Mel King

Former state Rep. and one-time mayoral candidate Mel King endorsing Michael Flaherty in front of City Hall today.

King said the election was about children, of ensuring that the city educates them first before worrying about Globe stories about the state of high-school athletics. He said two-thirds of the children in Boston do not attend public schools, and their parents stop caring about public education. But, quoting Khalil Gibran, he said all children are our children and we can't just leave them to the current "system of low expectations."

Former Mayor Ray Flynn also endorsed Floon, saying they would do more than anybody else to ensure social justice, in part by enforcing a city ordinance calling for the hiring of Boston residents on large construction projects.