Depending on who you ask tonight, this is either a game changer or a massive stunt.

City Councillors At-Large Michael Flaherty and Sam Yoon will announce at a Tuesday presser that they are running on the same "ticket" against Mayor Thomas Menino, with Yoon promised the job of deputy mayor if Flaherty wins, as we Tweeted and Facebooked earlier tonight.

The presser is scheduled for 10:15 a.m. outside outside of City Hall. (The apparent new logo can be found here.)

Yoon's proposed City Hall duties would include dismantling the Boston Redevelopment Authority. The quasi-public agency that has come under fire from both Flaherty, Yoon and South Ender Kevin McCrea, who like Yoon was lost the Sept. 22 preliminary election, setting up a Menino-Flaherty showdown for Nov. 3.

Combined, Flaherty and Yoon received 36,638 votes to Menino's 41,026 votes. (McCrea, who told the Herald that he is endorsing Flaherty, gathered 3,340 votes.)

Reacting to the news, former Mass Republican Party spokesman Barney Keller wrote on Twitter, "The gimmick's almost as silly as those who thought Sam Yoon would come in 2nd in the prelim."

And some Yoon supporters told the Reporter's Mike Deehan on the preliminary election night that they would not be voting for Flaherty.

Others were effusively supportive of the rivals teaming up.

In emails to their supporters on Monday night, Flaherty and Yoon were already attempting to sing the same tune.

"By standing together tomorrow, we are showing Boston that a Flaherty-Yoon administration will embrace good ideas, even if they originate from former rivals," Flaherty wrote in an email to supporters, which also included a change in his position on term limits. "And, in the first 100 days of our new administration, we will proudly enact term limits for the office of Mayor. We will put an end to the 'Mayor for Life' culture that has held Boston back. Together, we will create a city for us."

Yoon wrote: "I realize that for Boston, a joint campaign, a Flaherty-Yoon 'ticket,' is new and different. But we have always said that Boston politics has been too much about taking credit, and not enough about collaboration. So Michael and I will be working together to make the changes that we need in city government."

Full Flaherty and Yoon letters below:

FLAHERTY LETTER:

Dear Friends,

Tomorrow, we are announcing our historic ticket to change Boston politics forever.

One week ago, almost 50% of voters had the courage to vote for change. With their vote, they sent a message to Boston: it is time to transform the way we do business in City Hall with new leadership and a fresh perspective.

That’s why tomorrow morning at 10:15 a.m., outside of City Hall, I am holding a press conference with Sam Yoon. I am asking Sam, a colleague and a friend, along with his impressive campaign, to join with me as a running mate on my ticket. Because, together, we agree, Boston can’t wait four more years to change our city. Sam Yoon is not only endorsing our bid for Mayor, he will be campaigning alongside us, as Boston’s future Deputy Mayor. But we need your support.

Throughout this entire campaign we have emphasized the need to capture the intellectual capital of our city—the best, brightest and most passionate minds—to bring innovation and efficiency to City Hall. We need to empower a new generation of leaders to improve our under-performing schools, make our streets safer and our neighborhoods cleaner.

I am so proud to announce that we are making good on this promise—by making Sam Yoon my partner in City Hall—we are recognizing the talent and very best of our city. By standing together tomorrow, we are showing Boston that a Flaherty-Yoon administration will embrace good ideas, even if they originate from former rivals. And, in the first 100 days of our new administration, we will proudly enact term limits for the office of Mayor. We will put an end to the “Mayor for Life” culture that has held Boston back. Together, we will create a city for us.

Last Tuesday, Mayor Menino spent $1.5 million and activated his whole political machine, but half of the people who voted refused to accept the status quo of the last 16 years. We are confident, over the next five weeks, with your help, that we can change our city. However, we are facing an entrenched political machine – a machine that won’t give up power without a fight. In order to win, we need your help – and we need it now.

We need you to volunteer. We need you to donate. And we need your passion to help activate all of the residents of Boston to vote for change on November 3rd.

Please join the Flaherty-Yoon campaign at our press conference outside of City Hall tomorrow morning at 10:15 a.m. and help us usher in a new day for Boston, a city for us.

Thank you,

Michael Flaherty
Candidate for Mayor of Boston

YOON LETTER:

Dear supporters and friends,

Last Tuesday, almost 50% of people who went to the polls voted for change. They demanded new leadership in our city and a change in the way we do business. Even after Mayor Menino rolled out his political machine, spent a staggering $1.5 million, and used all the powers of his 16-year incumbency, half of the city voted against the status quo. Our campaign has said again and again that we can't wait four more years for change.

That is why this morning, I will be joining Michael Flaherty in front of City Hall, not just to endorse his campaign for Mayor - but to join it, and to work with him to bring the changes to Boston that we fought so hard for over these past months.

Starting today, I will campaign alongside Michael Flaherty as his future Deputy Mayor. This is a first step that will change Boston politics for good.

I realize that for Boston, a joint campaign, a Flaherty-Yoon "ticket," is new and different. But we have always said that Boston politics has been too much about taking credit, and not enough about collaboration. So Michael and I will be working together to make the changes that we need in city government.

Over the next several weeks, we will be unveiling our plans for the first 100 days of our administration.

This will include enacting term limits for Mayor - putting an end to the 'Mayor for Life' culture in Boston that has held us back. The Boston Redevelopment Authority has been a breeding ground for back-room dealing and misuse of funds. Michael has asked that as Deputy Mayor I lead the effort to dismantle the BRA and replace it with a true community planning agency.

Of course Michael and I won't agree on everything. But we won't need to. We agree on enough - and most importantly, we agree that change can't wait. I believe this to my core. The alternative to acting now is standing still, and our city has been doing that for far too long.

We are asking for you to give everything you possibly can during these next five weeks to change our city. We are facing an entrenched political machine - a machine that won't give up power without a fight. We need your help and we need it now.

Join us - and let's change Boston for good.

Sincerely,

Sam