By Matt O'Malley

During the 2005 Boston City Council at-Large election, one of the candidates remarked how he felt more overexposed than Paris Hilton. Indeed, with a prime-time debate held on WB56, daily interviews and profiles on WCVB leading up to election day, and mini-debates on Greater Boston, coupled with City and Region front page profiles in the Boston Globe, intense analysis, strategy pieces, and opinion and editorials in the weekly newspapers, people were certainly buzzing about their local election. What a difference two years can make.

Certainly, one cannot equate the 2005 election with the 2007 race. First off, in 2005 there was an open seat on the council; secondly, there was a concurrent mayors race, and finally, with all due modesty, the 2005 slate of candidates was widely regarded as the strongest field since the revised city charter took place almost three decades ago. Also, this year the preliminary election was cancelled in a disastrous blow to the political system. Yet how did a mere 24 months change the last great council fight into the election where (almost) nobody voted? And, moreover, how did the abysmal turnout affect one of the rare upsets in the council's history?

The numbers of voters casting their ballots seem to indicate that very few people were interested in this race. The total citywide turnout was 13.59% and ranged from the powerful Ward 16, precinct 12 (St. Brendan's/Cedar Grove) boasting a 42.6% turnout (no doubt anchored by the always reliable Keystone Crew) to the dismal Ward 1, precinct 15 (the Harbor Islands) where exactly 0% turned out. You read that right: in Boston, a city steeped in political history, there was a precinct where no one showed up to vote.

The likely anemic showing sent all candidates &endash; incumbent and challenger &endash; into a tailspin in the weeks heading into the election.  Given the closeness of 2005 fifth-place finisher John Connolly's loss, and his impressive fund-raising prowess and retail political skills, he was seen as a huge threat to one of the incumbents. Connolly worked his base hard. In the final days of the campaign, he took an anonymous swipe at incumbent Steve Murphy in a mailing highlighting Murphy's frequent runs for higher office while a city councilor. Like Claude Raines in Casablanca, Murphy was shocked, shocked at the allegations and ended his solid mail program with a piece attacking Connolly for attacking him. When did Boston politics become so genteel?

Meanwhile, Michael Flaherty, who has topped the ticket in every election cycle since 2003, was warily sizing up Sam Yoon. Flaherty's polling showed Yoon in second place. He wanted to keep him there.  Flaherty, who does not hide his ambition, felt that he could parlay another ticket-topping performance into a future mayoral run. His impressive machine mined all fertile ground for votes.

All Yoon wanted was to keep his job. He built on his strong 2005 finish and goodwill over the past two years and was able to increase his support while nurturing his base. 

And finally, Felix Arroyo, who had been the second-highest vote getter in 2003 and 2005, was caught in the imperfect storm. Never known as a prodigious fundraiser, Arroyo had almost no money in the bank. The Boston Herald had pummeled him for missing meeting after meeting and old political allies such as the Ward 5 Democratic Committee had opted not to support his candidacy this time around. "Felix is a good guy," was the oft-heard refrain, "But he's lost the fire in the belly."

When the votes were all counted, Michael Flaherty would again top the ticket.  Stephen Murphy, proving the law of unintended circumstances in regard to the Connolly mailing, would come in second place. Close on his heels was Sam Yoon. John Connolly claimed the fourth- and final - spot, capturing 3,500 more votes than runner-up Felix Arroyo.

A closer look at the numbers reveals what went right for the top four finishers, and what went wrong for Arroyo.

Michael Flaherty posted a strong showing in his native South Boston and East Boston, but he also claimed solid showings in Chinatown and Back Bay/Beacon Hill. Stephen Murphy romped in his home ward of Hyde Park, took Allston and Brighton and also captured the show place finish in many communities of color. No doubt aided by the support of Governor Deval Patrick, Murphy was only behind Yoon and Arroyo in Roxbury, the South End, parts of Mattapan and Jamaica Plain. Yoon, who was aligned with Arroyo as a member of the council voting block Team Unity, bested his colleague in almost every ward in the progressive neighborhoods and communities of color. Additionally, he out-polled Arroyo in South Boston, Neponset, and West Roxbury by a combined 1,600 votes. Connolly, who claimed a win in Charlestown, posted decent showings in the progressive neighborhoods, and blew away his completion in his native West Roxbury (besting second-place Flaherty by 1,175 votes). He also ran up strong finishes in Dorchester, East Boston, and Hyde Park.

Hyde Park, which until recently was Arroyo's neighborhood, gave Arroyo a fifth place showing. This must have stung. Two years ago, Arroyo topped the ticket in Hyde Park's Ward 18 (which includes Mattapan). His numbers also suffered in Back Bay/Beacon Hill, the Fenway and Jamaica Plain.

So what happens in a low turnout election that is barely on the public's radar screen? Well, it becomes all the more incumbent on an incumbent to work his/her base and attempt to grow their support.

It also proves that we need election reform on the local level. Implementing same-day voter registration is a worthwhile and sensible endeavor. Additionally, we may need to examine some innovative ideas like online voting and increasing civics and government curriculum in our middle and high schools. It could start with something as simple as giving "I Voted!" stickers to those that cast their ballot.

Looking at ways to encourage civic involvement and voter participation at the local level is one way this new city council can make a difference and affect real change. It is good policy and the right thing to do.

Matt O'Malley, a Jamaica Plain resident and honorary Dot-Rat, writes about all things Boston on his blog: mattomalley.blogspot.com