By Todd Feathers, News Staff
On the wings of Twitter, the rumors spread down Huntington Avenue, through Beacon Hill and along Commonwealth Avenue. Could soon-to-depart Mayor Thomas M. Menino be considering a teaching position at Northeastern, Suffolk University or Boston University?
Prompted by a column published Wednesday in the Boston Herald — which said Menino has had a standing offer to teach at Northeastern for five years, according to an unnamed source — those rumors seem to be unfounded.
“I don’t know where those rumors are coming from,” said John Tobin, Northeastern’s vice president of city and community affairs. “They don’t seem to be based on truth.”
Tobin, who is a close friend of Menino’s, said he spoke to the mayor on Monday.
“I’ve heard nothing about that and I’ve talked to the mayor on a pretty regular basis,” he said.
The rumors, especially the prospect of Menino joining Northeastern, fell on receptive ears in large part because the university has recruited several high profile City Hall officials in recent years.
John Auerbach, who headed the Boston Public Health Commission during Menino’s tenure, joined the university as director of the Institute of Urban Health Research last year. Lucy Warsh, a former spokesperson for Menino, is now the associate director of communications for Northeastern. And Tobin himself was a city councilor for nine years while Menino was mayor.
In what seems to be another indication that Menino may consider trading City Hall for, possibly, Shillman Hall, the mayor told reporters Wednesday that mentoring young people and teaching are both among the many things he may consider once his fifth mayoral term ends, according to one City Hall source.
And, as The News reported in an article earlier this year, Menino and Northeastern President Joseph E. Aoun have formed a firm friendship over the years.
Northeastern declined to comment on the rumors. John Guilfoil, a spokesman for Menino, said he would not comment on Menino’s plans after leaving office.
Despite all the indications that Northeastern would be a fitting place for Menino to land after five terms as mayor, any speculation is premature, Tobin said. Menino is still mayor for nine months.
“There are very many people, not just at Northeastern University, who seek [Menino’s] council,” he said. “I’m sure his retirement won’t last very long at all.”
[yop_poll id=”4″]
