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Felix G. Arroyo

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Not to be confused with his father, Felix D. Arroyo.
Felix G. Arroyo
Arroyo in 2013
Chief of Health and Human Services, Boston
In office
January 2014 – August 2017
Preceded byDaphne Griffin
Succeeded byMarty Martinez
Member of the Boston City Council
at-large
In office
January 2010 – January 2014
Preceded byMichael F. Flaherty and Sam Yoon
Succeeded byMichael F. Flaherty and Michelle Wu
Personal details
Born (1979-05-25) May 25, 1979 (age 45)
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
RelationsFelix D. Arroyo (father)
Ricardo Arroyo (brother)
ResidenceJamaica Plain, Massachusetts
Alma materUniversity of Massachusetts Boston
Southern New Hampshire University
WebsiteCampaign website

Felix G. Arroyo (born May 25, 1979) is an American political figure from Boston. Arroyo was elected to an at-large seat on the Boston City Council in November 2009, and re-elected in November 2011, serving for two terms before unsuccessfully running for Mayor of Boston in 2013. He subsequently served as the city's Chief of Health and Human Services from 2014 until his dismissal in 2017 following an investigation into sexual harassment allegations.

Early life

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Arroyo is the son of former Boston City Councilor Felix D. Arroyo. He attended Boston public schools and is a graduate of University of Massachusetts Boston.[1] He also earned a master's degree from Southern New Hampshire University.[2] Prior to being elected to the Boston City Council, Arroyo served as a field director at Northeast Action and Political Director for the Service Employees International Union Local 615.

Political career

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When he was twenty, Arroyo started working as the director of constituent services for Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner.[3]

Boston City Council

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Arroyo in 2012

Arroyo was an at-large member of the Boston City Council from January 2010 to January 2014. During his time on the City Council, he developed legislation called "Invest in Boston" to invest Boston's money in banks that invest in Boston to help promote economic development.[4] He led the effort on the council to save thousands of youth summer jobs and prevent the closures of libraries.[5][6] In partnership with fellow councilor Michael P. Ross, Arroyo attempted to have the city to cancel contracts with companies based in the state of Arizona after Arizona adopted Arizona SB 1070 in 2010.[7] Arroyo did not seek reelection to the council in 2013, instead seeking election as mayor.

Mayoral run

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In April 2013, Arroyo announced his candidacy for the Boston mayoral election.[8] He officially kicked off his campaign on June 15, at Villa Victoria.[9] Arroyo lost in the September preliminary election, having received 9,888 votes and finishing fifth in a field of 12, where the top two vote-getters advance to the November general election.

After being eliminated, he endorsed Marty Walsh in the general election.[10]

Chief of Health and Human Services

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In January 2014, Mayor Marty Walsh named Arroyo as the Chief of Health and Human Services for Boston. Arroyo was the first Cabinet-level position announced by the newly elected mayor.[11] Walsh cited Arroyo's ability to bring people together and work collaboratively, as well as his understanding of the importance of addressing the needs of Boston's most vulnerable population.[11]

Sexual harassment investigation and litigation

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On July 28, 2017, Arroyo was placed on paid administrative leave from his position at the Boston Department of Health. Although this was confirmed by Mayor Walsh, no further details were made available.[12] On August 24, 2017, a spokesperson for Mayor Walsh announced that Arroyo had been fired after a "comprehensive investigation" into sexual harassment allegations.[13] Arroyo's accuser initially filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD); that complaint was withdrawn in November 2017, in lieu of a civil suit against Arroyo and the City of Boston filed in March 2018.[14] As of February 2020, the case was still active and had not yet gone to trial.[15] In August 2020, Arroyo filed suit against the City of Boston and Mayor Walsh alleging breach of contract, negligence, and defamation.[16] A May 2024 trial scheduled for the civil suit brought by Arroyo's accuser was not held due to the parties reaching an agreement—in July 2024, The Boston Globe reported that the City of Boston had agreed to a $1 million settlement with Arroyo's accuser in exchange for litigation being dropped.[17] A defamation countersuit filed by Arroyo against his accuser was not affected, and is scheduled for trial in June 2025.[17]

Personal life

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Arroyo is a lifelong Bostonian, born in the South End, raised in Hyde Park, and a graduate of the Boston Public Schools. He lives in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. In addition to his father having previously served on the Boston City Council as an at-large member, his brother Ricardo Arroyo was the councillor for District 5 from January 2020 to January 2024.[18] As of November 2020, Arroyo's LinkedIn profile listed his occupation as Chief Operating Officer at El Mundo Boston, a Latino media outlet.[19]

Electoral history

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City Council

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2009 Boston City Council at-large election
Candidates Preliminary Election[20] General Election[21]
Votes % Votes %
John R. Connolly (incumbent) 35,182 18.08% 51,362 18.35%
Stephen J. Murphy (incumbent) 30,365 15.61% 51,008 18.22%
Felix G. Arroyo 25,859 13.29% 45,144 16.13%
Ayanna Pressley 16,866 8.67% 41,879 14.96%
Tito Jackson 12,535 6.44% 30,203 10.79%
Andrew Kenneally 12,653 6.50% 24,249 8.66%
Tomás González 10,122 5.20% 18,310 6.54%
Doug Bennett 10,529 5.41% 16,842 6.02%
Ego Ezedi 9,260 4.76%
Hiep Quoc Nguyen 7,691 3.95%
Sean H. Ryan 6,665 3.43%
Jean-Claude Sanon 5,386 2.77%
Robert Fortes 5,071 2.61%
Bill Trabucco 3,132 1.61%
Scotland Willis 2,639 1.36%
all others 595 0.31% 951 0.34%
2011 Boston City Council at-large election
Candidates General Election[22]
Votes %
Ayanna Pressley (incumbent) 37,532 21.42%
Felix G. Arroyo (incumbent) 35,483 20.25%
John R. Connolly (incumbent) 32,827 18.74%
Stephen J. Murphy (incumbent) 26,730 15.26%
Michael F. Flaherty 25,805 14.73%
Will Dorcena 8,739 4.99%
Sean H. Ryan 7,376 4.21%
Althea Garrison (write-in) 19 0.01%
Deshon Porter (write-in) 2 0.00%
William B. Feegbeh (write-in) 1 0.00%
all others 666 0.39%

Mayor

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2013 Boston mayoral election
Candidate Primary election[23] General election[24]
Votes % Votes %
Marty Walsh 20,854 18.47 72,583 51.54
John R. Connolly 19,435 17.21 67,694 48.07
Charlotte Golar Richie 15,546 13.77  
Daniel F. Conley 12,775 11.32  
Felix G. Arroyo 9,895 8.76  
John Barros 9,148 8.10  
Robert Consalvo 8,603 7.62  
Michael P. Ross 8,164 7.23  
Bill Walczak 3,825 3.39  
Charles Yancey 2,389 2.12  
Charles Clemmons 1,800 1.59  
David Wyatt 334 0.30  
Write-ins 130 0.12 560 0.40
Total 112,898 100 140,837 100

References

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  1. ^ "Felix Arroyo's Journey Through Public Education to Housing the Homeless". The Mass Media. Archived from the original on 2019-12-11. Retrieved 2015-11-07.
  2. ^ Ryan, Andrew (22 June 2010). "A new Arroyo blazes own path on council". Boston.com – via The Boston Globe.
  3. ^ Ryan, Andrew (April 9, 2013). "Felix G. Arroyo formally enters race to be next mayor of Boston; first Latino to run for job". www.boston.com. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  4. ^ For Boston City Council – The Editorial Page
  5. ^ "City Councilor Felix Arroyo Holds Hearing on Youth Summer Jobs". Jamaica Plain, MA Patch. 12 April 2011.
  6. ^ "Libraries spared from closure – Jamaica Plain Gazette". jamaicaplaingazette.com. 16 April 2010.
  7. ^ Ryan, Andrew (April 9, 2013). "Felix G. Arroyo formally enters race to be next mayor of Boston; first Latino to run for job". www.boston.com.
  8. ^ "Boston City Councilor Felix Arroyo announces run for mayor - Politics - WCVB Home".
  9. ^ "Felix Arroyo officially announces run for mayor". 15 June 2013.
  10. ^ Ryan, Andrew (November 5, 2013). "State representative Martin J. Walsh, champion of unions, wins Boston mayoral race". www.boston.com. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Walsh names Felix Arroyo head of health and human services, fills school committee vacancies". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2015-11-07.
  12. ^ Irons, Meghan E. (31 July 2017). "Boston's human services chief Felix G. Arroyo placed on paid leave". The Boston Globe.
  13. ^ EndPlay (24 August 2017). "Boston city official fired after investigation into sexual harassment allegations". WFXT.
  14. ^ Irons, Meghan E. (15 March 2018). "Lawsuit adds details to sexual harassment claims against Felix G. Arroyo". The Boston Globe.
  15. ^ Stout, Matt (February 25, 2020). "Walsh may be called to testify in Arroyo lawsuit". The Boston Globe. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  16. ^ McDonald, Danny (August 24, 2020). "Ex-City Hall health chief Felix G. Arroyo sues Marty Walsh". The Boston Globe. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  17. ^ a b Griswold, Niki (July 12, 2024). "Boston to pay $1 million in Arroyo sexual harassment settlement". The Boston Globe. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  18. ^ Reed, Russ (September 12, 2023). "Embattled Boston city councilors Arroyo, Lara fall in primary elections". WCVB-TV.
  19. ^ "Felix G. Arroyo". LinkedIn. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  20. ^ "CITY OF BOSTON MUNICIPAL ELECTION - SEPTEMBER 22, 2009 CITY COUNCILOR AT LARGE" (PDF). City of Boston.gov. City of Boston. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  21. ^ "CITY OF BOSTON MUNICIPAL ELECTION - NOVEMBER 3, 2009 CITY COUNCILOR AT LARGE" (PDF). City of Boston.gov. City of Boston. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  22. ^ "CITY OF BOSTON MUNICIPAL ELECTION - NOVEMBER 8, 2011 CITY COUNCILOR AT LARGE" (PDF). www.cityofboston.gov/. City of Boston. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  23. ^ "Preliminary Municipal Election" (PDF). cityofboston.gov. 24 September 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  24. ^ "Municipal Election" (PDF). cityofboston.gov. 5 November 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2021.

Further reading

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