By Beth Treffeisen
Candidate for City Council District 2, Ed Flynn, kicked off his campaign in the South End at J.J. Foley’s, last week. A long-time favorite place for Flynn, the bar served as the perfect backdrop for Flynn and his family to gain signatures, fundraise, and connect with local residents.
Flynn is now the first of any candidate in the city’s upcoming elections to be certified for the ballot. It only took four hours after pulling nomination papers for Flynn to become the first candidate for any office in all of Boston to submit the required signatures.
Flynn is a long-time South Boston community activist, Boston Public School parent, and Navy veteran. He is running for the seat being vacated by Boston City Councilor Bill Linehan that consists of South Boston, the South End, Chinatown, Bay Village, and downtown Boston.
In recent weeks State Representative Nick Collins, At-Large City Councilor Michael Flaherty, Supreme Judicial Court Clerk Maura Doyle and Suffolk Clerk Michael Donovan have endorsed him.
“I’ve been working with Ed for a number of years and he has done a lot of work in public safety, housing, and substance abuse,” said Collins. “He served as a probation officer and he will step up and pull together a plan to solve the substance abuse epidemic problem.”
“He’s committed,” said Collins. “That’s why I decided to endorse him.”
Flynn has been deeply involved as a youth sports coach, veteran’s advocate, and community activist. He is a member of the Cityside Neighborhood Association, South Boston Citizen’s Association, VFW Fitzgerald Post and the Ward 7 Democratic Committee.
Collins said that Flynn plans on focusing on a historic preservation measure that would require community review of the proposed demolition of historic homes and buildings. He said it has worked in the South End and Flynn would like to extend that to the other neighborhoods such as South Boston.
Flynn formerly worked for the U.S. Department of Labor in the Clinton Administration, the Massachusetts Office of Public Safety, and the United States Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.
“I believe Ed already has great backing and support from residents in all of the neighborhoods in this district,” said Collins.
At the fundraiser, Flynn talked to South Enders about his plans for supporting the elderly, disabled and also probation.
Flynn used to be a probation officer and sees that real reform needs to happen.
“I used to drop people off at the Pine Street Inn, St Francis House and the New England Center for Homeless Veterans,” said Flynn. “They are returning veterans that have served seven to eight times and they need medical care and attention but most importantly they need jobs.”
This also applies to anyone coming out of jail. Flynn, said when they are let out of prison they are going to be citizens as well and right now, it can be very hard for them to even find a job.
Recently, he has worked with building unions that will train people coming out of jail and if they succeed they can then join the union.
“There is definitely more work to be done,” said Flynn. “If you make a mistake when you’re young it shouldn’t stay with you the rest of you life.”
Flynn served on active duty in the Persian Gulf on two deployments and overseas in the Navy Reserves and has helped to coordinate disaster relief in Haiti. Along with his wife Kirsten, they are raising their children, Caroline and Stephen in South Boston.
“I’m proud to be running for this seat, which represents such a diverse and vibrant district,” Flynn said. “The South End is a vital neighborhood to the success of our city, and I will be a bold and independent voice for all of its residents.”
Ed Flynn is one five people running for District 2 City Council seat. The other candidates include Michael Kelley of Bay Village, Frank Ulip of downtown Boston, Corey Dinopoulos of South Boston and Peter Lin-Marcus of Chinatown.