Boston Mayor Tom Menino is still in office, but candidates for his seat are coming out of the woodwork.

Menino, the longest-serving mayor in Boston’s history, recently announced he will be retiring after this term. The mayor has smartly made it his duty to focus on the city’s neighborhoods and has been respected within the development community. The next mayor should take note of Menino’s accomplishments in the city, but also be aware of lessons learned – most notably surrounding the Filene’s hole debacle.

But without Menino’s help, the Innovation District might be a desolate backwater, the revitalization of Mission Hill might not have happened and there might be a flat top on 111 Huntington.