November 4, 2009 Flaherty: 'Change takes some time' Play video

(NECN: Dorchester, Mass.) - City Councilor Michael Flaherty was defeated in Boston's mayoral race, falling to incumbent Mayor Thomas Menino, who claimed an unprecedented fifth term as the city's mayor.

Flaherty said he called Mayor Menino earlier Tuesday evening to congratulate him on a well-run campaign, and asked his supporters to give the mayor a round of applause for his unprecedented service to Boston.

Toward the tail end of his concession speech, the city councilor appeared to hint at another run in 2013.

"Your efforts over the last year have shown me that we should do better, we can do better, because Boston deserves better," Flaherty said. "This is not the end -- we have made significant progress, but sadly it was not enough this time."

"What we've learned tonight is that change takes some time," Flaherty said.

Mayor Menino has already held office for 16 1/2 years, longer than any in the city's history. No incumbent has lost the season in 60 years. The last one was James Michael Curley, who was ousted by John Hynes in 1949 after a term interrupted by a five-month federal prison sentence for mail fraud.

Material from The Associated Press used in this report.