Mayoral candidates on eve of preliminary election

(NECN: Scot Yount, Boston, Mass.) – The final push for Boston’s mayoral hopefuls ahead of Tuesday’s preliminary municipal election. Mayor Tom Menino is being challenged by city councilors Sam Yoon and Michael Flaherty, and developer Kevin McCrea. That field will be trimmed to two following Tuesday’s election. Menino is the longest serving and one of the most popular mayors in the city’s history. But Thomas M. Menino is facing serious challenges. His opponents argue the mayor has been in office too long and has too much power, the latest evidence they say is a city official deleting scores of city emails. “I look at these charges and make a decision on them and I will continue to lead this city with the people of Boston, it is not just about the mayor it is about the people of our city working together,” Mayor Menino said. Councilor-at-large Michael Flaherty is in the final push before the primary in Jamaica Plain. “Anything can happen,” Flaherty said. “I think there’s an appetite for new leadership.” In fact, it has been the campaign mantra of Menino’s three challengers, each trying to unseat the mayor from taking an unprecedented fifth term. City councilor Sam Yoon is facing long odds. “We are in it to win it. I just hear from people all across the city who are ready for change,” Yoon said. South end businessman Kevin Mccrea is the least well known of the four seeking the top seat at City Hall. The self made millionaire is convinced; however, that his recent televised debate performances have given him a boost. “People are coming up to me on the street, they been coming up to me telling me that I’ve got their vote,” McCrea said. And there is lots of work to do. Menino boasts low crime figures. Menino also says that Boston Public schools are graduating 30 percent more students than when he took office. Not enough say his challengers. Sam Yoon says the city problems can be solved, with a new direction. “When you been in power that long you start to take that power for granted and then you don’t even think it is important to do business out in the open,” Yoon said. But Menino says his power has come from doing the job right.