Boston City Councilor Michael Ross Announces Run For Mayor

BOSTON (CBS) - The Boston mayor's race is getting even more crowded as City Councilor Michael Ross threw his hat into the ring Thursday.

Ross announced his intention to run via his website.  He then tweeted out a link with the announcement shortly after.

For the time being, he is getting the word out about his campaign and in May, he will detail his plan for the city's future.

"I'm excited to hear about the ideas of our public, of our business community and others," Ross told WBZ NewsRadio 1030.

"I've always felt the best ideas always come from outside the walls of city government. I"m really just excited to get going with this campaign for this great city."

So far, the race to replace Boston Mayor Tom Menino is wide open, with Ross joining Rep. Marty Walsh, Suffolk D.A. Dan Conley and city councilors Felix Aroyo, Rob Consalvo and John Connolly.

When asked how he will differentiate himself from the pack, Ross told WBZ he already has.

"We've already differed ourselves, even just in our announcement. We tweeted our announcement and I think in doing so reached out to a whole new generation of people who are are excited and optomistic as I am about the future of this city," Ross said.

Ross has been on the Boston City Council since 1999. He has served two terms as president of the council and currently chairs the city's public safety committee.