John Collins is elected mayor of Boston.

Collins (D), with 114,210 votes, defeats John Powers (D), with 90,142. Turnout is 209,281 or 63.5%. Murray Levin later calls Collins victory, “One of the most stunning upsets in the history of the city.” The first person with disabilities elected mayor of Boston, Collins lives at 20 Myrtle Street and is subsequently credited with completing the physical and economic renewal of Boston initiated by his predecessor, John Hynes.