37 days to Nov. 5. Sixteen days until the first debate between the two finalists. City Councillor At-Large John Connolly and state Rep. Marty Walsh on Saturday continued sparring over a 25.4 percent arbitration award to Boston patrol officers. In a Saturday morning statement, Rep. Walsh accused Mayor Menino of pursuing” irresponsible negotiating tactics” and demanded that the mayor and the patrol officers’ union “come back to the bargaining table and jointly negotiate a deal that would better protect the taxpayers while addressing the concerns of our hardworking police officers who have gone years without a contract.”

Connolly, in his own statement, said he would review the award and scheduled meetings with the city’s chief financial officer and the patrol officer’s union. Connolly also leapt to the mayor’s defense and accused Walsh of playing politics. “It’s outrageous for Marty Walsh to blame the mayor for putting us in this position,” Connolly said. “The Mayor offered the Patrolmen a 19% raise, and it was refused. This is not about the Mayor, this is about a broken arbitration process.”

The Connolly camp pointed to legislation proposed by Walsh that would “remove the check and balance that a final city council review provides” by making an arbitrator’s decision final. “If it were up to Marty, the City Council wouldn't even have the opportunity to vote on this contract, and an arbitrator's decision that Marty called 'out of line' would be forced on the people of Boston,” Connolly said. “Marty is playing politics, I am going to do my job.”

Walsh’s camp then fired back with its own statement on Saturday night. “At a time when people are looking for new leadership to avoid the distractions of protracted contract disputes between people who are supposed to be allies, it is unfortunate that Councilor Connolly has chosen today to launch a political attack rather than tell the residents of Boston where he stands on the arbitrator's decision,” Walsh said. “I have always believed that arbitration should be a last resort. The facts are clear about the impact of the legislation I’ve filed - the first two requirements are the ability of the city or town to meet the costs of any arbitration decision and that the decision is in the interests and welfare of the public. I believe yesterday's arbitration decision does not meet either of those criteria, which is why I called for the Mayor and the BPPA to return to the bargaining table and negotiate a deal that would better protect the taxpayers while addressing the concerns of our hardworking police officers who have gone years without a new contract.”

THE DAY AHEAD: A list of happenings, as provided by the campaigns. Schedule entries are subject to change:

State Rep. Marty Walsh

8:00 a.m. Golf Course Members Golfer's Cup (Franklin Park Golf Course, 1 Circuit Street)

9:30 a.m. Simon of Cyrene Society Breakfast (Venezia, 26 Ericcson Street, Dorchester)

10:45 a.m. 12th Baptist Church service (150-160 Warren Street, Roxbury)

2:30 p.m. Open Streets on Blue Hill Avenue Community Day (between Franklin Park and Dudley Common along Blue Hill Avenue)

5:30 p.m. House party in Jamaica Plain, hosted by Jamie Rodriguez

City Councillor At-Large John Connolly

No public schedule today

ODDS & ENDS: The Menino administration launched a transition blog. “Here’s to a strong finish, and a stronger start,” the site says…..The campaign of Charlotte Golar Richie will be holding a “thank you” party for supporters on Oct. 2 at Hampton Inn in Crosstown Center.