Jon Santiago, an emergency room doctor at Boston Medical Center and first-time candidate for state representative, won the endorsement of the Boston Ward 4 Democratic Committee on July 17.
Dr. Santiago is seeking to become the next state representative of the 9th Suffolk District, which includes the South End, Roxbury, Back Bay, and Fenway neighborhoods. The district has been represented by incumbent Byron Rushing for over 35 years.
More than 70 percent of the votes cast went to Dr. Santiago despite hearing from incumbent Byron Rushing, himself a longtime member of the Ward 4 Democratic Committee. Dr. Santiago delivered a message focusing on the district’s priorities such as the opioid crisis and socioeconomic equality, and he promised to bring bold and engaged leadership to the office. Ward 4 made up the largest number of voters and precincts in the district’s last gubernatorial election.
“Jon is the right candidate at the right time,” said Margaret McKenna, Ward 4 committee member. “He’s the courageous voice we need to talk about today’s current issues. He brings with him a broad and experienced view from a generation that is underrepresented on Beacon Hill, and I am incredibly impressed with his dedication.”
After his endorsement, Dr. Santiago said to supporters, “The community has changed and so has the district. It is time to elect someone who reflects that change and is able to address the current issues impacting the district that I see daily in the ER. I sincerely thank my friends on the Ward 4 Committee for their overwhelming support, and I’m excited to the keep the momentum going as we enter the final six weeks of the campaign.”
Dr. Santiago is a captain in the Army Reserve, former Peace Corps Volunteer, and a South End resident. He lives with his wife Alexandra, and serves on the boards of the South End Community Health Center, Friends of the South End Library, Friends of Titus Sparrow Spark, and the Puerto Rican Veterans Park.