to Flynn's proposal, Menino said it "surprised" him, but that he does "think about all opportunities that come before [him]." Menino did not assume the position but was re-elected in November 1987, with 87 percent of the vote. Menino also announced a candidacy for Suffolk County sheriff in 1986, but abandoned his candidacy afterward. In 1988, Menino became chairman of the City Council's Finance Committee. This committee was renamed the City Council Ways and Means Committee in 1990, a name that it continues to hold today. Menino remained chairman of the Ways and Means Committee for the entirety of his tenure as City Councilor. Menino earned a reputation for having a strong understanding of the city budget of how to allocate funds to assist residents. Menino was known to be a "vigilant watchdog of the city budget," as hailed by The Boston Globe. He was again re-elected in November 1989 (running unopposed) and November 1991 (capturing 82 percent of the vote). He was a founding member of the City Council's Tourists and Tourism Committee which was created in 1991. In 1992, Menino planned to run for the United States Congress seat that Rep. Brian J. Donnelly (D-Dorchester) was vacating. This 11th district seat stretched from the Boston neighborhood of Dorchester through communities on the South Shore and into Plymouth County. After United States congressional apportionment left Massachusetts only 10 congressional seats, Donnelly's district disappeared, and Menino chose not to challenge Representatives from the other districts. In 1993, Menino was elected president of the Boston City Council over Maura Hennigan. This had been somewhat an upset victory. During his time on the City Council, Menino received praise for what The Boston Globes Adrian Walker called "aptitude for details of city government", and some criticism for his closeness to Mayor Flynn. Walker also wrote that Menino had received a reputation as a councilor, "for diligence and attention to detail." During his tenure as a city councilor, Menino opposed several domestic ordinances that would have expanded rights to same-sex couples in domestic partnerships, including the 1991 Family Protection Act (which would have extended benefits to any household registering itself as a family). During his 1993 mayoral campaign, his spokesperson credited this opposition to Menino believing that these ordinances too broadly defined "family" and not outright opposition to similar legislation that would more narrowly define domestic partnerships. Menino supported proposals for clean needle distribution