To the Editor:
My name is Samuel Hurtado and I am running to represent the residents of District 7 on the Boston City Council. Thank you for this opportunity to introduce myself to your readers. At a time when the fabric of local journalism in our country is fraying, we are lucky in Boston for our robust culture of local publishing.
My candidacy is inspired by the urgent need in District 7 for a powerful and effective coalition that makes the people of Roxbury, Dorchester, the South End, and the Fenway impossible to ignore. When we truly stand together, we can face the threats coming our way and seize the opportunities many of us keep missing out on.
Rents are too high, the city and state must better manage the impact of substance use, economic growth needs to benefit everyone, education needs to meet people’s need for a solid path forward, and our elders deserve to live with dignity be that in their homes or in loving settings where they can access high quality support.
District 7 has a rich history of organizing and political action, and we are blessed with many individuals and organizations dedicated to improving life in our communities, but it’s time for leadership that responds to needs across the district and brings our efforts together to create lasting, systematic change.
I am a life-long organizer and activist who, since 1999, has worked in and out of government with people from across the city to get real results. I’m reliable, fair-minded, and though I’m unapologetic and mission-driven, I’m also a listener who returns phone calls.
I grew up in Mexico and moved to the US to study, first in a seminary and eventually at UMass Boston. I founded a community organization, South Boston en Acción, worked for over a decade in education advocacy, and have served in multiple leadership roles in the City of Boston, including as senior advisor to former Mayor Kim Janey and as her chief of staff at the District 7 City Council office. Currently, I’m a business manager in the Economic Opportunity and Inclusion Cabinet.
I’ve been a BPS parent since 2012, and I’m serving a second term on the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative’s board of directors. My wife of 22 years and I are raising our two sons, ages 16 and 18, in Roxbury.
People can find more information about me and my leadership vision at hurtado7.com.
The Reporter will be publishing additional letters from municipal candidates in the coming weeks.
