Josh Kraft touts Boston mayoral endorsement from disgraced ex-pol Dianne Wilkerson on eve of election

Boston mayoral candidate Josh Kraft touted the endorsement of disgraced former state Sen Dianne Wilkerson on the eve of the Tuesday preliminary electoral contest In a announcement Monday Kraft disclosed he welcomed the endorsement while calling Wilkerson whose political career ended after she was busted by the feds for taking a bribe a trailblazer for her decades of advocacy for the Black locality Senator Wilkerson has been a trailblazer in the fight for justice representation and opportunity Kraft reported I am deeply honored to have her help and partnership as we work to build a Boston that works for everyone not just a privileged sparse Wilkerson resigned from the state Senate in and spent more than two years in jail after agreeing to plead guilty to charges tied to a federal corruption bust She was infamously shown stuffing in cash bribes into her bra in a photo that was disclosed by the feds She first took office in as the first Black woman elected to the State Senate In making her endorsement Wilkerson disclosed Kraft has dedicated his life to opening doors for young people who are too often left behind Related Articles Boston mayor City Council races on the ballot in Tuesday s preliminary voting Annissa Essaibi George beat by Michelle Wu for Boston mayor in backs Josh Kraft Wu Boston prepared to take legal action if ICE deportation surge violates laws Disgraced ex-prosecutor Rachael Rollins advises Boston s White Stadium opponents to keep up the pressure Battenfeld Josh Kraft faces gaping -point deficit to Michelle Wu heading into preliminary poll From his work leading the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston to his advocacy on coaching housing and neighborhood capital he has consistently stood with our communities Wilkerson explained in a declaration He listens Boston is at a crossroads and we need a leader who not only understands the challenges we face but has the courage vision and track record to meet them Wilkerson s endorsement comes at a time when the latest Emerson polling suggests that Kraft is points behind Mayor Michelle Wu in the mayoral race But he is widely expected to join Wu as the two candidates who will advance to the Nov general vote