Frank Baker took a victory lap during last Thursday’s meeting of the Cedar Grove Civic Association, which set aside a portion of its monthly meeting at the McKeon Post to formally thank him for his 12 years on the Boston City Council. 

Baker listened as association president Steve Bickerton Jr. offered words of praise then acknowledged them, saying, “Thank you, everybody, Steve, Cedar Grove for being my friend, being a supporter. It has been an honor, truly, truly an honor to represent Dorchester, the place that has made me who I am.”

Baker said he will leave the council proud of over a decade of hard work. But, he added, he does have some regrets. “When people say they got no regrets, I think they’re full of [guess]. Mass. and Cass has gotten worse, and that hurts me.”

When Bickerton cited Baker’s lead role in overturning a council-approved redistricting map as a recent accomplishment, the councillor said, “Steve talked about redistricting a little bit. It was a difficult undertaking, but we ended up prevailing in the end. It feels good to win,” said Baker. 

District 3 Councillor-elect John FitzGerald, who will take Baker’s seat on Jan. 1, was on hand at the meeting, and he took to the podium to salute Baker’s dedication to the district. “At any point when I have a doubt,” he said, “I think about his passion and it makes me go, ‘No, I’m doing the right thing and I’m here for the right reasons.’”

Quick with his retort, Baker said, “I’m still going to be involved in the politics and the neighborhood. My cellphone number is the same and will be the same if anyone wants to bring me out for a drink.”