Mayoral Hopeful Arroyo Hires Dem. Party Official To Manage Campaign

North End resident Clare Kelly has been named campaign manager for At-Large Boston City Councillor Felix Arroyo, who earlier this month announced plans to run for Boston mayor.

Kelly previously served as field director for Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick's successful 2010 campaign and more recently served as executive director of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, overseeing all of the party's organizing efforts during the 2012 election cycle in Massachusetts, according to a press release from the Felix Arroyo for Mayor campaign. 

"I am thrilled that Clare Kelly has signed on to lead our campaign. She was my first and only choice because she is the best choice. She has impressive grassroots campaign experience and knows that a grassroots effort isn't just a smart way to campaign, it's the right way to campaign," Arroyo, from Jamaica Plain, said in a statement released Wednesday. "As a community organizer, I am thrilled that Clare will oversee our efforts to engage with voters across Boston and ask them to join us in moving Boston forward."

Kelly said in a statement that she is "incredibly excited" to join Arroyo's campaign.

"He is a son of Boston, a community organizer and an experienced public servant with a progressive agenda to move our city forward. He will do the hard work it takes to win and I truly believe he is the best choice to be our next mayor," she said.

Candidates in the race to become Boston's next mayor have until May 21 to submit nomination papers. Each candidate needs at least 3,000 certified signatures by June 25 to get on the ballot for the Sept. 24 preliminary election.

The two candidates with the highest vote totals from the preliminary will go head to head in the November election.

Longtime Boston Mayor Tom Menino announced in late March that he will not run for re-election. 

Since, then at least 10 people have announced their candidacy for mayor, including five city councillors.