Speculation that at large City Councillor Stephen Murphy might take a job with the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency should be put to rest, said Murphy himself this week.

"I'm not taking the job," he said. "I'm running for City Council. The Connolly campaign put it out there and I denied it at the time. The denial stands. It's none of anybody's business if I decide to take a job. If I get one, I'll announce it."

At-large candidate John Connolly said his campaign doesn't single out any one of the four incumbent at large councillors seats as an opponent.

"We are focused on winning one of the four spots," said Connolly. "We're taking a message that is concerned with a livable and affordable city where people can stay for a lifetime. That's the election in its essence."