Councillor Felix Arroyo, center, crooned Sinatra's "My Way", accompanied by soon-to-be-colleague Sam Yoon on keyboard, as District 7 councilman Chuck Turner listens in during Arroyo's victory party Tuesday night at Mirage nightclub in the South End. Brian Denitzio photo

By Brian Denitzio
News Editor

After the congratulatory speeches were spoken and the fevered cheers of "SAM! SAM! SAM!" had died down, newly elected city Councillor at-large Sam Yoon moved behind a keyboard on the stage at Mirage at Estelle's in the South End. He played accompaniment as incumbent Felix Arroyo sang Frank Sinatra's "My Way." As Arroyo belted out the tune, a third member of Team Unity, District Seven City Councillor Chuck Turner looked on.

In a result that debunked the conventional wisdom that says a first-time candidate without deep-seated roots can't win an at-large seat, Yoon placed third on Tuesday. His finish reaffirms the recent trend in Boston politics, one that has grown stronger with each passing election - the electoral clout of the city's communities of color cannot be underestimated.

But in as much as Yoon's victory can be considered the latest chapter in the New Boston narrative, his election presents a set of significant questions concerning the role Yoon carves for himself early on in his term. Will he play in the background while Arroyo picks the tune, or will a variety of forces pull Yoon in his own direction?

As late as the afternoon of the citywide preliminary, Yoon was merely hoping to secure a spot among Tuesday's final eight. A deep field that included two returning challengers from two years ago and a first-time candidate such as John Connolly with the kind of political pedigree and network of support that on the surface would position him ahead of other newcomers had Yoon worried. He nonetheless placed fifth, and in the weeks following the preliminary picked up the endorsement of Team Unity, which played a key role Yoon and Connolly switching places in the final.

Yoon acknowledged the potent part the endorsement, particularly from Arroyo, played in his success when he addressed the ecstatic crowd gathered at Mirage.

"When his [Arroyo's] friends become my friends, that's when we did it," said Yoon.

But Yoon also stressed a desire and a need to reach out to all of his colleagues. Speaking Tuesday evening at the Blarney Stone, Yoon described the Team Unity endorsement as very important to his success, but also pointed to the endorsement of District One Councillor Paul Scappicchio and the well wishes and advice he received from other city councillors, in particular District Three Councillor Maureen Feeney.

"Personal political agendas will remain, that's part of politics, but the good will and consensus abilities that Sam brings to the council will certainly be felt," said Yoon spokesperson Jack Kowalski.

Striking a balance between personal interests and building consensus is a difficult task faced by any member of a legislative body, but Yoon in particular will be subject to a number of disparate forces as he finds his place on the council, most notably the role he'll play as the council's first Asian-American.

In a forum last month at UMass-Boston, Yoon acknowledged that if elected as the first Asian-American to serve on the City Council, he would be a point person for Asians not only across the city, but he said from across the state.

In addition to carrying the mantel of being the first Asian-American councillor, Yoon also sought to be the Dorchester candidate in the at-large race. He focused his efforts in Dorchester in the race's final weeks.

"My message was that I live here and when you talk about issues that affect your neighborhood they affect me," said Yoon. He said that he is comfortable with the expectations that will come with being Dot's first at-large councillor since "Mickey" Roache. "I'm happy to have those expectations placed on me."

But of all the expectations placed upon Yoon, the question of his allegiance to Team Unity will likely be the most compelling in his first days on the council. It's considered likely that Arroyo will again challenge current Council President Michael Flaherty for council presidency. How Yoon votes in that election will provide an early clue about the place Yoon seeks on the council.