Boston Teachers Union Thanks AFT For PAC Ad Buy Supporting Marty Walsh for Mayor, Denies Knowing About it in Advance

Some say it could've helped his opponent if voters knew the national teachers union was pushing for Walsh

The Boston Teachers Union denied Wednesday any involvement in a massive television advertisement buy in the final days of the Boston mayoral race by its national affiliate that is believed to have helped propel Martin J. Walsh to victory over Councilor John R. Connolly, a longtime adversary of the union.

In a strongly worded statement sent to its members, the Boston Teachers Union thanked the American Federation of Teachers — the country's second-largest educators union — for its $480,000 ad buy on behalf of Walsh but said it had no prior knowledge of the group's involvement in the race.