Ed Flynn

After a whirlwind election of City Council President early this month, Boston’s City Councilors have received their committee assignments for the term. But amid concerns of mayoral favoritism and the lack of councilors of color in leadership positions, a number of them are displeased with how assignments have played out.

Councilor Ed Flynn, who represents District 2, including Downtown, Chinatown and parts of Back Bay and the South End, was designated as the head of the City Services committee.

“I’m going to dig into this and do the best I can to represent all of the residents of Boston,” Flynn said in a phone call.

When asked about his first choice, Flynn said he would have liked to head the committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice, of which he is vice-chair with Councilor John FitzGerald, who also represents part of the South End, in District 3.

“I have a background in public safety, as a former probation officer for eight years and someone that served over 23 years in the Navy,” Flynn said. “I’ve been working on public safety and security issues for well over 30 years of my life.”

Councilor Miniard Culpepper, the new District 7 representative who covers another chunk of the South End, will head the Civil Rights, Racial Equity, and Immigration Advancement committee.

“Martin Luther King said, if it’s your lot in life to become a street sweeper, be the best street sweeper you can be,” Culpepper said in a phone call. “I’m going to be the best chair of the Civil Rights committee that I can be, and my goal is to try and focus on serving the residents of District 7. I’ll be looking at city ordinances, I’ll be looking at state laws, and I’ll be looking at federal laws, more closely the Constitution.”

Culpepper noted that his first choice, based on his background and expertise in housing, was the Housing and Community Development committee, which he will vice-chair.

Much drama and politicking has surrounded the election of Councilor Liz Breadon, who represents Allston-Brighton, to the presidency of the Council, as well as her appointments of committee heads. One point of contention was that only councilors supportive of Mayor Michelle Wu were granted major leadership positions. All three committees considered to hold the most power, Government Operations, Planning, and Ways and Means, were awarded to Wu supporters.

District 8’s Councilor Sharon Durkan, whose district includes Back Bay, Beacon Hill and much of the Fenway, received renewed stewardship of the Planning, Development, and Transportation committee, as well as the committee on PILOT Agreements.

Durkan’s city bio page describes her as a “long-time renter” on Beacon Hill, and beyond chairing the committee last cycle, she does not appear to have any direct property or development related experience. She is also a fierce supporter of the mayor. Her office declined a request to speak with her about on her committee assignments.

Flynn has vocally criticized the mayor, particularly in her approach to public health and safety issues in the South End and development Downtown over the past year. Culpepper, when asked to characterize his perspective on the mayor, said the two had agreed to be transparent with one another.

“We’re going to agree on a lot of issues, and we’re going to disagree on some,” he said. “I place myself on the spectrum of looking at what’s in the best interest of the residents in District 7. I’m sure we’ll do some good things for the district, but in other cases, we’re never going to agree 100% on everything.”