . December 16, 2019.
  40. Web site: Sosin . Kate . 2023-10-19 . After 30 years of silence, Althea Garrison is claiming her place in LGBTQ+ history . 2023-10-29 . The 19th . en-us.
  41. Web site: Media Faces A Delicate Issue In Covering Boston City Councilor Althea Garrison . News . 10 November 2022 . en . 11 January 2019.
  42. Web site: Haynes . Crystal . Althea Garrison sworn in, fills City Council seat vacated by Ayanna Pressley . Boston 25 News . 18 April 2023 . en . 9 January 2019.
  43. Web site: Election Results. Cityofboston.gov. The City of Boston. 5 June 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110907221710/http://www.cityofboston.gov/elections/search/default.asp. 7 September 2011.
  44. News: Candidates as They Appear on the Ballot . October 10, 1983 . . 17 . 2023-01-15 . Newspapers.com.
  45. News: Final Results of Boston Preliminary Election for Councilor At-Large; 2 Years . October 12, 1983 . . 1 . 2023-01-15 . Newspapers.com.
  46. News: 5 Incumbents Top At-Large Council Race . October 12, 1983 . . 28 . Robert A. . Jordan . 2023-01-15 . Newspapers.com.
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